Rep. Suzanne Bassi

Amends the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Act. Increases the income limitation under the Act to $55,000 (instead of $50,000) beginning in 2009. Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the maximum income limitation under the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption is the income limitation set forth in the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Establishes the Illinois Hope and Opportunity Pathways through Education (IHOPE) Program to develop a comprehensive system in this State to re-enroll significant numbers of high school dropouts in programs that will enable them to earn their high school diploma. Requires the State Board of Education to implement and administer the IHOPE Program. Provides that the IHOPE Program shall award grants to educational service regions and the Chicago school district from appropriated funds to assist in establishing instructional programs and other services designed to re-enroll high school dropouts. Provides that the IHOPE Program shall provide incentive grant funds for regional offices of education and the Chicago school district to develop partnerships with school districts, public community colleges, and community groups to build comprehensive plans to re-enroll high school dropouts in their regions or districts. Sets forth requirements for programs funded through the IHOPE Program. Provides for an IHOPE Plan, sub-grants, how funding is distributed, State aid, categories of programming, the evaluation of programs, and rules. Effective July 1, 2009.

Amends the Public University Energy Conservation Act. Provides that "energy conservation measure" includes construction of a new building or facility that is designed to reduce energy consumption or operating costs.

Encourages the Governor's Office of Management and Budget to utilize the funds available due to the increased Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, also known as FMAP, along with funds available in the Health and Human Services Medicaid Trust Fund and funds available in the Community Mental Health Medicaid Trust Fund to maintain appropriation levels supporting current community care provided by mental health and substance misuse treatment community providers and increase funding to pay the State's obligations in a timely fashion.

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 State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act. Permits a unit of local government to require homeowners who maintain a private sewage disposal system within the unit of local government to provide verification, on an annual basis, to the unit of local government of a valid contract with a licensed private sewage disposal system installation contractor. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Makes a technical change in the short title Section.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders to the extent that the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders are not already covered by the policy or plan. Provides that this coverage shall be subject to a maximum benefit of $36,000 per year, but shall not be subject to any limits on the number of visits to an autism service provider. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that home rule counties and municipalities with more than 500,000 inhabitants may not adopt an ordinance or resolution making an appropriation or containing a substantial tax increase unless (i) a copy of that ordinance or resolution, in its final form, has been made conveniently available on the county or municipality's Internet website for at least 7 days before the bill is considered for final passage and (ii) notice of the ordinance is given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or municipality not less than 7 nor more than 30 days before the ordinance or resolution is considered for final passage. Provides that, by a motion adopted by a record vote of at least three-fifths of the members elected, the county board or corporate authorities of the municipality may provide that those restrictions do not apply with respect to any one or more ordinances or resolutions specified in the motion. Defines "substantial tax increase" as an aggregate increase in one or more State taxes that will result in increased revenues that are equal to 1% or more of the most recently adopted county or municipal budget. Preempts home rule powers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the Returning Veterans' Homestead Exemption, under which an exemption from the property's value is granted for residential property that is owned and occupied as a residence by a veteran for the tax year in which the veteran returns from active duty in an armed conflict involving the armed forces of the United States. In a Section concerning the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption, provides that in all counties (now, in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants), the county board may by resolution provide that if a person has been granted the homestead exemption, the person qualifying need not reapply for the exemption. In a Section concerning the alternative general homestead exemption, extends the alternative exemption by an additional 3 years. Provides that the maximum amount of the exemption is $60,000 if the general assessment year for the property is 2006 or later. Provides that the base year for counties other than Cook County is the 2005 or 2006 tax year. Provides that, to subject itself to the provisions of the alternative general homestead exemption, a county must adopt an ordinance to that effect within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.