Rep. Milton Patterson

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that a person at least 18 years of age who is convicted of first degree murder may be sentenced to death if the murdered individual was an active duty member or veteran of the Armed Forces, Reserves, or Illinois National Guard who served combat duty in the most recent conflict authorized by the President and the defendant knew or should have known that the murdered individual was an active duty member or veteran of the Armed Forces, Reserves, or Illinois National Guard who served combat duty in the most recent conflict authorized by the President.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law. Requires the Department of Public Health, in cooperation with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, to create guidelines for the proper disposal of hypodermic syringes or needles that are consistent with or more stringent than any available guidelines for the disposal of home healthcare products provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Provides that the Department must develop educational materials regarding the safe disposal of hypodermic syringes and needles and distribute the materials to pharmacies and the public. Provides certain information that must be included in the educational materials.

Amends the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Provides that an Applicant may qualify for tax credits if the Applicant has 100 or fewer employees and is located or will locate in a county for which the annual unemployment rate was at least 1% higher than the average annual statewide unemployment rate during the most recent year for which those statistics are available from the Department of Employment Security, the project will involve an investment of at least $500,000 in capital improvements to be placed in service, and the project will employ at least 2 New Employees within the State as a direct result of the project. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the Illinois Anatomical Gift Act. Provides that the Secretary of State may establish a First Person Consent organ and tissue donor registry. Provides that the Secretary may offer, to each applicant for reissuance or renewal of a driver's license or identification card who is 18 or older, the opportunity to have his or her name included on the registry. Provides that the Secretary must advise the person that he or she is under no compulsion to have his or her name included. Establishes additional procedures for creating the registry. Provides that the Secretary must continue, until the registry has been established, to provide, on the reverse side of each driver's license issued, a format that the licensee may use to execute an anatomical gift. Provides that a person may make an anatomical gift by consenting to having his or her name included in the registry. Provides that in the absence of gross negligence, willful misconduct, the Secretary of State and his or her employees are immune from criminal or civil liability in connection with a person's consent to be listed in the registry.

Amends the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. In a provision concerning eligibility for grants under the Act, increases the household income eligibility limitations for grant year 2006, and provides that, for grant years 2007 and thereafter, the limitations shall be increased annually by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for the previous calendar year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. Repeals a provision that repeals the Act on July 1, 2007.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Allows an income tax credit for each individual taxpayer who is a teacher teaching in a school in Illinois. Provides that the amount of the credit is equal to the eligible classroom expenses made by the taxpayer during the taxable year, but the credit may not exceed $500. Defines "eligible classroom expenses" as the aggregate amount of nonreimbursed classroom expenses made by the taxpayer during the taxable year less $250. Provides that the credit may not be carried forward or back and may not reduce the taxpayer's liability to less than zero. Effective immediately.

Amends the Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse and Dependency Act. Requires the Department to publish notice of an application for licensure under the Act in a publication of general circulation in the county where the applicant seeks to provide services. Provides that the notice shall describe the applicant's services, solicit public comments, and provide notice of a public hearing on the application. Requires the Department to provide a public hearing to determine the impact of the applicant's operation on the local community and the operation's compliance with health, safety, and zoning requirements. Sets forth that after notice and hearing the Department shall issue a license if it finds that the applicant meets the requirements established by regulation for the particular license, provided that, the Secretary may deny any application based upon a finding that an operation is not in the best interests of the local community.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that before establishing a half-way house for persons on parole or mandatory supervised release, the Department of Corrections shall obtain the signature from every resident at least 18 years of age who resides within 250 feet from the front door of the proposed half-way house on a form indicating the location of the proposed half-way house and stating or acknowledging that the half-way house will be established at the stated location. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides for the issuance of Iraqi Freedom license plates at an additional initial charge of $40 and an additional renewal charge of $27 with eligibility requirements to be determined by the Secretary of State. Provides that $15 of the initial charge and $2 of the renewal charge shall be paid into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund and $25 of the initial charge and $25 of the renewal charge shall be paid into the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund. Amends the Illinois Lottery Law. Provides that the moneys deposited into the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund from the sale of Iraqi Freedom license plates may, subject to appropriation, be used by the Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide grants to assist in the financial and educational support of minor and dependent children of veterans who died or were disabled in the line of duty.