Rep. Jeanne M Ives

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that vehicles owned and operated by or for a private university police department or private college police department, except for motor driven cycles or all-terrain vehicles, shall have permanent vehicle registration plates for a one time fee of $8.00. These registration plates shall contain the designation of "university police" or "college police" and shall be numbered and distributed as prescribed by the Secretary of State.

Creates the School District Debt Control and Taxpayer Protection Act. Provides that a school district may not refinance debt past the repayment period of the debt when issued, may not issue debt to be serviced over a period of greater than 20 years, and may not issue capital appreciation bonds. Provides that school districts may not be indebted in an amount greater than that indicated in the Act and, if they do exceed the debt limitation, then the school district many not incur any new debt until the school district's debt is lower than the debt limitation. Amends the School Code. Provides that, if the School Code and the School District Debt Control and Taxpayer Protection Act conflict, the School District Debt Control and Taxpayer Protection Act shall control. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the General Assembly Article, restricts participation in the General Assembly Retirement System to persons who become participants before the effective date of the amendatory Act and provides that, beginning on that date, the System shall not accept any new participants. Makes related changes. In the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, Chicago Municipal, and Cook County Articles, provides that a person who holds part-time elective office is not an employee, contributor, or participant with respect to that office, unless he or she (i) was elected to that office before the effective date of the amendatory Act and (ii) has elected while in that office to become a contributor. Provides that an elective office shall be presumed to be part-time in the absence of an official job description or determination by the legal advisor of the applicable unit of local government, filed with the Board of the Fund, declaring the elective office to be full-time.

Amends the Election Code. Makes changes to provisions concerning the processing of ballots, challenging petitions, election-day and grace period registration, provisional ballots, and municipal and township early voting. Creates a pilot program for DuPage County that allows the election authority to obtain driver's license pictures to help verify a voter's identity. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Makes various changes to provisions concerning the processing of ballots, challenging petitions, election-day and grace period registration, provisional ballots, municipal and township early voting, and other matters. Creates a pilot program for DuPage County that allows the election authority to obtain driver's license pictures and signatures to help verify a voter's identity. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that for an employee who becomes a participant on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, "basic compensation" does not include (1) the value of maintenance, board, living quarters, personal laundry, or other allowances furnished in lieu of salary which are considered gross income under the Internal Revenue Code; (2) certain employee contributions to the System; (3) certain employer contributions to a custodial account; and (4) fringe benefits that an employee elects to receive, in lieu of cash salary or wages, that are not taxable under the Internal Revenue Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district's driver education course shall include instruction on proper procedures following a vehicle stop by a law enforcement officer. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State shall prescribe by rule all driver education course materials used by an adult driver education course and by a driver education course under the Driver Education Act. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person who drives a vehicle upon any highway of this State at a speed that is 40 (rather than 26) miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit commits a Class B misdemeanor. Removes the penalty of a Class A misdemeanor for driving 35 miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Allows court supervision for a violation of driving at a speed that is 40 miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the maximum amount of the education expense credit to $1,500 (currently, $500). Adds athletic fees, driver's education fees, and fees and costs associated with certain out-of-school activities to the list of qualified education expenses.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the General Assembly Article, restricts participation in the General Assembly Retirement System to persons who become participants before the effective date of the amendatory Act and provides that, beginning on that date, the System shall not accept any new participants. Makes related changes. In the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, Chicago Municipal, and Cook County Articles, provides that a person who holds part-time elective office is not an employee, contributor, or participant with respect to that office, unless he or she (i) was elected to that office before the effective date of the amendatory Act and (ii) has elected while in that office to become a contributor. Provides that an elective office shall be presumed to be part-time in the absence of an official job description or determination by the legal advisor of the applicable unit of local government, filed with the Board of the Fund, declaring the elective office to be full-time.