Rep. André M. Thapedi

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the definition of "conviction".

Amends the Residential Mortgage License Act of 1987. Provides that a licensee that is foreclosing on a loan must pay the clerk of the court of the county that the foreclosure action is commenced in a fee that is to be deposited into the Homeowner Loan Assistance Fund. Provides that the fee that the licensee must pay is equal to $5 for every $1,000 that is sought as part of the foreclosure action. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Homeowner Loan Assistance Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that all moneys in the Homeowner Loan Assistance Fund shall be used by the Department to offer loan assistance to homeowners that are facing foreclosure. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes a technical change in a Section regarding the short title of the Article concerning mortgage foreclosures.

Amends the Smoke Free Illinois Act to include in the list of areas where smoking is allowed, designated segregated ventilated smoking rooms in gaming facilities that are licensed, provided that the segregated smoking room is only accessible to persons who have requested in writing to have access to the smoking room and the smoke from the room shall not infiltrate into any other areas where smoking is prohibited. Imposes conditions on any rulemaking authority.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the collection of real estate transfer taxes.

Creates the Emergency Foreclosure Relief Act of 2009. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Title Insurance Act. In the provision concerning definitions, makes changes to the definition of "title insurance agent". Provides that a title insurance agent shall not act as an escrow agent in a real property transaction unless the title insurance agent, title insurance company, or another authorized title insurance agent has committed for the issuance of title insurance and the title insurance agent is authorized to act as an escrow agent on behalf of the title insurance company. Provides that closing protection letters shall indemnify the parties in a real property transaction against actual loss, not to exceed the amount of the settlement funds deposited with the escrow agent, when the loss arises out of certain circumstances. Sets forth the circumstances under which indemnification under a closing protection letter may include limitations on the liability of the title insurance. Provides that a title insurance company shall be liable for the acts or omissions of its title insurance agent as an escrow agent if the title insurance company has authorized the title insurance agent and only to the extent of the liability undertaken by the title insurance company in the agency agreement or closing protection letter. Makes other changes.

Amends the Electricity Infrastructure Maintenance Fee Law and the Illinois Municipal Code. Authorizes municipalities that impose certain taxes or fees on or collected by public utilities to conduct audits of those utilities to determine the accuracy of the taxes or fees paid to the municipality. Sets forth procedures under which a municipality may collect information from a public utility that is necessary to perform an audit. Sets forth procedures concerning the audit findings, liability for errors, penalties, confidentiality, and exemptions. Provides that a municipality may audit a community antenna television system operator franchised by the municipality to provide video services. Sets forth the procedures concerning the audit. Amends the Local Government Taxpayers' Bill of Rights Act. Limits the authority of municipalities (including home rule municipalities) to impose penalties with respect to certain taxes imposed under the Illinois Municipal Code or with respect to the municipal electricity infrastructure maintenance fee. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county may audit a community antenna television system operator franchised by the county to provide video services. Sets forth the procedures concerning the audit. Sets forth procedures concerning the audit findings, liability for errors, and confidentiality. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Construction Law. In provisions concerning early childhood construction grants, provides that a public school district or other eligible entity must provide local matching funds in an amount equal to 10% of the grant (rather than the amount of the grant). Provides that the Capital Development Board may adopt rules that include requirements that new or improved facilities be used for early childhood and other related programs for a period of at least 10 years. Effective July 1, 2010.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the supervision of persons on parole or mandatory supervised release.