Amends the Financially Distressed City Law of the Illinois Municipal Code. Dissolves all Authorities created under that Law and transfers all the powers, duties, and functions of a dissolved Authority to the Department of Revenue. Effective immediately.
Amends the Sex Offender Management Board Act and the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Sex Offender Management Board shall require that a sex offender who is placed on probation or released from a penal institution or mental health facility: (1) undergo continuous psychological or psychiatric treatment for his or her sexual behavior, (2) be prohibited from contacting the victim of his or her sex offense, and (3) be prohibited from possessing any materials that the Board deems violent or pornographic. Provides that the Board shall also require that the released sex offender be monitored by a probation, parole, or other supervising officer approved by the Board. Provides that the Board shall require that the supervising officer make unannounced visits to the sex offender's residence or place of business to verify the sex offender's residence and employment. Requires the supervising officer to approve the sex offender's residence and place of employment. Requires the Attorney General to obtain a garnishment or wage deduction order against the sex offender's assets or wages if the offender fails to pay any fines imposed for the sex offense.
Renames the William G. Stratton Lock and Dam as the Bolger Lock and Dam.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides for an income tax deduction, for taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2003 and on or before December 30, 2013, for individual taxpayers in the amount of $30,000, if the income was earned by a teacher while teaching at the elementary or secondary level during the taxable year. Administrators are not eligible for the deduction. Effective immediately.
Creates the Prescription Drug Act. Contains only a short title provision.
Amends the Conservation District Act. Provides that in counties adjacent to a county with more than 3,000,000 inhabitants, by resolution of the county board or boards or by petition signed by 5% of the voters, a proposal to elect or appoint a 5 or 7 member board of trustees chosen at large or from single member subdistricts of the conservation district shall be submitted to the voters at the next general election. Provides transition procedures if the proposition is approved by a majority of the voters in the district. Provides that the trustees shall be elected on a nonpartisan basis at a consolidated election. Effective immediately.
Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that, if a grocery store offers a reduced price on an item to consumers who present discount cards, it must also offer the same reduced price on that item to a consumer who does not present a discount card but pays for the item with a Link Card or other access device issued by a government agency to recipients of food stamp benefits or other assistance. Provides that a violation is an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Creates the Professional Teacher Standards Board consisting of 11 members appointed by the Governor to administer the Article of the School Code governing the certification of teachers and other certificated school personnel and the approval of teacher and administrator preparation programs. Gives the Professional Teacher Standards Board all powers and duties currently exercised by the State Board of Education and the State Teacher Certification Board with respect to administration of the certification and program approval process, and abolishes the State Teacher Certification Board. Authorizes the Professional Teacher Standards Board to employ an Executive Director and such other staff members as are necessary to exercise its powers and duties and carry out its functions. Provides that a Standard Certificate may be renewed based on proof of professional development (instead of on proof of continuing education or professional development). Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2003.
Amends the State Finance Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that for purposes of the senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption eligibility threshold, "income" is defined to mean adjusted gross income, properly reportable for federal income tax purposes (now, federal adjusted gross income plus various additions for payments made or moneys received during the taxable year, including interest or dividend income, state income tax payments, annuity income, social security payments, railroad retirement payments, public assistance payments, and a deduction carried over from a prior year for a net operating or capital loss). Amends the State Mandates Act. Provides that no reimbursable State mandate is created by this amendatory Act. Effective immediately.
