Rep. Brandon W. Phelps

Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act. Requires the Department of Natural Resources to conduct a study to (i) develop an understanding of the geology of each aquifer in the State; (ii) determine the groundwater flow through the geologic units and the interaction of groundwater with surface waters; and (iii) determine the chemistry of the geologic units and the groundwater in those units. Requires the Department to develop geologic and groundwater flow models for each underground aquifer in the State based upon information obtained from the study. Effective immediately.

Amends the Electronic Mail Act. Requires an initiator of an unsolicited e-mail advertisement to establish a toll-free telephone number or return e-mail address that the recipient of the advertisement may call or e-mail to notify the sender not to e-mail any further unsolicited e-mail advertisements. Prohibits an initiator of an unsolicited e-mail advertisement from selling or transferring the e-mail address of a person who given notice that he or she does not want to receive any further unsolicited e-mail advertisements. Provides that each unsolicited e-mail advertisement's subject line shall include "ADV:" as the first 4 characters and each adult-oriented unsolicited e-mail advertisement's subject line shall include "ADV:ADLT" as the first 8 characters.

Creates the Budget Stabilization Act and amends the State Finance Act. Limits appropriations from the State's general funds in fiscal years when estimated general funds revenues exceed certain previous fiscal years' general funds revenues. Requires the State Comptroller to transfer from the General Revenue Fund into the Budget Stabilization Fund or Early Debt Retirement Fund an amount equal to the fiscal year's unappropriated general funds revenues. Establishes appropriation limits and a transfer schedule. Specifies the purpose of the Budget Stabilization Fund and requires that earnings on its investment remain in the Fund. Creates the Early Debt Retirement Fund as a special fund within the State treasury for payment of certain liabilities. Effective immediately.

Creates the Small Business Advisory Act. Requires State agencies to create and make available on the World Wide Web a small business advisory page with plain language explanations of proposed and adopted rules and legislation affecting small businesses that the agency is designated to administer, and plain language versions of advisory opinions and interpretations. Provides that explanations must remain posted on the web page for 6 months after their effective dates. Requires each agency to notify the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs when it updates its small business advisory web page. Requires DCCA to serve as a clearinghouse for notifying the small business community of rulemakings, seek input from the small business community on those rulemakings, and maintain a small business advisory web page that serves as a coordinated point of access to other agencies' small business advisory web pages.

Amends the Fire Protection District Act. Provides that, to encourage continued service with the district, the board of trustees of a fire protection district has the express power to award monetary incentives, not to exceed $240 per year, to volunteer firefighters of the district. Provides that to be eligible for the incentives, the volunteer firefighters must have at least 5 years of service with the district. Provides that the amount of the incentives may not be greater than 2% of the annual levy amount when all incentive awards are combined.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Permits the use of handguns during the open season for deer. Provides that any centerfire handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches may be used. Provides that the only legal ammunition for a centerfire handgun is a cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with a capability of at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle. Prohibits the use of full metal jacket bullets. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall make administrative rules concerning management restrictions applicable to the firearm and bow and arrow season. Effective immediately.

Amends the Home Repair Fraud Act. In provisions relating to a victim who is 60 years of age or older or a disabled person, increases criminal penalties and lowers the monetary thresholds for enhanced penalties. In addition, provides that the offender's licenses and permits may be suspended or revoked.

Amends the Military Leave of Absence Act. Requires payment of State compensation and benefits to full-time State employees while on active duty with the Illinois National Guard, the United States Armed Forces reserves, or the Illinois State Militia reserves. Reduces the employee's State compensation by the amount of active duty pay. Requires the Department of Central Management Services and the State Comptroller to coordinate in the development of applicable procedures.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Removes language that terminates the earned income tax credit with taxable years ending on or before December 31, 2002. Exempts the credit from the sunset requirements. Effective immediately.

Creates the Whistleblower Act. Provides that an employer may not: make, adopt, or enforce any rule, regulation, or policy preventing an employee from disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency if the employee has reasonable cause to believe that the information discloses a violation of a State or federal law, rule, or regulation; retaliate against an employee for disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency, where the employee has reasonable cause to believe that the information discloses a violation of a State or federal law, rule, or regulation; or retaliate against an employee for refusing to participate in an activity that would result in a violation of a State or federal law, rule, or regulation. Provides that a report made by an employee of a government agency to his or her employer is a disclosure of information to a government or law enforcement agency under the Act. Violation is a Class A misdemeanor. Provides that, if an employer takes any action against an employee in violation of the Act, the employee may bring a civil action against the employer for all relief necessary to make the employee whole, including but not limited to reinstatement, back pay, compensation for damages, litigation costs, expert witness fees, and reasonable attorney's fees. Provides that the Act does not apply to an employer that is a governmental entity. Provides that the Act does not apply to disclosures that would constitute a violation of the attorney-client privilege.