Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a credit for taxpayers who install a renewable energy system in a residential or commercial building owned or leased by the taxpayer during the taxable year. Sets forth the amount of the credit. Provides that the credit may be carried forward. Effective immediately.
Honors Gregg Riddle on being a pioneer in Illinois 9-1-1 public safety communications for over 30 years.
Designates the month of October of 2012 as "Dwarfism Awareness Month" in the State of Illinois.
Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that the approximate amount of the tax extendable, as stated on the referendum question submitted to impose a new or increased limiting rate or increase the extension limitation, shall be calculated (i) without regard to any property tax exemptions and (ii) using an equalized assessed value calculated by multiplying the percentage level of assessment prescribed for such property by statute or by ordinance of the county board by the most recent final equalization factor certified to the county clerk by the Department of Revenue at the time the taxing district initiates the submission of the proposition to the electors. Effective immediately.
Creates the Illinois Service Member Civil Relief Act. Provides that nothing in the Act is intended to impair any existing right or benefit available to any service member. Provides that certain legal protections afforded to service members (and family members where specified) are subject to stated provisions of law. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to set forth a provision concerning stays of contested case hearings for service members. Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to set forth a provision concerning deadline extensions for service members. Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to make changes to the provision concerning bulk long distance telephone services for military personnel in military service (now on active duty). Amends the Military Code of Illinois, Illinois Municipal Code, Illinois Insurance Code, Public Utilities Act, Service Member's Employment Tenure Act, Code of Civil Procedure, Landlord and Tenant Act, Uniform Commercial Code, Interest Act, Retail Installment Sales Act, Military Personnel Cellular Phone Contract Termination Act, and Motor Vehicle Leasing Act to make changes in certain provisions concerning military personnel. Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act to provide that a violation of specified provisions regarding legal protections for military personnel constitutes a civil rights violation under the Illinois Human Rights Act.
Amends the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act. Provides that the Department on Aging or the agency designated to receive mandated reports of elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect shall establish a manner in which a mandated reporter can make a report of elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect through a confidential Internet reporting tool. Provides that information sent and received through the confidential Internet reporting tool is subject to the same rules as other types of reporting established by the designated agency or the Department. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the amount of the credit for wages paid by the taxpayer to a qualified veteran to 20%, but in no event to exceed $5,000, of the gross wages paid by the taxpayer to a qualified veteran if the veteran (A) was hired by the taxpayer on or after January 1, 2012 and (B) was unemployed at the time he or she was hired by the taxpayer. Exempts the credit from the Act's automatic sunset provisions. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and Illinois Vehicle Code to provide that: the Secretary of State must inquire as to whether an applicant for a State identification card or driver's license is a veteran for purposes of issuing a State identification card or driver's license with a veteran designation; the Secretary shall determine by rule what forms of proof of a person's status as a veteran are acceptable; and the Secretary may disclose an individual's social security number or associated information to the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs for the purpose of confirming veteran status. Defines "veteran" and other terms. Effective January 1, 2013.
Creates the Business Mandate Note Act. Provides that every bill the purpose or effect of which is to directly increase the cost of doing business in the State shall have prepared for it, before second reading in the house of introduction, a brief explanatory statement or note that shall include a reliable estimate of the anticipated impact. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall prepare the business mandate note. Provides that the Department shall collect and maintain information on business mandates. Effective immediately.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Enhances to aggravated assault or aggravated battery the assault or battery of a letter carrier or postal worker while that individual is performing his or her duties delivering mail for the United States Postal Service. Provides that the robbery of a letter carrier or postal worker while that individual is performing his or her duties delivering mail for the United States Postal Service is a Class 1 (rather than a Class 2) felony.
