Rep. Cynthia Soto

Amends the Illinois Migrant Labor Camp Law. Makes a technical change in the Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for facilities licensed by the Department of Public Health under the Nursing Home Care Act as Intermediate Care for the Developmentally Disabled facilities, or facilities licensed by the Department of Human Services under the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act, in any calendar year in which there is a cost-of-living increase in federal Supplemental Security Income benefits or Social Security Administration payments, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall increase the Medicaid per diem rate paid to those facilities by an amount equal to the total amount of the increase in Supplemental Security Income benefits or Social Security Administration payments. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the Returning Veterans' Homestead Exemption, under which an exemption from the property's value is granted for residential property that is owned and occupied as a residence by a veteran for the tax year in which the veteran returns from active duty in an armed conflict involving the armed forces of the United States. In a Section concerning the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption, provides that in all counties (now, in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants), the county board may by resolution provide that if a person has been granted the homestead exemption, the person qualifying need not reapply for the exemption. In a Section concerning the alternative general homestead exemption, extends the alternative exemption by an additional 3 years. Provides that the maximum amount of the exemption is $60,000 if the general assessment year for the property is 2006 or later. Provides that the base year for counties other than Cook County is the 2005 or 2006 tax year. Provides that, to subject itself to the provisions of the alternative general homestead exemption, a county must adopt an ordinance to that effect within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Health Program Beneficiary Employer Disclosure Law. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Health Services Education Grants Act. Provides that, in addition to grants to medical, dental, pharmacy, optometry, and nursing schools and physician assistant programs, grants may be made to psychology and other physical and mental health-related schools and programs (instead of to other health-related schools and programs). Effective immediately.

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 50% of 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 Municipal Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, before any action is taken by the Board on an application for a duty disability benefit or a widow's compensation or supplemental benefit, the employee or widow shall file a claim with the employer to establish that the disability or death occurred while the employee was acting within the scope of and in the course of his or her duties. Provides an offset of disability benefits for any amounts provided to the employee or surviving spouse as temporary total disability payments, permanent disability payments, a lump sum settlement award, or other payment under the Workers' Compensation Act or the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act. Makes other changes concerning disability benefits. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the amount of the earned income tax credit from 5% of the federal credit to: (i) 7.5% of the federal tax credit for taxable years ending in calendar year 2007; and (ii) 10% of the federal tax credit for taxable years ending in calendar year 2008 or thereafter. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that an offender's eligibility for a restricted driving permit depends on whether denial of all driving privileges would cause undue hardship, as defined by rules adopted by the Secretary of State. Provides that a person convicted of 4 or more offenses of driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident involving death or personal injury, or reckless homicide, or a combination of those offenses, is not eligible for a restricted driving permit. Provides that the Secretary shall revoke the driving privileges of any person under the age of 21 convicted of an out-of-state offense similar to DUI. Provides that a second suspension of a person's driving privileges for an out-of-state offense similar to DUI, or a single suspension of that type, if coupled with a summary suspension under the Code or a DUI or reckless homicide conviction, shall result in the person's being prohibited from driving a vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock device. Provides that a conviction of reckless homicide (as well as a conviction of DUI) increases the limitations that shall be imposed on a person's driving privileges.

Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Under specified circumstances, allows for a maximum of 5 additional charter schools exclusively for truants or dropouts in Chicago if the limit on the number of charter schools that may operate at any one time in the rest of the State has not been reached. Provides that if any of the additional charter schools are not used exclusively for truants or dropouts, then the State Board of Education shall withhold and the charter school shall forfeit all State funding designated for that school.