Rep. Edward J. Acevedo

Recognizes the stellar career of Marisol Nichols, formerly of Chicago.

Urges the federal government not to reduce the number of positions in the Illinois National Guard.

Hails the fiftieth anniversary of the merging of the Northern Illinois College of Optometry and the Chicago College of Optometry to form the Illinois College of Optometry.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Creates the offense of being an armed habitual criminal. Provides that a person commits the offense of being an armed habitual criminal if he or she receives, sells, possesses, or transfers any firearm after having been convicted a total of 3 or more times of any of the following offenses: first degree murder; aggravated battery; aggravated battery with a firearm; unlawful use of a weapon by a felon; robbery; armed robbery; residential burglary; home invasion; vehicular hijacking; gunrunning; intimidation; armed violence; criminal sexual assault; aggravated criminal sexual assault; predatory criminal sexual assault of a child; aggravated domestic battery; or any violation of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act or the Cannabis Control Act that is punishable as a Class 3 felony or higher. Provides that a violation is a Class X felony. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a prisoner serving a sentence for being an armed habitual criminal shall receive no more than 4.5 days of good conduct credit for each month of his or her sentence of imprisonment. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a tax checkoff for the Illinois Brain Tumor Research Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Fund. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, from appropriations to the Department from the Fund, the Department shall make grants to the American Brain Tumor Association for the purpose of research dedicated to the elimination of brain tumors. Effective immediately.

Provides that the bill may be referred to as the Illinois Patriot Plan. Creates the Military Personnel Cellular Phone Contract Termination Act; provides that any member of the armed services or reserve forces of the United States or member of the Illinois National Guard (a "service member") who is deployed on active duty, or the spouse of that service member, may terminate, without penalty, a cellular phone contract that meets specified requirements. Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois; provides that the Department may enter into a contract to purchase bulk long distance telephone services and make them available at cost, or may make bulk long distance telephone services available at cost under any existing contract the Department has entered into, to members of the immediate family of service members deployed on active duty so that those family members can communicate with the person so deployed. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code; provides that an individual life insurance policy insuring the life of a service member shall not lapse or be forfeited for the nonpayment of premiums during the service member's period of military service or during the 2-year period subsequent to the end of the service member's period of military service. Amends the Illinois Municipal Code and the Public Utilities Act; provides that no municipal or public utility company or electric cooperative shall stop gas or electricity from entering the residential premises of any residential consumer who is a service member deployed on active duty for nonpayment for gas or electricity supplied to the residential premises. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure; provides that in an action for possession of residential premises of a tenant or mobile home park resident who is a service member deployed on active duty or of any member of the tenant's or resident's immediate family, the court may stay the proceedings for a period of 90 days or adjust the rental obligation to preserve the parties' interests. Amends the Interest Act; provides that no creditor in connection with an obligation entered into on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act shall charge or collect from a service member who is deployed on active duty, or the spouse of that service member, interest or finance charges exceeding 6% per annum during the period that the member is deployed on active duty. Amends the Motor Vehicle Leasing Act; provides that any service member who is deployed on active duty for a period of not less than 180 days, or the spouse of that service member, may terminate any motor vehicle lease that meets certain specified requirements. Effective immediately.

Creates the Family Military Leave Act. Provides that every employee who has been employed by the same employer for 12 consecutive months shall be entitled to up to 30 days of family military leave during the time federal or State deployment orders are in effect, subject to certain conditions. Provides that the employee shall give at least 14 days notice of the intended date upon which the family military leave will commence if leave will consist of 5 or more consecutive work days. Provides that any employee who exercises the right to family military leave under the Act, upon expiration of the leave, shall be entitled to be restored by the employer to the position held by the employee when the leave commenced or to a position with equivalent seniority status, employee benefits, pay and other terms and conditions of employment. Provides that during any family military leave taken under the Act, the employer shall make it possible for employees to continue their benefits at the employee's expense. Prohibits certain actions by the employer. Provides that a civil action may be brought in the circuit court having jurisdiction by an employee to enforce the Act. Effective immediately.

Creates the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act. Provides that it is unlawful knowingly to engage in the manufacture of methamphetamine or a substance containing methamphetamine. Creates the offense of aggravated manufacture of methamphetamine. Provides that it is unlawful to possess, procure, transport, store, or deliver methamphetamine precursors or a substance containing methamphetamine precursors with the intent that they or it be used to manufacture methamphetamine or a substance containing methamphetamine. Provides that it is unlawful to engage in the possession, procurement, transportation, storage, or delivery of anhydrous ammonia with the intent that it be used to manufacture methamphetamine. Creates the offense of aggravated possession, procurement, transportation, storage, or delivery of anhydrous ammonia with the intent that it be used to manufacture methamphetamine. Provides that it is unlawful knowingly to possess methamphetamine or a substance containing methamphetamine. Provides that it is unlawful to dispose of methamphetamine manufacturing waste. Provides that it is unlawful knowingly to deliver or possess with intent to deliver methamphetamine or a substance containing methamphetamine. Provides that it is unlawful to possess, procure, transport, store, or deliver anhydrous ammonia in an unauthorized container. Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Repeals the provision prohibiting tampering with anhydrous ammonia equipment, containers, and facilities. Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Eliminates from the Act provisions relating to the illegal manufacture, delivery, and possession of methamphetamine and relating to the possession of methamphetamine manufacturing chemicals. Effective 30 days after becoming law.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that State benefits fraud is a Class 3 felony if $300 or less is obtained and a Class 2 felony if more than $300 is obtained (rather than a Class 4 felony if the amount of benefits obtained is $300 or less and a Class 3 felony if more than $300 is obtained) if a person knowingly misrepresents oneself as a veteran or as a dependent of a veteran with the intent of obtaining benefits or privileges provided by the State or its political subdivisions to veterans or their dependents.