Rep. Kathleen A. Ryg

Amends the General Homestead Exemption provisions of the Property Tax Code. Provides that in a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants if the assessed valuation of property has increased by more than 20% over the previous assessed valuation of that property, an additional exemption is allowed, with the amount of the additional exemption determined by household income. Effective immediately.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a person or entity may not print an individual's social security number on an insurance card that is used to establish the eligibility of an individual or his or her dependents to receive health, dental, optical, or accident insurance benefits, prescription drug benefits, or benefits under a managed care plan or a plan provided by a health maintenance organization, a health services plan corporation, or a similar entity. Provides that existing insurance cards with an individual's social security number must be replaced with insurance cards without the individual's social security number. Provides that a violation constitutes an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act. Effective January 1, 2005.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Deletes a provision that includes beginning and ending dates for the operation of a Great START (Strategy to Attract and Retain Teachers) program. Deletes provisions (i) requiring a working committee of the Child and Development Advisory Council of the Department of Human Services to make certain recommendations concerning the Great START program by October 1, 2000 and (ii) requiring the Department to evaluate the Great START program, gather data on the program, and submit a report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2002. Effective immediately.

Amends the Community Health Center Expansion Act. Provides for an additional 3 years of funding (after an initial 3-year grant) for community health centers through grants from the Department of Public Health, subject to appropriation. Provides for funding at a level of 50% of a grantee's third-year-grant amount under the initial grant. Requires that such community health centers demonstrate continued financial need. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the State aid formula.

Amends the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act. Makes changes in the definitions of "low-income housing" and "moderate-income housing". Changes dates in provisions concerning the Illinois Housing Development Authority's determination of exempt local governments, affordable housing plans, and appeals to the State Housing Appeals Board. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death in Iraq of Marine Pfc. Geoffrey S. Morris.

Amends the Mechanics Lien Act. Requires a contractor to give the owner notice before filing a lien against any property of the owner.

Congratulates Scott Guziec on the occasion of his retirement after 31 years in education.

Creates the Corporation Location Efficiency Act. Requires that an applicant applying for State economic development assistance for a business location provide data on affordable housing and mass transit in its vicinity. Provides that if data submitted by the applicant shows that affordable housing and mass transit are near the proposed work site, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall grant the applicant a preference in awarding economic development assistance. Provides that if affordable housing and mass transit are not present near the proposed work site, the applicant can receive a preference only if it submits to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity a plan showing how the applicant will address the housing and mass transit deficiency. Provides that applicants who fail to submit a satisfactory plan to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may still receive State economic development assistance, but the Department must make public its reasons for exemption. Effective January 1, 2005.