Rep. Brandon W. Phelps

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Animal Welfare Act. Defines "animal", "animal rescue group", "companion animal", "dog daycare", "exotic or non-domesticated animal", and "humane society". Provides that the 4 animal limitation on foster homes does not include a foster home owner's personal animals or the offspring of a female animal until that offspring reaches the age of 8 weeks. Removes a provision requiring records relating to the origin and sale of dogs to be made available for inspection by the Secretary of Agriculture or the Department of Agriculture upon demand. Adds provisions concerning the location and review of records and requiring licensees to keep records of each transfer of non-human primates or exotic or non-domesticated animals. Adds dog daycares, animal rescue groups, humane societies, and foster homes to the list of businesses that require licensure in order to operate in the State. Exempts certain businesses and activities from the licensure requirement. Provides that in order to operate a foster home, a person must obtain sponsorship from an animal shelter, an animal rescue group, or a humane society, rather than a permit. Provides that a business that requires licensure must obtain approval from the Department before expanding the business by more than 20% or adding a new species of animal to the business. Provides that the Department may, upon its own motion or a verified complaint, investigate the actions of any person holding or claiming to hold a license (now, the Department may also investigate the actions of any applicant for initial issuance of a license). Provides that before refusing to renew a license, the Department shall notify the holder of a license that a hearing will be held on a designated date to determine whether the respondent is privileged to hold the license (now, the Department must also provide notice and set a hearing for an applicant before refusing to issue a license). Allows the release for sale, trade, or adoption of animals with diseases, injuries, or abnormalities if the transferee has knowledge of the disease, injury, or abnormality and has given written consent to the acceptance of the animal with the condition. Eliminates application fees for foster home permits and renewal of foster home permits. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Makes a technical change in a Section prohibiting discrimination against individual participants.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides for the issuance of Iraqi Freedom license plates at an additional initial charge of $40 and an additional renewal charge of $27 with eligibility requirements to be determined by the Secretary of State. Provides that $15 of the initial charge and $2 of the renewal charge shall be paid into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund and $25 of the initial charge and $25 of the renewal charge shall be paid into the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund. Amends the Illinois Lottery Law. Provides that the moneys deposited into the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund from the sale of Iraqi Freedom license plates may, subject to appropriation, be used by the Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide grants to assist in the financial and educational support of minor and dependent children of veterans who died or were disabled in the line of duty.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Authorizes the use of a handgun when hunting wild turkey.

Amends the Mobile Home Park Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the findings of the General Assembly.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that if the receipt of a firearm does not violate federal or State law, the Department of State Police shall (1) assign a unique identification number to the transfer; (2) provide the licensee with the number; and (3) destroy all records of the system with respect to the call, other than the identifying number and the date the number was assigned, and all records of the system relating to the person or the transfer within 24 hours. Provides that if the transfer of a firearm is denied by the Department of State Police, the Department of State Police may keep the records of a denial until the denial is appealed and overturned, or as long as necessary for a criminal prosecution. Provides that approvals issued by the Department of State Police for the purchase of a firearm are valid for 30 days from the date of issue. Provides that the Department of State Police may not retain, copy, or distribute any information previously collected under the dial up system. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Amends the Livestock Management Facilities Act. Provides that livestock management facilities and livestock waste handling facilities serving less than 50 animal units or serving 150 or less animal units and located wholly within certain agricultural areas are exempt from the requirement to file a notice of intent to construct. Requires owners and operators of livestock waste handling facilities to send a notice of intent to construct to owners of property within the setback distances. Subjects owners and operators who begin construction prior to receiving written approval from the Illinois Department of Agriculture to an administrative hearing and a civil penalty. Provides that livestock management facilities or livestock waste handling facilities serving 2,000 or less animal units located in certain agricultural areas are not required to hold public informational meetings related to proposed construction. Provides that livestock management facilities and livestock waste handling facilities located in certain agricultural areas are exempt from certain construction standards. Allows livestock waste handling facilities with a design capacity of 300 or less animal units to demonstrate that a reduced storage volume is feasible due to the availability of certain land application areas. Exempts settling basins and holding ponds for the management and control of feedlot runoff and within which no livestock manure is actively stored or handled and permanent manure pipelines designed and utilized to transport manure from a livestock waste handling facility to a land application area from certain construction standards. Provides that an owner or operator who commences operation prior to receiving written approval from the Department is subject to an administrative hearing and a civil penalty. Provides that livestock management facility owners and operators who have been issued a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System-Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Permit are not required to prepare a general waste management plan. Exempts from setback requirements livestock management facilities and livestock waste handling facilities serving 50 to 150 animal units in certain agricultural areas and with certain separation distances. Requires the Livestock Management Facilities Advisory Committee to meet as needed as determined by the Chair to accomplish its duties.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that a community college district may, by proper resolution of the board following a public hearing set by the board or chairperson of the board, permanently transfer moneys from the working cash fund to the fund of the district most in need of the funds being transferred so long as the aggregate amount of transfers from the working cash fund in any fiscal year does not exceed 90% of the maximum amount credited to the working cash fund during the fiscal year. Provides that the public hearing must be preceded by notice. Effective immediately.