Rep. Michael P. McAuliffe

Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the occupational disease disability benefit shall be equal to 65% of the current salary attached from time to time to the rank held by the police officer at the time of his or her removal from the police department payroll (now the greater of 65% of the salary attached to the rank held by the police officer in the police service at the time of his or her removal from the police department payroll or 50% of the current salary attached from time to time to the rank held by the police officer at the time of his or her removal from the police department payroll). Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Beginning January 1, 2011, increases the duty disability benefit to 75% of the current salary attached from time to time to the rank held by the policeman at the time of removal from the police department payroll. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that retiree members of the city health care plans shall pay no higher premium, and shall receive no lower level of benefits, than the active employee members with the same Medicare status. Pre-empts home rule. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, for policemen born on or after January 1, 1955 but before January 1, 1960, beginning on January 1, 2010, automatic annual increases shall be 3% and such policemen shall not be subject to the 30% maximum increase. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that if any policeman whose application for either a duty disability benefit or an occupational disease disability benefit has been denied by the Retirement Board brings an action for administrative review challenging the denial of disability benefits and the policeman prevails in the action in administrative review, then the prevailing policeman shall be entitled to recover from the Fund court costs and litigation expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, as part of the costs of the action. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Increases the minimum monthly annuity payment to $1,500 beginning January 1, 2011 for any policeman who retired from the service before January 1, 2011, at age 50 or over with 20 or more years of service, and for any policeman who retired from service due to termination of disability and who is entitled to an annuity on January 1, 2011. Increases the minimum amount of a widow's annuity to $1,200 per month beginning January 1, 2011, $1,250 per month beginning January 1, 2012, $1,300 per month beginning January 1, 2013, $1,350 per month beginning January 1, 2014, and $1,400 per month beginning January 1, 2015. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that an ordinance or resolution that would result in the increase of revenue to a home rule county by an increase of any tax of that county may be adopted only with the concurrence of three-fifths of the members elected to the county board. Preempts home rule powers and functions. Effective immediately.

Creates the Blind Vendors Act. Creates the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind and provides that the Secretary of Human Services, through the Bureau Director of the Bureau for the Blind in the Department of Human Services, shall continue, maintain, and promote the Program. Provides that the Program must provide that: priority is given to blind vendors in the operation of vending facilities on State property; tie bid preference is given to blind vendors in the operation of cafeterias on State property unless the cafeteria operations are operated by employees of a State agency; vending machine income from all vending machines on State property is assigned as provided in the Act; no State agency may impose a commission, service charge, rent, or utility charge on a licensed blind vendor who is operating a vending facility on State property; and vending facilities operated by the Program use reasonable and necessary means and methods to maintain fair market pricing in relation to each facility's given demographic, geographic, and other circumstances. Contains provisions concerning: intent; compliance with federal law; rules; establishment of vending facilities on State property; other vending facilities; creation of a Blind Vendors Trust Fund as a separate account managed by the Department of Human Services for the State's blind vendors; set-aside funds; vending machine income; issuance of licenses; creation of a Committee of Blind Vendors to participate in the development and implementation of all policies, plans, program development, and major administrative and management decisions affecting the Program; hearings; arbitration; reports and surveys; and other matters. Repeals the Blind Persons Operating Vending Facilities Act.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that the Cook County Board of Commissioners may override a veto by the County Board President by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of its members (instead of four-fifths). Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the occupational disease disability benefit shall be equal to 65% of the current salary attached from time to time to the rank held by the police officer at the time of his or her removal from the police department payroll (now the greater of 65% of the salary attached to the rank held by the police officer in the police service at the time of his or her removal from the police department payroll or 50% of the current salary attached from time to time to the rank held by the police officer at the time of his or her removal from the police department payroll). Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.