Rep. Robin Kelly

Amends the Personal Information Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county officers electoral board shall hear and pass upon objections to nominations for municipal offices, for township offices, if the township is wholly located in one county, and for community college district offices. Provides that if a municipality, school district, or community college district is located in 2 or more counties, the county officers electoral board of the county in which the principal offices of the municipality, school district, or community college district are located shall hear and pass upon the objections. Deletes provisions concerning the municipal officers electoral board, the township officers electors board, and the education officers electors board.

Creates the I-Connect Computer Technology Act. Requires the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to establish and implement, with the advice of the I-Connect Advisory Board, the I-Connect Computer Advisory Program in order to provide 7th grade students in public schools and their teachers with portable computers. Sets forth standards for the Program. Establishes the I-Connect Computer Technology Advisory Board and sets forth qualifications for its members. Requires the Advisory Board, in conjunction with ISBE, to submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly concerning the progress of the Program. Establishes the I-Connect Computer Technology Fund, a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that it is the sole duty of school districts, school administrators, and school teachers to make decisions relating to the use of portable computers provided by the Program. Amends the State Finance Act to create the I-Connect Computer Technology Fund. Amends the School Code to provide that participation in courses, seminars, or other courses of instruction that develop the technology skills of the teacher or that provide the teacher with skills for integration of technology into the classroom constitutes continuing professional development activities. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.

Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to implement a 3-year pilot project in Will County or southern Cook County for the operation of 2 CILA homes for adolescents diagnosed with autism. Effective July 1, 2006.

Creates the Assault Weapons Control Law in the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that any person who, within this State, manufactures or causes to be manufactured, distributes, transports, or imports into the State, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives or lends any assault weapon is guilty of a Class 2 felony. Provides that any person who, within this State, possesses any assault weapon is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Provides that a first violation of these provisions is a petty offense punishable by a fine not exceeding $500, if the person was found in possession of no more than 2 firearms and certain conditions are met. Permits the Director of State Police to obtain an order from the circuit court to have weapons that are prototypes or copies of the proscribed weapons to be declared assault weapons. Permits certain persons and entities to obtain a permit to possess or manufacture assault weapons.

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Exempts from the extension limitation those extensions made for contributions to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund under the Illinois Pension Code or for contributions to any other pension fund under the Illinois Pension Code. Effective October 1, 2005.

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that extensions made for contributions to certain pension funds are exempt from the definition of "aggregate extension". Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Clean Indoor Air Act. Provides that a home rule unit of local government or any municipality in this State may regulate smoking in public places. Provides that this regulation must be no less restrictive than the regulation in the Act. Changes the home rule limitation from an absolute preemption to a limitation on the concurrent exercise of home rule power. Maintains the exemption from home rule requirements for home rule units that passed ordinances regulating smoking before October 1, 1989. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers.

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 Pension Code. Makes a technical change in Section concerning payments to the City of Chicago for participation in the City of Chicago's health care plans.