Commends retiring Commissioner Patrick T. Grealish for his dedicated service to the Salt Creek Rural Park District.
Urges the U.S. Congress to pass legislation to eliminate both the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision from the provisions of the Social Security Act.
Congratulates Kelly Voigt of Palatine on being a recipient of a 2005 Prudential Spirit of Community Award.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Includes disabled persons within the provisions awarding 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 freeze provision and the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement from the State. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the Senior Citizens Tax Freeze Homestead Exemption. Provides that, beginning with taxable year 2003, 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 2003. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement from the State. Effective immediately.
Amends the Respite Program Act. Makes technical changes to the eligibility Section of the Act.
Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Partnership for Long-Term Care Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning a definition.
Amends the School Code. Replaces provisions requiring teachers to teach students honesty, kindness, justice, discipline, respect for others, and moral courage with provisions requiring teachers to teach students respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, trustworthiness, and citizenship. Effective immediately.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that in cases involving reckless homicide, being under the influence of alcohol or any other drug or drugs at the time of the alleged violation may be, but need not be, taken into consideration by the trier of fact as evidence of a reckless act (rather than shall be presumed to be evidence of a reckless act unless disproved by evidence to the contrary).
