Rep. Jack D. Franks

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the ballot question concerning increasing or decreasing a rate limit shall include the purpose for the rate change and shall reference the resolution of the taxing district adopting the rate change. Provides that the ballot shall have printed thereon, but not as part of the proposition submitted, an estimate of the approximate amount to be levied upon a residence in the taxing district with a market value of $100,000 under the current rate and under the proposed rate. Effective immediately.

Creates the Identity Theft Notification Act. Requires any data collector that owns or uses personal information in any form that includes personal information concerning an Illinois resident, to disclose any breach of the security of the system following discovery or notification of the breach in the security of the data, without regard for whether the data has been accessed by an unauthorized third party for legal or illegal purposes. Provides that notice may be provided in one of the following ways: (1) written notice; (2) electronic notice; or (3) substitute notice if the person or business demonstrates that the cost of providing notice would exceed $250,000, or the affected class of persons to be notified exceeds 500,000, or the person or business does not have sufficient contact information. Provides a private right of action for a violation of the Act.

Creates the Illinois Scenic River Designation Act. Designates portions of specified rivers as permanently protected rivers of the State. Designates the Department of Natural Resources as State administrator of the designated portions of rivers. Establishes the Department's duties under the Act. Provides for subsequent designations. Provides that designated portions of rivers may subsequently become part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Prohibits the acquisition of land by eminent domain for purposes of the Act. Repeals the Vermilion River Middle Fork Act.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the minimum monthly personal needs allowance for a person who is an inpatient in an institution or facility for which payments are made under the Medical Assistance Article throughout a month, and who is determined to be eligible for medical assistance under that Article, is $50.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Creates the offenses of involuntary servitude, sexual servitude of a minor, and trafficking of persons for forced labor and services. Mandates restitution.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Changes the exemption for disabled veterans. The exemption now applies only to property up to an assessed value of $58,000 owned and used exclusively as a home by a disabled veteran found eligible for specially adapted housing by the federal government or the spouse or unmarried surviving spouse of the veteran. This amendatory Act provides that the exemption applies, for taxable years 2005 and thereafter, to the first $58,000 in assessed value of property owned and used exclusively by a disabled veteran, or the spouse or unmarried surviving spouse of the veteran, as a home. 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 Income Tax Act. Allows a tax credit for individual taxpayers in an amount equal to 25% of the premium costs paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year for each qualified long-term care insurance contract purchased on or after January 1, 2006 that offers coverage to either the taxpayer or to the taxpayer's spouse, parent, or dependent. Provides that the credit may not exceed $100 for each qualified long-term care policy. Provides that the credit may not reduce the taxpayer's liability to less than zero and may not be carried forward. Provides that a taxpayer is not entitled to the credit with respect to amounts expended for the same qualified long-term care insurance contract that are claimed by another taxpayer. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Family and Medical Leave Act. Contains provisions similar to those in the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, except that it applies to a son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, or mother-in-law who has a serious health condition, and some of the provisions of the federal law pertaining to federal employees and federal matters have been deleted or changed. Effective 6 months after becoming law.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Creates the Sale of Nuclear Power to Electric Utilities Article in the Public Utilities Act. Requires nuclear power generation companies located in Illinois to sell 70% of the electricity generated each year to Illinois electric utilities for a period of 10 years. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission may adopt rules for the implementation and enforcement of the Article. Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, no tax shall be imposed under those Acts upon the privilege of using in this State (for the Use Tax Act) or persons engaged in the business of selling at retail (for the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act) an individual item of clothing or footwear designed to be worn about the human body that (i) is purchased for a selling price of $200 or less and (ii) is purchased from 12:01 a.m. on the first Friday in August through midnight of the Sunday that follows 9 days later. Provides that a unit of local government may, by ordinance adopted by that unit of local government, opt out of the tax holiday and continue to collect and remit the tax imposed under those Acts during the tax holiday period. Provides that articles that are normally sold as a unit cannot be priced separately and sold as individual items in order to be subject to the holiday. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.