Rep. Suzanne Bassi

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a peace officer who stops a vehicle for a violation or suspected violation of any law or ordinance, if he or she determines that an occupant of the vehicle is a sexual predator, shall verify that the address provided to the officer by that person is the same address the person provided to local law enforcement in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration Act. Provides that a peace officer who has been provided an incorrect address has probable cause to arrest the person for violation of the Sex Offender Registration Act, unless the person shows that he or she has changed his or her address within the 10 days allowed by that Act.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Includes disabled persons within the provisions granting an assessment freeze homestead exemption to senior citizens. Changes the name to the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption (now Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption). Makes corresponding changes to a cross-reference to the exemption. Amends the States Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Hospice Program Licensing Act. Adds a definition of "hospice" and deletes the definition of "full hospice"; also changes the definition of "palliative care". Deletes references to the separate categories of "full" and "volunteer" hospices. Deletes specific requirements with which full hospices must comply, and instead provides that hospices must comply with the requirements of the Act, including the standards adopted by the Department of Public Health. Deletes certain items that must be included in the Department's standards. Provides that the separate standards currently applicable to volunteer hospices are inoperative after June 30, 2006 and that the new standards to be adopted for all hospice programs do not apply to volunteer hospices until July 1, 2006. Provides that the hospice program must meet the minimum standards for certification under Medicare. Effective July 1, 2005.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the Senior Citizens Tax Freeze Homestead Exemption. Provides that, beginning with taxable year 2006, a person who meets requirements similar to the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption provisions, excluding the income restrictions in those provisions, shall receive an exemption from property taxes in an amount equal to the difference between what the property tax bill for the residence would be in the taxable year minus the base amount. "Base amount" is defined as the property tax bill for the first year of eligibility for this exemption or the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption, whichever is earlier, plus any increase in the bill resulting from any added improvements thereafter. Provides that the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption and the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption do not apply after taxable year 2006. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement from the State. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $750,000,000 to the Department of Transportation for a grant to Pace for the Intertownship Transportation Program for Northwest Suburban Cook County. Effective July 1, 2005.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning teacher certification.

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law of the Property Tax Code. Sets forth procedures that taxing districts must follow when seeking referendum approval after April 5, 2005 to increase (i) the maximum authorized tax rate for any fund for which the taxing district is authorized by statute to levy taxes and which rate is limited by prior referendum or statutory authorization and which rate is authorized by statute to be increased for a limited or unlimited number of years by direct (and not back door) referendum, except for increases that require an equal corresponding tax rate decrease for another fund or (ii) the maximum extended tax rate applicable only to the next taxes to be either levied or extended for any fund notwithstanding the limiting rate that would otherwise be applicable for such taxing district. Sets forth requirements for form of ballot propositions and referendum notices. Sets forth procedures for setting the new tax rates. Provides that a taxing district is limited to an extension limitation (instead of "extension increase") of 5% or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index during the 12-month calendar year preceding the levy year, whichever is less.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the Illinois Identification Card Act. Provides that, when information is obtained from a driver's license or identification card to identify or prove the age of the holder of the license or identification card, or in the course of a commercial transaction, that information may be used only for purposes of identification of the individual or for completing the commercial transaction in which the information was obtained. Provides that the information may not be used for any other purpose and may not be provided to a third party. Provides that a person whose driver's license or identification card information was used in violation of the provision is entitled to recover actual damages, but not less than liquidated damages in the amount of $250 for each violation, plus attorney's fees and costs. Creates exceptions.

Amends the School Code. Makes changes concerning the school building code, school and district improvement plans, the waiver and modification of mandates, staff development plans, local learning objectives and assessments, statements of affairs, criminal history records checks of school district employees, the limitation on administrative costs, the State aid formula, school holidays, and transportation reimbursement claims. Repeals a Section concerning latch key reports and a Section concerning school and district improvement panels. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective July 1, 2006.

Amends the Good Samaritan Act. Provides immunity against criminal liability, civil damages, or medical malpractice damages for any acts or omissions, for any physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 to practice medicine in all its branches or licensed to practice the treatment of human ailments in any other state or territory of the United States; any dental emergency responder; any licensed nurse; any licensed physicians assistant; any licensed EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate, or EMT-Paramedic; and any First Responder who provides volunteer Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) services to any person or animal in any law enforcement incident or training situation, or any other law enforcement related situation, including disasters, in civil unrest, or methamphetamine lab interdiction.