Rep. JoAnn D. Osmond

Creates the Homeless Veterans Shelter Act. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to protect the rights of homeless veterans that reside in halfway houses, shelters, or transitional housing by providing for the licensing of such facilities and the oversight of such facilities by local housing and community mental health boards. Contains provisions concerning compensation for employed homeless veterans; State licensing requirements for job training and education programs; annual inspections; job placement services; and other matters. Effective January 1, 2012.

Amends the Park District Code. In a Section that designates certain park district board members as conservators of the peace, removes language providing that the exercise of that authority shall not permit the possession or use of firearms by those board members. Provides that those board members shall complete a training course under the Peace Officer Firearm Training Act before carrying a firearm. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning records to be kept by the Secretary of State.

Designates the Grand Avenue Overpass over Interstate 94 in Gurnee as the "Allen J. Lynch Congressional Medal of Honor Overpass" in honor of Allen Lynch and his accomplishments.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources may not categorize a request for public records as a request for records to be used for a commercial purpose if that request is made by a municipality.

Creates the Appraisal Management Company Registration Act. Provides for registration of appraisal management companies with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Beginning January 1, 2012, provides that it is unlawful for a person or entity to act or assume to act as an appraisal management company as defined in this Act, to engage in the business of appraisal management service, or to advertise or hold himself or herself out to be a registered appraisal management company without first obtaining a certificate of registration issued by the Department under this Act. Includes provisions concerning exemption from the Act. Provides that persons practicing as an appraisal management company in Illinois on the effective date of the Act may continue to practice until the Department has adopted rules implementing the Act. Provides that persons shall apply for registration within 180 days after the effective date of the rules and the person may continue to practice until the Department acts to grant or deny registration. Provides that each entity registered under this Act shall designate a controlling person who is responsible to assure that the company operates in compliance with this Act. Sets forth the powers and duties of the Department, registration qualifications, grounds for discipline, civil and criminal penalties, and administrative procedure. Sets forth provisions concerning standards of practice and prohibited activities. Preempts home rule. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that goal of the General Assembly and the Governor is that the appropriation amount for the next State fiscal year to the State Board of Education for school districts be enacted and become law before March 1, so that school districts are able to make informed budget decisions and not forced to give layoff notices to teachers and noncertified personnel when the school districts prepare their annual budget for their next fiscal year. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that, continuing through the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012 (rather than, until the sum of $31,200,000 is paid to the General Revenue Fund), the State Comptroller shall order transferred and the State Treasurer shall transfer from the Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach Marina Fund to the General Revenue Fund 35% of revenue deposited into the Adeline Geo-Karis Illinois Beach Marina Fund in any fiscal year. Provides that, continuing through the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012 (rather than, until the sum of $8,000,000 is paid to the State Boating Act Fund), the State Comptroller shall order transferred and the State Treasurer shall transfer from the Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach Marina Fund to the State Boating Act Fund 15% of the revenue deposited into the Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach Marina Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Fire Investigation Act. Provides that the Office of the State Fire Marshal may not adopt any rule making certain provisions of the Life Safety Code, as published by the National Fire Protection Association, concerning "commercial cooking systems" applicable to a cooking system operated for non-commercial purposes by a corporation organized under the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986 or the Religious Corporation Act. Provides that any rule existing on the effective date of the amendatory Act that makes any part of those provisions applicable to a cooking system operated for non-commercial purposes by a corporation organized under the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986 or the Religious Corporation Act is void. Effective immediately.

Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that a department or agency of the State shall not implement any part of the federal health care reform authorized by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed by the United States Congress on March 23, 2010 until all state challenges to the constitutionality of the key provisions of the Act are fully adjudicated. Sets forth a definition for "federal health care reform". Effective immediately.