Rep. Kevin Joyce

Amends the Chicago Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that if a firefighter who is unable to perform his or her duties because of an occupational disease or disability dies within the initial one-year period during which he or she continues to receive salary rather than an occupational disease disability benefit, the firefighter's surviving spouse may elect to receive the same benefits (including health care benefits) as she or he would have qualified for if the deceased firefighter had been receiving an occupational disease disability benefit at the time of death. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a governmental agency in a municipality or county may establish an automated traffic law enforcement system that produces a recorded image of a motor vehicle's response to a traffic control signal and is designed to obtain a clear recorded image of the vehicle and the vehicle's license plate. Provides that the municipality or county may impose liability on a registered owner of a vehicle that violates the applicable law. Provides that the recorded image must also display the time, date, and location of the violation. Provides that no citation may be issued if the technician determines that the vehicle entered the intersection as part of a funeral procession or in order to yield the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle. Provides that the owner of the vehicle used in the violation is liable for the violation if the violation was recorded by the system, with exceptions. In a provision concerning failure to pay fines or penalties for standing, parking, and compliance violations and administrative adjudication of those violations, adds violations recorded by the system. Provides that a second notice of violation is not required before a final determination of liability for a violation recorded by the system may be entered. Provides that the compensation paid for the system may not be based on the amount of revenue generated or tickets issued by the system. Deletes language providing for creation of an automated red light enforcement system in a municipality with a population of 1,000,000 or more. 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 Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Authorizes an active member with at least 5 years of creditable service to establish up to 10 years of additional service credit for certain employment as a law enforcement officer with a downstate municipal police department, the Cook County Police Department, the State of Illinois, or the Chicago Housing Authority. Requires the applicant to pay employee and employer contributions, plus interest; permits the use of rollover contributions. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code to provide an increase in the retirement benefit formula. Changes the maximum annuity from 75% to 80% of average salary. Provides for 2.5% (rather than 2%) of average salary for each year of service beyond 20. Applies to persons withdrawing from service after the effective date. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning covenants exempting a lessor from liability for damages.

Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides a compounded 3% annual increase in surviving spouse annuities. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Electricity Excise Tax Law. Deletes provisions, applicable through June 30, 2004, requiring the Department of Revenue to pay certain amounts each month into the Public Utility Fund. Beginning on July 1, 2006 and through January 31, 2009, requires the Department to pay certain amounts each month into the Municipal Economic Development Fund. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Prohibits the Illinois Commerce Commission from requiring an electric utility to purchase electricity from any qualified solid waste energy facility (QSWEF) that is owned or operated by an entity that is the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding during the pendency of that proceeding. Provides that, as of the first date on which renewable energy certificates or other saleable representations are sold by a QSWEF, with or without the electricity generated by the facility, to an electric utility or to another electric supplier that is required under State law to comply with a renewable energy portfolio standard or required by order of the Illinois Commerce Commission to meet renewable energy portfolio standard requirement, the QSWEF may not sell electricity and shall be exempt from certain requirements concerning the sale of electricity, but shall remain obligated for certain reimbursements to the State. Provides that certain provisions concerning the sale of electricity by QSWEFs shall remain in full force and effect with respect to a QSWEF that sold electricity at any time before July 1, 2006 and that does not sell or transfer renewable energy certificates or other saleable representations in order to meet the requirements of a renewable energy portfolio standard. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2006, the Illinois Commerce Commission shall not issue any order determining that a facility is a QSWEF unless it was determined by the Illinois Commerce Commission to be a QSWEF before July 1, 2006. Effective immediately.

Creates the Elimination of Phosphorus in Detergents Act. Provides that on and after January 1, 2007, no person may use, sell, manufacture, or distribute for sale any cleaning agent containing more than 0% phosphorus by weight, expressed as elemental phosphorus, in Illinois, except as provided under this Act. Sets forth certain exceptions. Provides that the Pollution Control Board may authorize the use of certain cleaning agents containing phosphorus under certain conditions and shall promulgate rules for the administration and enforcement of this Act. Effective immediately.