Creates the Intercity Development Act. Provides that economically distressed communities may, by appointing a Board of Economic Advisors, receive assistance under the Act. Provides that the Board shall create a revitalization plan for the community. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall, subject to appropriation, make grants to those communities for the operational expenses of the Board. Provides that Boards shall seek funding sources to enhance economic development. Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Expands the peace officer powers of certain Department of Revenue investigators. Amends the Illinois Pull Tabs and Jar Games Act. Increases certain prize limits. Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 and the Riverboat Gambling Act to authorize the conduct of gambling using slot machines and video games of chance at race tracks. Further amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 to delete the recapture provisions and to repeal provisions concerning the pari-mutuel tax credit and the Horse Racing Equity Fund. Imposes an admission tax of $1 for each person who enters the grounds of an organization licensee. Makes changes concerning the distribution of breakage. Provides that, subject to the availability of horses, certain races that are limited to Illinois conceived and foaled or Illinois foaled horses or both shall be limited to Illinois conceived and foaled or Illinois foaled maidens. Authorizes 2 or more existing organization licensees to integrate into a single integrated organization. Makes other changes. Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Reduces the admission tax. Reduces the wagering tax. Authorizes an owners licensee to operate up to 2,000 gaming positions (rather than limit the number of gambling participants to 1,200). Provides that a licensee that successfully bids for unused positions may operate those positions in addition to the positions authorized by its license. Authorizes an owners license to relocate a portion of its slot machines to its home dock facility. Requires owners licensees to pay an aggregate amount of $130,000,000 to the Gaming Board by July 1, 2006 for deposit into the State Gaming Fund. Makes other changes. Amends the Criminal Code of 1961 to provide that certain provisions that apply to riverboat gambling also apply to slot machine gambling at race tracks. Amends Public Act 91-40 to replace that Act's inseverability clause with a severability clause. Preempts home rule concerning the regulation of electronic gaming. Provides that certain tax moneys from riverboat gambling shall be paid into the Local Riverboat Gaming Distributive Fund and paid to counties that do not have a riverboat dock within its borders. Makes other changes. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Intercity Development Fund, the Local Riverboat Gaming Distributive Fund, and the South Suburban Assistance Fund. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Excludes from uniformity requirements fire insurance policies issued to industrial insureds that exclude coverage for fire or other peril caused directly or indirectly by terrorism.
Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.
Amends the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Creates the Blind Vendors Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services, Bureau of Blind Services, shall operate and promote the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. Sets forth that the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act and the regulations adopted pursuant to that Act shall serve as the minimum standards for the operation of the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. Provides that under the Program: (1) blind vendors have priority in the operation of all vending facilities on State property; (2) vending machine income from all vending machines on State property shall be assigned to the blind vendor on the property or to the Blind Vendors Trust Fund; (3) no State agency may impose any commission, service charge, rent, or utility charge on a blind vendor operating on State property; (4) sales made at a blind vendor's vending facility are exempt from all occupation and use taxes; and (5) State agencies may not allow competition with a blind vendor. Sets forth that the Bureau Director for the Bureau of the Blind and the Committee of Blind Vendors shall jointly develop regulations to ensure that priority is given to blind vendors in the operation of vending facilities on State property. Provides that the Department may provide for set-asides of the net proceeds of vending operations under certain conditions. Requires set-aside funds to be deposited in the Blind Vendors Trust Fund, a separate account managed by the Department for the State's blind vendors. Sets forth provisions for the distribution of vending machine income from vending machines on State property. Provides certain conditions for the licensing of blind vendors. Creates the Committee of Blind Vendors to jointly participate in the development and implementation of all policies, plans, and major decisions affecting the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. Sets forth provisions for the composition of the Committee. Provides certain procedures for the resolution of disputes arising within the Program. Provides for the promulgation of regulations relating to the operation of this Act. Requires the Department to make regular surveys and reports on State property and vending facilities. Sets forth conditions and information to be contained in the surveys and reports. Preempts home rule powers. Repeals the Blind Persons Operating Vending Facilities Act. Amends the Use Tax Act, Service Use Tax Act, Service Occupation Tax Act, and Retailers' Occupation Tax Act to provide that personal property purchased from a blind vendor's vending facility licensed by the Department of Human Services under the Blind Vendors Act is exempt from the taxes imposed by those Acts and that these exemptions are not subject to the sunset provisions of those Acts.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning discrimination in the granting of financial aid or social services.
Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Prohibits foreign importers from providing furnishings, fixtures, or equipment on the premises of a business of a licensee, from helping pay license fees of a retail licensee, from becoming the owner of any indebtedness of a retail licensee, from having an interest in the ownership, conduct, or operation of a retail licensee's business, and from being a lessee or lessor in any premises that sells alcoholic liquor at retail. Prohibits foreign importers from providing signs or inside advertising materials except as otherwise provided. Provides that restrictions on advertising do not apply to promotional or advertising material provided by foreign importers to a government owned facility with a retailer's license. Effective immediately.
Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Mandates the Department, with respect to the positions that are devoted to establishing, collecting, or prosecuting overdue taxes, (i) to fill all positions authorized by appropriation for fiscal year 2005 and (ii) by January 1, 2006, to fill an additional 200 positions. Effectively immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.