Rep. Mike Fortner

Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Under specified circumstances, allows for a maximum of 5 additional charter schools exclusively for truants or dropouts in Chicago if the limit on the number of charter schools that may operate at any one time in the rest of the State has not been reached. Provides that if any of the additional charter schools are not used exclusively for truants or dropouts, then the State Board of Education shall withhold and the charter school shall forfeit all State funding designated for that school.

Amends the Uniform Peace Officers' Disciplinary Act. Provides that an officer who wins an appeal of a suspension, demotion, or dismissal shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees. Effective January 1, 2008

Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Adds a provision related to legislative findings. Requires the Regional Transportation Authority to provide financial oversight of the Service Boards, allocate operating and capital funds made available to support public transportation in the metropolitan region, and undertake certain planning functions. Provides that the Authority to adopt certain plans and budgets. Requires the Authority to conduct audits of the Service Boards. Requires the the Authority to establish certain special funds. Makes changes concerning the resolution of disputes between Service Boards. Sets forth certain functions of the Board of the Authority. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2008, with respect to motor fuel and gasohol the tax under the Acts is imposed at the rate of 1.25% (now, 6.25%). Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Imposes an additional tax of $0.08 per gallon on motor fuel sold in this State. Provides that the proceeds of this additional tax must be deposited into the Metropolitan Transit and Road Improvement Fund and sets forth the distributions from that Fund. Provides for the monthly transfer of certain matching funds from the General Revenue Fund to the Public Transportation Fund. Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Authorizes home rule municipalities to impose a real estate transfer tax for the purpose of providing financial assistance to the Chicago Transit Authority. Makes changes concerning the directors of the Regional Transportation Authority and the Board of the Commuter Rail Division. Makes numerous other changes concerning the operation of regional transportation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that the county boards of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties may impose a tax upon all rail line owners (calculated per rail car per mile) for the privilege of operating a rail line within the county and that the rate must be sufficient to complete necessary grade crossing separation work and related infrastructure improvements to improve safety for first responders and the general public. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning Medicaid rates for nursing homes, provides that for facilities licensed by the Department of Public Health under the Nursing Home Care Act as skilled nursing facilities or intermediate care facilities, the support component of the rates taking effect on July 1, 2008 shall be computed using the most recent cost reports on file with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services no later than April 1, 2006, updated for inflation to January 1, 2007. Provides that facilities shall have the support component of their Medicaid rate computed every year using the most recent cost reports on file with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services no later than April 1, 2 years prior to the year in which the new rate takes effect, updated for inflation to January 1 of the year prior to the year in which the new rate takes effect. Effective immediately.

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act in the Illinois Municipal Code. Adds costs of and associated with transit oriented developments to the definition of "redevelopment project costs". Defines "transit oriented development".

Amends the Property Tax Code. Requires each chief county assessment officer in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants to provide to each residential taxpayer a Homestead Assessment Disclosure Document that contains certain disclosures concerning the assessed valuation of homestead property. Requires the Department of Revenue to annually review the disclosures to ensure that they are accurate and that they comply with all applicable laws and rules concerning property valuations. Provides that, if a taxpayer files a complaint before a board of review, then, within 5 days after the complaint is filed, the board of review must provide the taxpayer with a detailed description of the rules and procedures for hearings before the board. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Compensation Review Act. With respect to Compensation Review Board recommendations beginning in 2008 for cost of living adjustments to General Assembly member compensation, prohibits the recommendation from including adjustments for periods of time other than the period since the Board's most recent previous report. Invalidates any violating portions of future reports, and prohibits the payment of funds appropriated for compensation in violation of the prohibition.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that any unincorporated territory containing 60 acres or less may be annexed by any municipality by which it is bounded if it is wholly bounded by one or more municipalities in a county with a population of more than 800,000 inhabitants and less than 2,000,000 inhabitants and a railroad or operating property, as defined in the Property Tax Code, being immediately adjacent to, but exclusive of the property. Provides that railroad property shall not be subject to the zoning or jurisdiction of the municipality annexing the territory, nor shall the utility property be included for purposes of calculating the territory annexed. Provides that lands used for agricultural purposes or to produce agricultural goods may not be annexed under certain provisions of the Section. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Defines "order of protection status" as a person's status as being a person protected or previously protected under an order of protection issued under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 or an order of protection issued by a court of another state. Provides that discrimination against a person because of his or her order of protection status constitutes unlawful discrimination under the Act. Effective January 1, 2008.