Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. With respect to applicants for gubernatorial appointment to boards, commissions, authorities, and task forces, requires that (i) an applicant must provide specified documents to the Governor's Office of Boards and Commissions, (ii) the Office must hold a public hearing before appointing or nominating an applicant, (iii) the Office must provide to the Senate specified information on any applicant nominated for Senate confirmation, and (iv) the Office must post specified information on its website about appointment requirements, applicants, and appointees. Requires all applicants and appointees, whether or not the position requires Senate confirmation, to file statements of economic interests (now, nominees for and appointees to positions requiring Senate confirmation must file statements). Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Provides that a person may not under any circumstances charge a fee to a claimant for assistance in completing an application form for a property tax relief grant or pharmaceutical assistance under the Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, and Nail Technology Act of 1985. In a provision concerning school refund policies, provides that refunds shall be in accordance with the requirements of the school's regional or national accrediting agency, if any, or rules that the Department shall promulgate for the purposes of this Section (rather than the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences and rules that the Department shall promulgate for purposes of this Section). Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission, in cooperation with a local law enforcement agency, may establish in any county or municipality a system for automated enforcement of railroad crossing violations. Establishes requirements for the system. Provides that local authorities desiring the establishment of an automated railroad crossing enforcement system must initiate the process by enacting a local ordinance requesting the creation of such a system. Provides that local authorities and the Commission must agree to a plan for obtaining, from any combination of federal, State, and local funding sources, the moneys required for the purchase and installation of any necessary equipment. Deletes language pertaining to a pilot project to establish such a system. Provides for automated recording of vehicles that enter a railroad crossing against the signal or that obstruct traffic at a railroad crossing. Provides for the issuance of a notice of violation to the owner of the recorded vehicle. Establishes procedures for contesting the violation. Provides for civil adjudication of violations, in the same manner as automated red light violations. Provides that a civil fine of $250 shall be imposed for a first violation. Provides that a civil fine of $500 shall be imposed for a second or subsequent violation. Provides that the Secretary of State shall suspend the driving privileges of the registered owner of a vehicle that is involved in 5 of these violations for which the fine imposed has not been paid. Repeals the provision currently providing for the establishment of these systems. Makes other changes.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that specified persons who have not yet submitted a sample of blood, saliva, or tissue shall be required to submit a specimen of blood, saliva, or tissue prior to their final discharge or within 6 months from the effective date of the amendatory Act, whichever is sooner. Provides that "these specimens shall be placed into the State or national DNA database, to be used in accordance with other provisions of this Act, by the Illinois State Police". Effective immediately.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Redefines the term "compost" to mean compostable material that has, by composting, decomposed to the degree that it will not, when subjected to optimal thermal conditions and optimal levels of oxygen, moisture, and nutrients, reheat significantly due to the action of microorganisms, and that is also suitable (i) for use as a soil conditioner, (ii) for use as a cover material for a municipal solid waste landfill, or (iii) for another use approved by the Agency (now, the humus-like product of the process of composting waste, which may be used as a soil conditioner). Redefines the term "composting" to mean the decomposition of compostable material into compost by a biological process that produces carbon dioxide and water as primary by-products (now, the biological treatment process by which microorganisms decompose the organic fraction of waste, producing compost). Excepts food scrap from the definition of the term "garbage". Exempts certain types of facilities, sites, portions of facilities, and portions of sites from regulation as pollution control facilities. Defines "compostable material" and "food scrap". Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Health Policy Center Act. Provides that in implementing the Act, the University of Illinois may (instead of shall) consult with and seek the participation of all other public universities in the State. Makes changes concerning the membership of the Illinois Health Policy Center Advisory Panel, including adding 12 members. Effective June 1, 2009.
Amends provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act requiring the Director of Employment Security to make available to the Department of State Police, upon request, information concerning the place of employment or former places of employment of a person who is required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration Act. Expands those provisions to include disclosure of the current address of a person required to register as a sex offender, and to require disclosure of the information to a county sheriff's office or a municipal police department. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code and the Counties Code. Provides that it is a State's Attorney's duty to notify the State Superintendent of Education and others upon the conviction of any individual known to possess a certificate issued under the School Code of any of certain offenses or any other felony conviction. In the criminal history records check provisions of the School Code, makes changes concerning the offenses for which a school board may not knowingly employ a person. Provides that no one may be certified to teach or supervise in the public schools who has been convicted of certain offenses (instead of providing that in determining good character, any felony conviction of an applicant may be taken into consideration, but such a conviction shall not operate as a bar to registration). In provisions concerning suspension or revocation of a certificate, provides that the State Superintendent of Education has the exclusive authority to initiate the suspension of up to 5 calendar years or revocation of any certificate (instead of providing that a certificate may be suspended for a period not to exceed one calendar year by the regional superintendent of schools or for a period not to exceed 5 calendar years by the State Superintendent). With respect to certificate suspension and revocation, makes changes concerning an investigation, notice, a hearing, an appeal, and the offenses that are grounds for suspension and revocation. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2009.
Amends the Illinois Children's Savings Accounts Act. Provides that the Children's Savings Account Task Force shall conclude its activities and submit reports by December 31, 2010 (instead of September 1, 2008) and the State Treasurer shall present the reports to the Governor and the General Assembly by February 1, 2011 (instead of November 1, 2008). Effective immediately.