Amends the School Code. Allows school boards to award high school diplomas to honorably discharged veterans who served in the armed forces of the United States during the Vietnam Conflict. Effective immediately.
Amends the High Risk Home Loan Act. Provides that "high risk home loan" does not include a loan for reverse mortgage financing of residential real estate, including under programs regulated by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).
Amends the High Risk Home Loan Act. Provides that the term "points and fees" does not include fees paid to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs required by law, fees paid to the Federal Housing Administration required by law, or fees paid to the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Loan Program required by law.
Creates the High-Speed Rail Authority Act. Contains only a short title provision.
Amends the Cemetery Care Act to require a cemetery association holding $75,000 or less in its care funds to file a report with the Comptroller in lieu of other annual report requirements and to require that the Comptroller examine at least annually every licensee who holds $750,000 or more (now, $250,000 or more) in its care funds. Effective immediately.
Creates the Emerging Technology Industries Act. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to establish and maintain a program to award grants to emerging-technology enterprises in the State. Sets forth eligibility requirements and funding priorities for awarding the grants, and sets forth procedures for awarding the grants. Requires written contracts in which the emerging-technology enterprise guarantees that it will perform the actions expected to be performed. Sets dollar limits on matching funds for federal Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grants and total grant matching funds per year. Limits total credits to $15,000,000 in any one State fiscal year. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Emerging Technology Grant Fund. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for qualified investors who make an investment in an emerging technology enterprise in the State. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity must certify the amount of the credit and sets forth the procedures for the application and certification of the credit. Sets forth provisions for the revocation and recapture of the tax credit. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.
Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Accelerates the initial annual increase in retirement pension to the January following the first anniversary of retirement. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning damage to sidewalks, bridges, culverts, or causeways.
Amends the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, no tax shall be imposed under those Acts upon the privilege of using in this State (for the Use Tax Act) or persons engaged in the business of selling at retail (for the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act) certain household appliances that (i) qualify as an "Energy Star" product under the federal Energy Star Program; and (ii) are purchased from 12:01 a.m. on April 22 of 2009 or 2010 through 11:59 p.m. of April 28 of that same year. Authorizes and encourages units of local government that impose use and occupation taxes to declare a similar tax holiday. Effective immediately.
Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that a minor may knowingly waive, in writing, with advice of counsel, his or her opportunity to be adjudicated under the Act and may consent to be sentenced under the Unified Code of Corrections. Effective immediately.
