Rep. Paul D. Froehlich

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Deletes language that provides that no construction shall commence on any new nuclear power plant to be located within the State, and no certificate of public convenience and necessity or other authorization shall be issued therefor by the Illinois Commerce Commission, until the Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency finds that the United States Government, through its authorized agency, has identified and approved a demonstrable technology or means for the disposal of high level nuclear waste, or until such construction has been specifically approved by a statute enacted by the General Assembly. Deletes the definition of "high level nuclear waste". Effective immediately.

Amends the Probation and Probation Officers Act. Provides that beginning January 1, 2011, minimum qualifications of probation officers shall include at least 30 hours per year in training or continuing education, provided that such training or continuing education programs have been approved in advance by the Division of Probation Services. Provides that beginning January 1, 2014, such minimum qualifications shall include at least 40 hours per year in training or continuing education, provided that such training or continuing education programs have been approved in advance by the Division of Probation Services.

Creates the DCFS Residential Services Construction Grant Program Act. Provides that the Capital Development Board, in consultation with the Department of Children and Family Services, shall establish the DCFS Residential Services Construction Grant Program and may make grants to eligible licensed residential service providers subject to appropriations. Provides that the Program shall operate in a manner so that the estimated cost of the Program during the fiscal year will not exceed the total appropriation for the Program and that grants shall be for the purpose of constructing or renovating new residential services sites, renovating existing residential services sites, and supporting capital rate enhancements for residential services sites' capital projects. Contains provisions on the use of grant moneys and reporting requirements. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.

Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act and the State Finance Act. Provides that the Illinois Finance Authority must establish a financially distressed provider revolving loan program. Provides that the Authority may issue bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $300,000,000 for the purpose of providing short-term, no-interest loans to qualified health care and human services providers. Provides that certain amounts shall be transferred from cigarette tax receipts into the Financially Distressed Provider Debt Service Fund, and amends the State Finance Act to create the Financially Distressed Provider Debt Service Fund. Amends the Cigarette Tax Act to make conforming changes. Amends the State Comptroller Act to provide that delinquent loan amounts may be offset from warrants. Effective immediately.

Amends the Military Leave of Absence Act. Requires that a full-time employee of the State, a unit of local government, or a school district who is a member of a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces or the Illinois State Militia must be given a leave of absence for any training or duty required by the U.S. Armed Forces not otherwise covered by the Act. If the employee's military pay for that training or duty is less than his or her compensation from the public employer, requires that during the leave the employee receive his or her public employment compensation, minus the amount of the military pay.

Amends the Cemetery Care Act to require a cemetery association holding $75,000 or less in its care funds to file a report with the Comptroller in lieu of other annual report requirements and to require that the Comptroller examine at least annually every licensee who holds $750,000 or more (now, $250,000 or more) in its care funds. Effective immediately.

Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act. Makes it unlawful to tether a dog outdoors unless certain requirements are met. Provides penalties for violations. Defines "tether".

Creates the Illinois Reform Commission Implementation Act of 2009. Contains only a short title provision.

Appropriates $14,095,597 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for grants to those 46 school districts in this State that have school service employees employed by private contractors to pay for a $1 raise for each of these employees as well as health insurance for these employees. Effective July 1, 2009.