Congratulates K. Patrick Yarbrough on being selected to fill a position on the bench in the 17th Circuit Court of Winnebago and Boone Counties.
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Makes changes concerning the identification, evaluation, and placement of children; the impartial due process hearing procedure; the expedited hearing procedure; the selection, training, evaluation, and retention of hearing officers and other matters concerning hearing officers; and the evaluation of the impartial due process hearing system.
Amends the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Rights Act. Provides that no person shall rent or offer for rent any mobile home in a mobile home park that does not meet the fire protection standards of the applicable city fire department or fire protection district. Provides that the mobile home park shall perform annual testing and inspections in conjunction with the fire department that has jurisdictional responsibility for responding to fire calls. Provides that the mobile home park shall maintain all private water supply systems and hydrants in operable and good repair.
Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Requires that a special government agent file his or her statement of economic interests within 60 days after assuming responsibilities as a special government agent (now, within 30 days after making an ex parte communication). Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Prohibits all State employees from obtaining State contracts (now, those earning more than 60% of the Governor's compensation). Requires that a waiver from the prohibition against obtaining State contracts must be filed within the earlier of 60 days after it is issued or when contract performance begins, and provides that the contract is voidable if the waiver is not filed within that period. Effective immediately.
Amends the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Provides that an Applicant may qualify for tax credits if the Applicant has 100 or fewer employees and is located or will locate in a county for which the annual unemployment rate was at least 1% higher than the average annual statewide unemployment rate during the most recent year for which those statistics are available from the Department of Employment Security, the project will involve an investment of at least $500,000 in capital improvements to be placed in service, and the project will employ at least 2 New Employees within the State as a direct result of the project. 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) certain household appliances that (i) qualify as an "Energy Star" product under the federal Energy Star Program; and (ii) are purchased from 12:01 a.m. on April 22 of 2006 or 2007 through 11:59 p.m. of April 28 of that same year. Authorizes and encourages units of local government that impose use and occupation taxes to declare a similar tax holiday. Effective immediately.
Amends the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. In a provision concerning eligibility for grants under the Act, increases the household income eligibility limitations for grant year 2006, and provides that, for grant years 2007 and thereafter, the limitations shall be increased annually by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for the previous calendar year. Effective immediately.
Amends the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. Repeals a provision that repeals the Act on July 1, 2007.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Allows an income tax credit for each individual taxpayer who is a teacher teaching in a school in Illinois. Provides that the amount of the credit is equal to the eligible classroom expenses made by the taxpayer during the taxable year, but the credit may not exceed $500. Defines "eligible classroom expenses" as the aggregate amount of nonreimbursed classroom expenses made by the taxpayer during the taxable year less $250. Provides that the credit may not be carried forward or back and may not reduce the taxpayer's liability to less than zero. Effective immediately.
Appropriates $22,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for truants' alternative and optional education programs. Effective July 1, 2006.
