Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Designates the third Saturday in June of each year as Juneteenth National Freedom Day to commemorate the abolition of slavery throughout the United States and its territories in 1865. Effective immediately.
Amends the Cigarette Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Military Leave of Absence Act. Requires payment of State compensation and benefits to full-time State employees while on active duty with the Illinois National Guard, the United States Armed Forces reserves, or the Illinois State Militia reserves. Reduces the employee's State compensation by the amount of active duty pay. Requires the Department of Central Management Services and the State Comptroller to coordinate in the development of applicable procedures.
Amends the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Provides that beginning on January 1, 2004, the pharmaceutical assistance program covers prescription drugs used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Authorizes an attachment against the property of a debtor who has been referred by the Department of Corrections to the Attorney General (instead of who is a defendant in a suit brought by the Attorney General) in connection with the reimbursement of the Department for the expenses of the debtor's incarceration.
Amends the Department of Human Services Act and the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to contract with an entity experienced in applied research to compile a cross-disability database of disabled Illinois residents who are potential beneficiaries under the "most integrated setting" requirement of the Americans with Disabilities Act as construed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Requires the Secretary of Human Services to appoint a panel to advise the Department on the compilation. Requires the Department to collect and maintain statistical information on developmentally disabled persons who have requested and are waiting for community based services financed by the Department. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that, on March 31, 2003 or as soon as practicable thereafter, the amount of $300,000 shall be transferred from the Statistical Services Revolving Fund to the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2004, on the last day of each month, an amount equal to 50% of that day's beginning balance in the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund shall be transferred from the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund to the Statistical Services Revolving Fund. Provides that these transfers shall continue until the cumulative total of transfers executed from the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund to the Statistical Services Revolving Fund equals $300,000. Effective immediately.
Amends the senior citizens homestead exemption provisions in the Property Tax Code. Provides that beginning with assessment year 2003, for taxes payable in 2004, property that is first occupied as a residence after January 1 of any assessment year by a person who is eligible for the senior citizens homestead exemption must be granted a pro-rata exemption for the assessment year. The amount of the pro-rata exemption is the senior citizens homestead exemption allowed in the county divided by 365 and multiplied by the number of days during the year the property is occupied as a residence by a person eligible for the exemption. The chief county assessment officer must adopt reasonable procedures to establish eligibility for the pro-rata exemption. Amends the State Mandates Act to restate that the senior citizens homestead exemption is exempt from the requirements of the State Mandates Act and further amends the Property Tax Code to state that the senior citizens homestead exemption is exempt from the requirements of the State Mandates Act. Effective immediately.
Creates the Accountability for the Investment of Public Funds Act. Provides that each State agency shall make information available on the Internet concerning the investment of any public funds held by that State agency.
Amends the School Code. Allows a school board to establish, maintain, and operate a summer kindergarten program that begins 2 months before the beginning of the regular school year and a summer kindergarten program for grade one readiness for those pupils making unsatisfactory progress during the regular kindergarten session that will continue for 2 months after the regular school year. Provides that the summer kindergarten program may be held within the school district or, pursuant to a contract that must be approved by the State Board of Education, may be operated by 2 or more adjacent school districts or by a public or private university or college. Effective immediately.
