Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that land is considered used for open space purposes only if it is more than 10 acres in area and (i) conserves landscaped areas by being used as a public or private golf course, (ii) preserves historic sites, or (iii) has been certified by the Department of Natural Resources as a public benefit. Effective immediately.
Amends the Mobile Home Park Act. Provides that the funds received by the Department of Public Health under the Act shall be deposited into the Facility Licensing Fund and shall be used for the enforcement of the Act (instead of simply deposited in the State treasury). Provides that the Department may impose an administrative monetary penalty against a person who operates a mobile home park in violation of the Act or the Department's rules. Provides that the Department must provide written notification of the alleged violation and allow a minimum of 10 days for correction before imposing the administrative monetary penalty. Also requires the Department to provide an opportunity for a hearing. Authorizes the Attorney General to bring an action to enforce the collection of an administrative monetary penalty. Provides that administrative monetary penalties shall be deposited into the Facility Licensing Fund. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Adds a Section concerning the effects of the transitioning of Maryville Academy on local school districts. Contains only a caption.
Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that an unincorporated territory containing 60 acres or less may be annexed by any municipality that shares a boundary, in whole or in part, with the territory under several circumstances including, if the unincorporated area is bounded by one or more municipalities and a forest preserve district or a park district (now, forest preserve district). Provides that nothing in the Section shall be construed as permitting a municipality to annex territory that is owned by a park district without obtaining the district's express consent as provided in the Park District Code. Amends the Park District Code. Provides that a park district's property shall not be subject to annexation by a municipality without the express consent of the board of park commissioners. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Makes technical changes in Sections concerning special education classes and tuition for children from orphanages, foster family homes, children's homes, and in-State housing units.
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Requires that the State Long Term Care Ombudsman be provided with (1) a copy of a notice of involuntary transfer or discharge of a resident from a nursing home, (2) notice of the emergency removal of a resident from a nursing home, and (3) notice of the voluntary closing of a nursing hame. Provides that the State Long Term Care Ombudsman shall have the opportunity to file a request for a hearing with the Department of Public Health within 10 days following receipt of a written notice of the involuntary transfer or discharge of a resident by a nursing home. Effective immediately.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that the Pollution Control Board may not amend or revise its new source review regulations to be less stringent than those that existed on December 30, 2002. Requires the Board, if the Board finds, after a public hearing, that its rules or regulations are not equivalent to or more stringent than the rules or regulations that existed on December 30, 2002, to promptly adopt the rules or regulations that may be necessary to establish, at a minimum, equivalency. Effective January 1, 2006.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person riding a bicycle is an intended and permitted user of any highway in Illinois except for a highway on which bicycle use has been specifically prohibited by the Department of Transportation or by a local public entity acting in compliance with the Code provision regarding the regulation of bicycles. Provides that the new language does not create liability for any public entity for the creation of, the existence of, or failure to remedy any specified type of condition that caused injury to a person riding a bicycle, if that condition meets the standard of care required for a passenger car.
Amends the Mobile Home Park Act. Provides that there must be an open space of 3 meters (10 feet) side-to-side, 2.4 meters (8 feet) end-to-side, or 1.8 meters (6 feet) end-to-end horizontally between mobile homes or community buildings, unless the exposed composite walls and roof of either structure are without openings and constructed of materials that will provide a one-hour fire resistance rating or the structures are separated by a one-hour fire-rated barrier (instead of requiring an open space of at least 10 feet adjacent to the sides and at least 5 feet adjacent to the ends of every mobile home). Provides that whenever an owner of a mobile home or a manager, agent, or representative from a mobile home community enlarges or expands a concrete pad used to support a mobile home, installs a new mobile home, or replaces an existing mobile home on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act, that change shall be deemed to be a new site and is subject to the setback requirements imposed by this amendatory Act. Provides that the space under a manufactured home may not be used for the storage of combustible materials or for the storage or placement of flammable liquids, gases, or liquid-fuel-powered or gas-fuel-powered equipment. Provides that porches and other specified structures must be constructed of materials that do not support combustion (instead of materials specified by regulations). Provides that accessory buildings or sheds that are constructed of materials that do not support combustion shall be not less than 0.9 meters (3 feet) from a mobile home. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a vehicle using diesel fuel with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of more than 8,000 pounds may not have its engine idling for more than 3 minutes within any 60 minute period. Creates exemptions. Provides that a violation is a petty offense punishable by a fine of $100 for a first offense and $500 for a second or subsequent offense within any 12 month period. Provides that the provision applies on highways and elsewhere throughout the State.
