Urges attorneys and other legal advocates to fully utilize the leveling law as to attorney's fees in divorce and domestic violence cases.
Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.
Creates the Supreme Court Campaign Reform Act. Provides that candidates for the Supreme Court may apply for a public financing benefit in connection with their campaign. Sets the amount of the public financing benefit at $750,000 for the general primary and general election cycle. Sets requirements for qualifying for the public financing benefits. Limits the amount of private contributions qualified candidates may accept. Limits the amounts that non-participating candidates may accept from private sources during campaign periods to $1,000 in the aggregate. Provides that qualified candidates must be distributed a line of credit from the Illinois Supreme Court Democracy Trust Fund to be used for lawful political expenditures. Provides for the increase of the line of credit if non-complying candidates make certain expenditures. Sets penalties for violations of the Act. Provides that the Illinois Supreme Court may require attorneys to contribute money to the Fund not to exceed $25 annually. Contains other provisions. Amends the Election Code. Provides that a payment for electioneering communications is an "expenditure". Provides that a group that "accepts contributions or makes expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $3,000 for the purpose of electioneering communications" is a political committee. Allows the Board of Elections to impose a fine against a committee that fails to report expenditures that could trigger matching funds under the Supreme Court Campaign Reform Act. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois Supreme Court Democracy Trust Fund. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Requires the Department of Revenue to print on its standard individual income tax form a provision by which the taxpayer may make a contribution (not less than $1) to the Illinois Supreme Court Democracy Trust Fund. Amends the Clerk of the Courts Act. Requires circuit court clerks to transfer $1 from each appearance fee paid to the State Treasurer for deposit into the Supreme Court Democracy Trust Fund and, to defray that expense, the county board may, by resolution, require the clerk of the circuit court in the county to charge and collect a Supreme Court Democracy Trust Fund fee of not more than $1, which shall be paid at the time that any appearance fee is paid. Effective immediately.
Amends the Condominium Property Act. Provides that a tenant who vacated a unit in a building that becomes a conversion condominium within 18 months of the real estate becoming a conversion condominium and who did not receive a notice of intent to submit the real estate to the Act must be awarded damages of $10,000 plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Provides that a non-profit housing organization suing for an aggrieved party may also recover compensation for diversion of mission necessary for filing the action.
Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Allows a designated domestic partner to qualify as a surviving spouse for purposes of survivor and death benefits. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a Section concerning child care for TANF recipients, makes a technical change in provisions for payment for child care by the Department of Human Services.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act and the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act to create a tax checkoff for the Lead Poisoning Screening, Prevention, and Abatement Fund. Effective immediately.
Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for its FY07 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2006.
Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act in the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, after July 1, 2006, the term "redevelopment costs" includes costs associated with lead-abatement activities for property that is contiguous to, but not included within, the redevelopment project area if those lead-abatement activities further the purpose of the redevelopment project. Effective July 1, 2006.
Amends the Illinois Violence Prevention Act of 1995. Provides that the date this Act is repealed is July 1, 2010 (now, 2005). Effective immediately.
