Rep. Jack D. Franks

Amends the Fire Investigation Act. Provides that the Fire Prevention Fund is not subject to sweeps, administrative charges, or charge-backs, including but not limited to those authorized under Section 8h of the State Finance Act, or any other fiscal or budgetary maneuver that would in any way transfer any funds from the Fire Prevention Fund into any other fund of the State. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Provides that a person is required to register as a sex offender who was not previously required to register before the effective date of this amendatory Act because the sex offense that the person committed occurred before a specified date. Requires that person to register within 5 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Provides that if the person is confined, institutionalized, or imprisoned in Illinois on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act, he or she shall register in person with the local law enforcement agency within 5 days of discharge, parole, or release. Provides for the duration of the registration. Effective immediately.

Congratulates Wanda Marzahl on receiving the "2010 Most Dedicated Blood Drive Coordinator Award" from the Illinois Coalition of Community Blood Centers.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Local Government Road Salt Purchase Reimbursement Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Department of Transportation to make grants to counties, municipalities, townships, and road districts in the northeastern Illinois region that entered into contracts for the purchase of road salt for the 2008-2009 winter season at a rate that exceeds the regional average. Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that the sum of $14,500,000 shall be transferred from the Fund for Illinois' Future to the Local Government Road Salt Purchase Reimbursement Fund. Effective immediately.

Creates the Employee Credit Privacy Act. Prohibits employers from inquiring about or using an employee's or prospective employee's credit history as a basis for employment, recruitment, discharge, or compensation with some exceptions. Prohibits an employer from retaliating or discriminating against a person who files a complaint under the Act, participates in an investigation, proceeding, or action concerning a violation of the Act, or opposes a violation of the Act. Contains provisions concerning waiver and remedies.

Amends the Family Military Leave Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the School Code. Authorizes a school district to provide students with instructional materials in an electronic format.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning certificates of title.

Creates the Mercury Thermostat Collection Act. Requires thermostat manufacturers to establish an out-of-service mercury thermostat collection program that meets certain requirements. Requires thermostat manufacturers to submit certain reports on their collection programs to the Agency. Sets goals for the collection of out-of-service mercury thermostats. Provides that if those goals are not met, then the manufacturers must revise their collection programs as necessary to achieve the applicable goal. Requires contractors, service technicians, thermostat wholesalers, thermostat manufacturers, and thermostat retailers to handle and manage out-of-service mercury thermostats in a manner that is consistent with the provisions of the universal waste regulations adopted by the Illinois Pollution Control Board. On and after January 1, 2011, prohibits (i) thermostat wholesalers from selling, offering to sell, distributing, or offering to distribute thermostats unless certain requirements are met and (ii) contractors from removing, replacing, or otherwise taking mercury thermostats out of service unless the contractors deliver those thermostats to a collection site. On and after January 1, 2011, prohibits thermostat manufacturers that are in violation of the Act from selling, offering to sell, distributing, or offering to distribute thermostats in the State. Requires the Agency to post certain information on its website and to report certain information to the General Assembly. Provides for prosecution by the Attorney General or the State's Attorney of the county in which a violation occurs. Requires the Agency to make certain recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by January 1, 2012. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if a taxpayer has been awarded a disabled veterans standard homestead exemption, and that taxpayer subsequently becomes a resident of a facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act or a facility operated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, then the exemption shall continue (i) so long as the residence continues to be occupied by the qualifying person's spouse or (ii) if the residence remains unoccupied but is still owned by the person who qualified for the homestead exemption.