Rep. Bob Biggins

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that after a petition for executive clemency has been denied by the Governor, the Prisoner Review Board may not accept a repeat petition for executive clemency for the same person until 3 full years have elapsed from the date of denial. If the person on whose behalf the repeat petition is filed has been sentenced to death, a repeat petition may be accepted at any time (now one year must elapse from the date of the denial of executive clemency). Effective immediately.

Amends the Non-Support Punishment Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning prosecutions by the Attorney General.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act concerning the research and development credit. Provides that, for taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2003, the credit is equal to 50% of the qualifying expenditures for research activities in this State incurred during the taxable year (now, equal to 6 1/2% of the qualifying expenditures for increasing research activities in this State, defined as the increase in qualifying expenditures over the average of the qualifying expenditures of the prior 3-year period). Exempts the credit from the sunset provisions of the Act (now, sunsets on December 31, 2004). Effective immediately.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Permits a public body to close a meeting or portion of a meeting to discuss its legal counsel's appointment, performance, compensation, or dismissal. Effective July 1, 2003.

Amends the Election Code. Prohibits an executive or legislative branch constitutional officer, his or her employees and salaried appointees, and candidates for that office from soliciting campaign contributions from that officer's employees. Makes a violation grounds for disciplinary action, including loss of position.

Appropriates $2,874,100 to the Property Tax Appeal Board for its ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2004.

Creates the State Officer Event Sponsorship Disclosure Act. Requires State officers to disclose the sources and amounts of financial or in-kind sponsorship of public events they host or in which they are featured participants. Defines a State officer as an executive branch constitutional officer or a legislator. Requires the Secretary of State to (i) prescribe disclosure forms, (ii) receive the forms, and (iii) maintain the forms as public records.

Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Revenue to provide each municipality, on a quarterly basis, with detailed information regarding whether proper occupation and use tax payments are being received by the municipality by monitoring and tracking those revenues. Effective July 1, 2003.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that if a new fire protection district is formed by referendum under the Fire Protection District Act, the aggregate extension base for the district shall automatically be established for the levy year in which the new fire protection district is formed at the rate authorized for corporate purposes under the Fire Protection District Act (now, all new taxing districts must establish aggregate extension base by referendum).

Amends the Administrative Review Law of the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that if (i) a plaintiff substantially prevails in the Circuit Court, (ii) a defendant appeals the final decision, order, or judgment of the Circuit Court as it relates to that plaintiff, and (iii) that plaintiff substantially prevails on appeal, then the Appellate Court must remand the case to the Circuit Court for a determination of the costs, expenses, and fees (including without limitation reasonable attorney's fees) incurred by that plaintiff in defending the appeal. The Circuit Court must then order that defendant to pay to that plaintiff those costs, expenses, and fees.