Rep. Jack D. Franks

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning State universities.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Changes the exemption for disabled veterans. Provides that a "disabled veteran" is a veteran who has been awarded a 100% service-connected disability, permanent and total with no further examinations, by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Amends the Illinois Fire Protection Training Act. Provides that certain persons who are retired from active fire service duties may receive training certification regardless of the fact that they are not employed or otherwise engaged by an organized Illinois fire department. Effective immediately.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning implementing the provisions of Public Act 87-559.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Allows an active member of a pension fund established under Article 4 (Downstate Firefighters Article) to apply for transfer of his or her creditable service accumulated in any police pension fund under Article 3 (Downstate Police Article) to a pension fund created under Article 4. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Amends the Automatic Telephone Dialers Act. Removes the exemption for autodialer calls placed on behalf of any political, charitable, public opinion polling, research survey, or radio or television broadcast rating organization. Provides that a violation of the Act is a petty offense and sets a fine of $500 per phone call for the first autodialer message in violation of the Act and a fine of $1,000 per phone call for each subsequent autodialer message in violation of the Act. Lists who may be fined. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Cooperative Work Study Program Act. Provides that grants to institutions of higher education under the Act shall support work experiences for students in academic program priority areas that address critical workforce skills shortages, including without limitation science, technology, engineering, mathematics, health, nursing, education, and other academic program priority areas as determined annually by the Board of Higher Education (now, the Board is required to assure that a representative number of the grants support cooperative work study programs that support work experiences for students in academic programs of engineering, science, math, and education). Effective July 1, 2008.

Amends the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the purpose of the Act.

Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Defines the term "energy-related agribusiness" to include fuel processing and development facilities using agricultural commodities, vegetable oils, animal fats, or biomass feedstocks. Authorizes State Guarantees for loans to energy-related agribusinesses. Sets limits on these guarantees and provides for review and renewal.