Amends the Department of Public Health Act. Requires the Department to provide grants for sarcoidosis research. Effective July 1, 2005.
Creates the Firearms Act. Contains only a short title provision.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that an Illinois resident who is the surviving spouse of a person awarded the Purple Heart by a branch of the armed forces of the United States is eligible to be issued Purple Heart license plates.
Amends the Housing Authorities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to conduct an annual review comparing the benefits that Illinois veterans receive with those benefits received by veterans in other states and U.S. territories. Provides that this benefits review shall be annually reported to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Illinois Congressional delegation. Effective January 1, 2006.
Amends the Film Production Services Tax Credit Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning applications for certification.
Creates the Rental Housing Support Program Act. Provides for grants from the Illinois Housing Development Authority to local administering agencies to provide subsidies for landlords in order to allow them to charge rent that is affordable for low-income tenants. Also provides for grants from the Illinois Housing Development Authority to developers of affordable rental housing. Sets forth criteria for the awarding of grants. Requires the Authority to establish an operating reserve for the program. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Rental Housing Support Program Fund, a special fund in the State treasury. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that the county recorder shall collect a $10 surcharge for the recordation of any real estate-related document, one dollar of which shall be deposited into the county's general revenue fund and $9 of which shall be deposited into the Rental Housing Support Program Fund. Sets forth the conditions upon which and purposes for which expenditures may be made from the Accounts. Effective July 1, 2005.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning Medicaid payment rates for nursing homes, provides that the transition period for implementing the new MDS payment methodology for the nursing component of the rate may not exceed 3 (instead of 2) years. Effective immediately.
Creates the Epilepsy Disease Assistance Act and amends the State Finance Act and the Illinois Income Tax Act. Requires the Department of Public Health and Department of Public Aid to develop certain standards and programs concerning epilepsy. Provides for an Epilepsy Advisory Committee to advise the Departments on their duties under the Act. Provides for the establishment of two regional epilepsy centers. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall provide grants-in-aid to the regional epilepsy centers for necessary educational activities and research, and for the development and maintenance of services for victims of epilepsy and their families. Creates the Regional Epilepsy Center Grants-in-Aid Fund as a special fund in the State treasury for the purpose of funding certain grants-in-aid, and authorizes an Illinois income tax checkoff for contributions to the Fund. Effective immediately.
Congratulates the Human Resources Development Institute, Inc., on the occasion of the dedication of the Dr. C. Vincent Bakeman Leadership Institute.
