Rep. Jack D. Franks

Amends the School Code. In a Section concerning the identification, evaluation, and placement of children with disabilities, provides that if a child is deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or visually impaired and he or she might be eligible to receive services from the Illinois School for the Deaf or the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, the school district shall notify the parents or guardian, in writing, of the existence of these schools and the services they provide. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish in DuPage County 2 group homes, each housing 4 residents with similar diagnoses of mental illness and requiring similar intermittent care. Provides for rental of the homes to a third party who will provide necessary services to the residents of the homes.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Allows taxing districts to abate taxes on property of certain historical societies for assessment years 1998 through 2008 (now 1998 through 2003). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the removal of a false or secret compartment from a motor vehicle, or the promise to do so, shall not be the basis for a defense to forfeiture of the motor vehicle under the Criminal Code of 1961 and shall not be the basis for the court to release the vehicle to the owner. Increases the penalty for owning or operating a motor vehicle with the knowledge that it contains a false or secret compartment from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class 4 felony.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that the vehicle of a person who drives without a license and without insurance and causes death or personal injury to another person is subject to seizure and forfeiture. Effective immediately.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that no person may operate a child care facility, receive a license to operate a child care facility, be employed by a child care facility, or live as an adult in a child care facility, if the person has been declared a sexually dangerous person under the Sexually Dangerous Persons Act or a sexually violent person under the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act or convicted of committing or attempting to commit specified offenses. Provides an exception if specified criteria are met. Defines "child care facility" for the purposes of the provision concerning background investigations. Effective immediately.

Amends the Telecommunications Article of the Public Utilities Act. Provides that telecommunications carriers that provide directory assistance service shall provide that service to their legally blind customers at no charge. Effective immediately.

Amends the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act. Makes a technical change in the Section relating to the short title.

Amends the Income Tax Act to create the Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) Research Fund checkoff. Provides that the Department of Revenue shall print on its standard individual income tax form a provision indicating that if the taxpayer wishes to contribute to the Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) Research Fund, he or she may do so by stating the amount of the contribution on the return and that the contribution will reduce the taxpayer's refund or increase the amount of payment to accompany the return. Amends the Department of Public Aid Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Public Aid shall make grants from the Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) Research Fund to the Les Turner ALS Foundation for research on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Amends the State Finance Act to create the Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) Research Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Extends the partial exemption from the taxes imposed by these Acts on gasohol to December 31, 2013 (now ends on July 1, 2003), gradually reducing the partial exemption to zero after December 31, 2013. Partially exempts E85 blend fuel and bio-diesel blend fuel in the same amount and according to the same schedule as gasohol. Provides that if, at any time, the tax under these Acts on gasohol, E85 blend fuel, and bio-diesel blend fuel is imposed at 1.25%, then the partial exemption of the tax on those items does not apply during that time. Effective immediately.