Rep. Paul D. Froehlich

Amends the Election Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Authorizes municipalities by referendum to adopt an instant run-off voting method for the nonpartisan offices of mayor, city clerk, city treasurer, and city councilman or alderman from single-member districts. Provides procedures for marking and counting ballots. Declares that a municipal election using instant runoff voting is valid if it otherwise conformed to law. Effective immediately.

Creates the Retired Officers Security Act. Permits the Department of State Police to issue permits to carry concealed firearms to retired peace officers and retired military who have served honorably for at least 10 years. Provides that permits to carry a concealed firearm shall be valid throughout the State for a period of 4 years from the date of issuance. Provides that a person in compliance with the terms of the permit may carry concealed firearms on or about his or her person. Provides that the permittee shall carry the permit at all times the permittee is carrying a concealed firearm and shall display the permit upon the request of a law enforcement officer. Establishes firearm proficiency tests for applicants for concealed carry permits. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2010. Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Pre-empts home rule regulation of the issuance of concealed carry permits. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that in addition to any other penalty imposed, a fine of $500 shall be imposed upon a person who is convicted of arson, residential arson, or aggravated arson. Provides that the fine shall be distributed to the fire department or fire protection district that suppressed or investigated the fire that was set by the defendant and for which the defendant was convicted of arson, residential arson, or aggravated arson. Provides that the moneys distributed from the additional fine may only be used to purchase fire suppression or fire investigation equipment. Effective immediately.

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 School Code. Allows certain boards of education to give cumulative voting rights in the election of board members, in which case each elector may cast a specified number of votes, equal to the number of members to be elected at that election, for one candidate or distribute them equally among no more than the number of candidates that equals the number of members to be elected, and the candidates highest in votes shall be declared elected.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that it is an affirmative defense to a violation of a municipal ordinance that prohibits, regulates, or restricts the private ownership of firearms if the individual who is charged with the violation used the firearm in an act of self-defense or defense of another. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a gas utility offering unregulated sales of natural gas to an end-use customer within or outside its service area shall be subject to specified provisions of the Act with respect to such sales. Provides that a gas utility offering unregulated sales of natural gas to an end-use customer within or outside its service area shall not subsidize such sales through the utility's regulated business. Provides that a gas utility offering unregulated sales of natural gas to an end-use customer within or outside its service area shall not discriminate in the provision of regulated gas service based upon the existence or terms of an unregulated sale of natural gas. Provides that the Commission may require a gas utility to file reports regarding its unregulated sales of natural gas in the State and shall have access to, for the purpose of review, a gas utility's contracts for unregulated sales of natural gas. Effective immediately.

Creates the Comprehensive Housing, Health, and Supportive Services for Older Adults Act and amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act, the State Finance Act, and the Nursing Home Care Act. Requires the Director of Public Health, in coordination with the Director of Aging and the Director of Public Aid, to monitor and analyze the distribution of housing and services for older adults in the different geographic areas of the State and implement corrective action plans by July 1, 2005. Provides for a program for conversion of nursing homes to assisted living or shared housing establishments; makes such conversions exempt from the requirements of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act, and provides for transition planning grants to nursing homes making such conversions. Creates special funds in the State treasury for use in implementing the Comprehensive Housing, Health, and Supportive Services for Older Adults Act. Provides for transfers from the Long Term Care Monitor/Receiver Fund to the new Nursing Home Conversion Fund and the new Nursing Home Transition Planning Grant Fund. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Makes a technical change in a Section requiring the Department of Corrections to designate those institutions and facilities that are maintained for persons assigned as adults and as juveniles.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and the State Finance Act. Subject to appropriation, requires the Department of Public Health to develop a comprehensive statewide asthma management plan to (i) reduce the rate of hospitalizations due to asthma and (ii) facilitate the effective management of asthma in persons with asthma. Requires the Department to implement programs to meet the objectives of the statewide asthma management plan. Provides for the use of moneys from the Tobacco Settlement Recovery Fund to implement the statewide asthma management plan.