Rep. Keith Farnham

Congratulates East Dundee Village Administrator Frank Koehler on the occasion of his retirement.

Creates the Afterschool Youth Development Project Act. Provides that because it is the policy of this State to provide all young people between the ages of 6 and 19 with access to quality afterschool programs through a State commitment to sufficient and sustainable funding for programs that promote positive youth development, the Illinois Youth Development Council is created. Provides that the purpose of the Council is to provide oversight and coordination to the State's public funds currently invested to support positive youth development programs and activities and to set system-wide policies and priorities to accomplish 5 specified objectives. Provides that the Council shall be governed by a board of no less than 28 and no more than 32 members and that the Council shall reflect the regional, racial, socio-economic, and cultural diversity of the State to ensure representation of the needs of all Illinois youth. Contains provisions concerning Council member appointments; the establishment of an independent Youth Advisory Group; the major objectives of the Council; afterschool demonstration programs; reporting requirements; and other matters. Provides that the Council shall be created within the Department of Human Services and that the Department shall provide resources to the Council including administrative services and data collection. Effective immediately.

Creates the Mercury Thermostat Collection Act. Requires thermostat manufacturers to establish an out-of-service mercury thermostat collection program that meets certain requirements. Requires thermostat manufacturers to submit certain reports on their collection programs to the Agency. Sets goals for the collection of out-of-service mercury thermostats. Provides that if those goals are not met, then the manufacturers must revise their collection programs as necessary to achieve the applicable goal. Requires contractors, service technicians, thermostat wholesalers, thermostat manufacturers, and thermostat retailers to handle and manage out-of-service mercury thermostats in a manner that is consistent with the provisions of the universal waste regulations adopted by the Illinois Pollution Control Board. On and after January 1, 2011, prohibits (i) thermostat wholesalers from selling, offering to sell, distributing, or offering to distribute thermostats unless certain requirements are met and (ii) contractors from removing, replacing, or otherwise taking mercury thermostats out of service unless the contractors deliver those thermostats to a collection site. On and after January 1, 2011, prohibits thermostat manufacturers that are in violation of the Act from selling, offering to sell, distributing, or offering to distribute thermostats in the State. Requires the Agency to post certain information on its website and to report certain information to the General Assembly. Provides for prosecution by the Attorney General or the State's Attorney of the county in which a violation occurs. Requires the Agency to make certain recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by January 1, 2012. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if a taxpayer has been awarded a disabled veterans standard homestead exemption, and that taxpayer subsequently becomes a resident of a facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act or a facility operated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, then the exemption shall continue (i) so long as the residence continues to be occupied by the qualifying person's spouse or (ii) if the residence remains unoccupied but is still owned by the person who qualified for the homestead exemption.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section concerning the returning veterans' homestead exemption, provides that the veteran may apply the exemption for the taxable year after he or she returns if (i) he or she first acquires a principal residence during the taxable year in which he or she returns, but after January 1 of that year, and (ii) if the property is owned and occupied as a principal residence by the veteran on January 1 of the next taxable year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that if an emergency order of protection is issued when the court is not in session, the judge who issued the order shall promptly communicate or convey the order to the sheriff to facilitate the entry of the order by the Department of State Police into the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. In provisions concerning annexation under specified circumstances, adds that a municipality may annex territory which is not contiguous to the municipality if the territory is separated by an area dedicated to conservation and owned by a not-for-profit organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 under certain circumstances. Provides that it is presumed that an existing forest preserve district property, federal wildlife refuge, open land, open space, or conservation area owned by a not-for-profit organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code creates an artificial barrier preventing annexation if the property to be annexed has access to municipal water and sewer service without new easements or new rights-of-way for access. Makes revisory changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Trust and Payable on Death Accounts Act. Provides that "beneficiary" includes, but is not limited to, a natural person, corporation, charitable organization, or any other organization.

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Provides that a person convicted of certain additional sex offenses against victims under 18 years of age is also defined as a sexual predator. Effective January 1, 2011.