Rep. David Harris

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the alternative general homestead exemption applies on a permanent basis and increases the maximum amount of the exemption to $40,000 beginning in taxable year 2011. Removes an income limitation from the long-time occupant homestead exemption. Provides that, beginning in taxable year 2011, for the purpose of calculating the long-time occupant homestead exemption, "adjusted homestead value" is the lesser of (i) the property's base homestead value increased by 7% for each taxable year after the base year through and including the current tax year or (ii) the property's equalized assessed value for the current tax year minus the general homestead deduction. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Reinstates the training expense credit for tax years ending on or after December 31, 2011 and on or before December 30, 2021. Increases the amount of the credit from 1.6% of training expenses to 2% of training expenses. Provides that the training expense credit earned on or after December 31, 2011 may be carried forward. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Prohibits certain business entities with State contracts or pending bids or proposals on State contracts from making political contributions to any political committee (i) established to promote the candidacy of an officeholder or declared candidate for that office, (ii) established to promote the candidacy of any member of the General Assembly or declared candidate for membership in the General Assembly, or (iii) of a State central committee of any political party that is represented by an officeholder or member of the General Assembly or a declared candidate for that office or membership in the General Assembly (now, any political committee established to promote the candidacy of an officeholder responsible for awarding the contracts or, with regard to business entities with State contracts, any other declared candidate for that office).

Amends the Property Tax Code. Increases the maximum reduction under the General Homestead Exemption from $6,000 to $7,000 for taxable year 2011 and indexes the reduction to the Consumer Price Index. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961 in relation to child pornography. Provides that a person also commits the offense of child pornography when he or she knowingly films, videotapes, photographs, or otherwise depicts or portrays by means of any similar visual medium or reproduction or depicts by computer any actual or simulated act of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal sexual abuse, or aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving any child whom he or she knows or reasonably should know to be under the age of 18 or any severely or profoundly mentally retarded person, or knowingly possesses such film, videotape, photograph, or other depiction by computer. Provides that a violation is a Class X felony for which the defendant shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 9 years and not more than 40 years.

Amends the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code. Creates the Division of Public Corruption within the Department of State Police. Provides that the Division of Public Corruption is created to conduct public corruption investigations. Requires that the Division of Public Corruption work directly with the local prosecutor's office or Office of the Attorney General on investigations. Provides that the head of the Division of Public Corruption shall be appointed by a 7-member panel. Provides that the Governor shall appoint the members of the panel.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that any judge, circuit clerk or clerk of court, public official or employee, court reporter, or other person who knowingly and without lawful authority falsifies any public record received or held by any judge or by a clerk of any court commits a Class 3 felony. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. In a Section concerning estimated taxes, provides that, if a taxpayer is entitled to a refund after the payment of the fourth installment, then he or she may apply the amount of the refund to the first installment due in the next taxable year.

Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act and the State Finance Act. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to establish and administer the Illinois Homeless Veterans Program to provide grants and per diems to facilities providing shelter and assistance to homeless persons who served as members of the Armed Forces of the United States, the Illinois National Guard, or any reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, and who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Provides that the primary components of the program shall include advocacy for homeless veterans and increasing public awareness on the issue of homelessness among veterans and its root causes. Requires the Department to solicit federal and State funding, donations, and grants for the purpose of implementing the program. Creates the Illinois Homeless Veterans Program Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury for the purpose of implementing the program. Establishes the Homeless Veterans Service Coordinating Committee to discuss and research ways in which the veterans services provided by public and private agencies can be made more easily available and better focused to serve homeless veterans. Effective immediately.