Rep. Franco Coladipietro

Amends the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act. Provides that a forest preserve located within a county with a population of less than 3,000,000 may sell a parcel of land that is less than 3 acres in size if it was originally part of a larger parcel but became separated as a result of the construction of a new public road. Sets forth other criteria for the sale. Provides that the proceeds from the sale must be set aside in the forest preserve district's endowment fund and used for the district's future land acquisitions. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Alfred E. Gallo.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that in a county with a population of less than 2,000,000 (instead of 1,000,000), a sheriff may employ civilian personnel to serve process and that process may be served, without special appointment, by a person who is licensed or registered as a private detective under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004 or by a registered employee of a certified private detective agency. Provides that for the security of a correctional facility or jail, a process server may be refused entry. Provides that each facility or jail shall establish a location for service of process. Provides that if a representative of a warden or sheriff accepts service of process for an inmate, the process shall be delivered to the inmate within one day, but no fine may be levied for the failure to do so. Provides that service may be refused if an inmate is not present in the facility or jail. Effective immediately.

Amends the Township Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning referenda.

Creates the Transfer Fee Covenant Act. States legislative findings and declares that transfer fee covenants violate the public policy of favoring the transferability of real property free of unreasonable restraints. Defines transfer, transfer fee, and transfer fee covenant. Provides that a transfer fee covenant or a lien to secure the payment of a transfer fee that is recorded after the effective date is void, unenforceable, and does not run with the title to the real property. Provides that it cannot be presumed that the provisions of this Act mean that a transfer fee covenant or lien recorded before the effective date is valid and enforceable.

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 Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that it is a Class 4 felony for any sex offender (rather than just a child sex offender) to knowingly be present in any public park building or on real property comprising any public park or to knowingly loiter on a public way within 500 feet of a public park building or real property comprising any public park.

Amends the Home Repair Fraud Act. Provides that a person commits the offense of aggravated home repair fraud when he commits home repair fraud in connection with a home repair project intended to assist a disabled person. Provides that aggravated home repair involving misrepresentation or deception is a Class 3 (instead of Class 4) felony when the amount of the contract or agreement is $500 or less and a Class 2 (instead of Class 3) felony for a second or subsequent offense when the amount of the contract or agreement is $500 or less. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person commits crowding or threatening a bicyclist when a person driving a motor vehicle recklessly drives the motor vehicle unnecessarily close to, toward, or near a bicyclist. Provides that every person convicted of crowding or threatening a bicyclist shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor if the violation does not result in great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to another. Provides that if a crowding or threatening a bicyclist violation results in great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to another, the person shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony. Provides that a person commits projecting or throwing missiles at bicyclists, a Class A misdemeanor, when a person projects or throws any missile (defined as any object or substance) at or against a bicyclist. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Deletes language providing that before July 1, 2006 and after June 30, 2010, the State Board of Education shall provide the primary source of funding through appropriations for the grants for preschool educational program and the funds shall be distributed for the benefit of children who because of their home and community environment are subject to such language, cultural, economic and like disadvantages that they have been determined as a result of screening procedures to be at risk of academic failure. Deletes language that provides that screening procedures shall be based on criteria established by the State Board of Education. Removes the date restrictions of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2010 on the requirement that the State Board of Education shall provide the primary source of funding through appropriations for the program. Effective immediately.