Rep. Edward J. Acevedo

Amends the School Code. Increases the compulsory school age from 16 to 17 years of age, with exceptions. Provides that certain provisions that apply to truant officers apply to the regional superintendent of schools or his or her designee in a school district that does not have a truant officer. Makes changes concerning the compliance procedure for persons who fail to send a child to school. Allows certain students to enroll in graduation incentives programs. Lists programs that qualify as graduation incentives programs. Provides for reimbursement and funding for programs.

Amends the General Homestead Exemption provisions of the Property Tax Code. Provides that in a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants if the assessed valuation of property has increased by more than 20% over the previous assessed valuation of that property, an additional exemption is allowed, with the amount of the additional exemption determined by household income. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the State aid formula.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the State Finance Act. Provides that the Secretary of State shall issue a driver's license to an applicant who is an immigrant and ineligible for a social security number if the applicant has met specified requirements. Provides that the applicant must pay a higher fee for original issuance of a drivers license. Creates the Secretary of State Immigrant License Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that $50 of the applicant's fee for original issuance of a driver's license shall be deposited into the fund. Provides that the Secretary of State shall, subject to appropriation, use the moneys deposited into the fund to pay for the additional costs of processing the applications of these applicants. Provides that the provision does not affect the issuance of commercial driver's licenses or school bus driver permits under the Vehicle Code or of State identification cards under the Illinois Identification Card Act. Provides that the Secretary of State shall provide that there shall be a clear and distinct visual difference between driver's licenses issued to individuals without social security numbers and driver's licenses issued to individuals with social security numbers. Provides that the Secretary of State shall, in conjunction with the Illinois State Police, establish administrative procedures for determining and identifying ineligible Firearm Owner's Identification Card applicants through information provided to the Secretary of State, through the driver's license application process, to ensure compliance with the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2005.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Authorizes the issuance of a retail license authorizing the sale of alcoholic liquor at a premises that is within 100 feet of a church, school, hospital, home for aged or indigent persons or for veterans, their spouses or children or any military or naval station, if (i) the license is issued to a grocery store or similar retail store that is located within a municipality with at least 500,000 inhabitants, (ii) the store has a minimum of 20,000 square feet, and (iii) the sale of alcoholic liquor is incidental to the store's primary business. Authorizes the renewal of a license authorizing the retail sale of alcoholic liquor at a premises that is (i) within a municipality having 500,000 inhabitants, and (ii) within 100 feet of a church, school hospital, home for aged or indigent persons or for veterans, their spouses or children or any military or naval station, if the license was originally issued prior to January 1, 1989 and renewal of the license is not prohibited by municipal ordinance. Effective immediately.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that no applicant may receive a license to operate a child care facility, and no adult may live in a child care facility, who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit specified offenses. Provides an exception if specified criteria are met. Effective immediately.

Creates the Nutrition Outreach and Public Education Act. Establishes a nutrition outreach and public education program within the Department of Public Health to enroll targeted populations in federal food and nutrition assistance programs and to promote the fuller implementation and utilization of such programs in unserved or underserved areas. Authorizes grants to community-based organizations for outreach activities. Requires an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly.

Amends the Cigarette Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

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 Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that when the victim is under 18 years of age at the time of the commission of the offense and the accused was a member of the clergy, a prosecution for criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, or aggravated criminal sexual abuse may be commenced at any time. Effective immediately.