Congratulates the coaches and members of the Wheaton St. Francis Boys Football team on the occasion of winning the Illinois State 5A Football Championship.
Congratulates the student team from West Chicago Community High School for receiving first place in the Stock Market Game (SMG) program fall 2008 session.
Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, in each county in which a Children's Advocacy Center provides services, the county board may adopt a mandatory fee of up to $5 to be paid by the plaintiff upon filing certain civil actions.
Creates the Homeowners' Solar Energy Act. Provides that no bylaw or action of a homeowners' association, property owners' association, or a condominium unit owners' association shall prohibit or be interpreted to prohibit a solar energy system or other energy device based on a renewable resource. Provides that no deed restrictions, covenants, or similar binding agreements running with the land shall prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting a solar energy system or other renewable resource energy device from being installed on residential dwelling property that does not exceed 3 stories. Provides that an owners' association may determine the location of a solar energy system. Provides that solar energy systems shall be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) or another nationally recognized certification entity. Provides that an application for the installation of a solar energy system shall be processed and approved as an application for architectural modification and shall not be willfully avoided or delayed. Provides that any entity, other than a public entity, that willfully violates this Act shall be liable to the applicant or other party adversely affected for actual damages. Provides that in any litigation under this Act, the prevailing party is entitled to reasonable attorney's fees. Provides that the legislative purpose of this Act is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare by encouraging the use of renewable resource energy systems to conserve and protect land and resources and prevent measures which will drive the cost of owning residential property beyond the capacity of private owners.
Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders to the extent that the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders are not already covered by the policy or plan. Provides that this coverage shall be subject to a maximum benefit of $36,000 per year, but shall not be subject to any limits on the number of visits to an autism service provider. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Election Code. When the name of a candidate does not appear on the primary ballot and a write-in candidate is not nominated for that office, the vacancy in nomination may be filled by a person designated by the appropriate committee of the political party who files petitions at the same time and with the same number of required signatures as an independent candidate (now, the vacancy is filled by a nominating resolution of the appropriate political party committee).
Amends the Illinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act. Provides that after the effective date all new or replaced underground utility lines must be marked with detectable underground warning tape, which is able to be traced by inductive locating. Requires that the marking shall be a minimum of 6 inches and be buried as close to the ground surface as possible, or between 4 and 6 inches deep. Provides that the warning tape shall be American Public Works Association color-coded to match the type of utility line it is protecting.
Amends the School Code and the Counties Code. Provides that it is a State's Attorney's duty to notify the State Superintendent of Education upon the conviction of any individual known to possess a certificate issued under the School Code of any of certain offenses or any other felony conviction. In the criminal history records check provisions of the School Code, makes changes concerning the offenses for which a school board may not knowingly employ a person. Provides that no one may be certified to teach or supervise in the public schools who has been convicted of certain offenses (instead of providing that in determining good character, any felony conviction of an applicant may be taken into consideration, but such a conviction shall not operate as a bar to registration). In provisions concerning suspension or revocation of a certificate, provides that the State Superintendent of Education has the exclusive authority to initiate the suspension of up to 5 calendar years or revocation of any certificate (instead of providing that a certificate may be suspended for a period not to exceed one calendar year by the regional superintendent of schools or for a period not to exceed 5 calendar years by the State Superintendent). With respect to certificate suspension and revocation, makes changes concerning an investigation, notice, a hearing, an appeal, and the offenses that are grounds for suspension and revocation. Makes other changes.
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 State Finance Act. Exempts the Domestic Violence Shelter and Service Fund from the Act's administrative charge-back provisions. Effective immediately.
