Creates the Illinois Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Act. Provides that the Commission shall consist of 22 voting members. Provides for the appointment of the Commission's members. Requires the Commission to make recommendations to assist the State in reducing State spending and to balance the State's budget. Provides that, within 60 days after the effective date of the Act, the Commission must submit its recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly. Provides that, if the Commission adopts the report by a three-fifths vote, then the General Assembly must, within 14 days after the report is filed by the Commission, vote on whether to accept the report by the adoption of a resolution. Abolishes the Commission on the day after the Commission submits its report to the Governor and the General Assembly. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Authorizes the governing board of each public university to develop a fixed tuition rate program for qualified students who agree to transfer to the university within 12 months after successfully earning an associate's degree at a public community college in this State. Provides that under the program, the university must (1) guarantee to a participating student enrolled in an associate's degree program at a public community college, on successful completion of the associate's degree program, transfer admission to the university within the 12-month period; and (2) charge tuition to a participating student for any semester or other academic term during a period of at least 24 months following the student's initial enrollment in the university at the same rate the university would have charged to the student during the later of (i) the fall semester of the student's freshman year at the public community college had the student entered the university as a freshman student or (ii) the fall semester of the second academic year preceding the academic year of the student's initial enrollment in the university.
Amends the Downstate Police and Downstate Firefighters Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that if, after the official publication of the 2010 federal census of housing and population, an eligible municipality is for the first time required to establish a police or firefighter pension fund, then the corporate authorities of that municipality may, by resolution or ordinance adopted within 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act or 60 days after the official publication of the 2010 federal census of housing and population, whichever is later, elect not to establish that fund, provided that, before the adoption of that resolution or ordinance may take place, an independent auditor has certified that (i) a fund has not yet been created or (ii) a fund was created after the publication of the census data, but the fund does not have any outstanding liabilities or any members, participants, or beneficiaries entitled to benefits. Defines "eligible municipality". Effective immediately.
Amends the State Comptroller Act. With certain exceptions, requires each State agency to report the necessary information to the Comptroller by each October 31 for the Comptroller's publication of the State's comprehensive annual financial report by each December 31. Establishes measures to deal with delinquent or insufficient reports from State agencies, including the Comptroller's withholding of compensation and expense reimbursement of the director or secretary of a delinquent State agency and the development of action plans by delinquent State agencies. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that each taxpayer is allowed a credit against the tax imposed under the Act in an amount equal to a percentage of wages paid to an employee who was drawing unemployment compensation at the time of hire and who has been employed by the taxpayer as a full-time employee for a period of 12 consecutive months at any point during the taxable year.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Increases the maximum reduction under the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption from $4,000 to $7,000 for taxable year 2011 and indexes the reduction to the Consumer Price Index. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a tax checkoff for the Habitat for Humanity Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be appropriated to the Department of Human Services for grants supporting Habitat for Humanity projects in Illinois. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that if a nuisance lien has been filed against a property, then those costs associated with the lien may be treated as an existing, judicially-approved special assessment, as though an assessment warrant had been issued. Further provides that the municipality may collect the costs as a special assessment if it complies with applicable procedures. Requires that the owner of record or persons interested in the property shall pay the costs incurred by the municipality for collecting the costs associated with the lien. Defines "nuisance lien." Effective immediately.
Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Creates the Women Veterans Task Force consisting of women veterans to examine the needs of women veterans with respect to issues including, but not limited to, compensation, rehabilitation, outreach, health care, and issues facing women veterans in the community, and to offer solutions on how best to meet these needs. Contains provisions concerning the composition of the Task Force; vacancies; duties; reporting requirements; and duration. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Finance Act. Requires PAYGO budgeting. Provides that if a Public Act requires additional spending from State funds, then no appropriation for the additional spending required by the Public Act may be obligated or expended unless the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability certifies to the State Comptroller that the same or another Public Act specifically identifies adequate decreases in expenditures or enhancements in revenues to completely offset the additional spending required by the Public Act. Effective immediately.