Rep. Dave Winters

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a local agency may delegate to its superintendent of highways the authority to set reduced speed limits within construction or maintenance zones. Provides that if a superintendent of highways sets a reduced speed limit for a construction or maintenance zone under the new provision, the local agency must maintain a record of the location of the construction or maintenance zone, the reduced speed limit set and posted for the zone, and the dates during which the reduced speed limit was in effect.

Amends the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act. Provides that if the boundaries of a forest preserve district are co-extensive with the boundaries of a county having a population of more than 275,000 (instead of 800,000) but less than 3,000,000, then the commissioners of that district shall be elected from the same districts as the members of the county board. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. With regard to school districts, provides that an educational employee may not engage in a strike and an educational employer may not institute a lockout if that action would cause an interruption of ongoing essential educational services. Also provides that it is unlawful for a person to instigate or induce or conspire with or encourage a person to engage in a strike, lockout, slowdown, or work stoppage if that action would cause an interruption of ongoing essential educational services. Provides that these provisions do not prohibit a strike or lockout that began before the start of the school year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that the Department of Employment Security may contract with reporting agencies to provide secure electronic access to information provided to the Department by employing units. Limits the information provided to the amount of wages paid by each employing unit for each of or up to the last 16 quarters. Requires the user of the information to obtain a written consent form from the individual to whom the wage report information pertains prior to obtaining the report. Specifies language for the consent form.

Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law with respect to the allocation of tax receipts under the Law. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2004, road districts in Winnebago County shall receive allotments of tax receipts under the Law regardless of whether the road district levies a tax for road and bridge purposes in an amount that will require the extension of the tax for road and bridge purposes against the taxable property in the road district at a rate of not less than 0.08% of the value the taxable property thereof (current law imposes the 0.08% tax extension threshold for the road district to receive an allotment). Effective July 1, 2004.

Amends the Sanitary District Act of 1917. Provides that certain municipalities in counties of 1,000,000 or less have the power to dissolve a sanitary district and acquire all assets and responsibilities of the district. Provides that, after providing at least 60 days' prior written notice to the sanitary district, the municipality may vote to dissolve and acquire the sanitary district upon making a required showing. Provides that any costs associated with the dissolution may be taxed against the sanitary district once the municipality has acquired its assets and responsibilities. Provides that the sanitary district may file an appeal with the circuit court, and the court shall uphold the municipality's dissolution of the sanitary district if the court finds that all requirements have been met. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code, the Mechanics Lien Act, and the Labor Storage Lien Act. Provides that certain fees charged by the county recorder are the maximum fees that may be collected from any officer, agency, department, or other instrumentality of the State. Provides that the county board may, however, by ordinance, increase these fees and collect the increased fees from all persons and entities other than officers, agencies, and other instrumentalities of the State if the increase is justified by an acceptable cost study showing that the fees allowed are not sufficient to cover the costs of providing each service, program, or activity. Provides that a statement of the costs of providing each service, program, and activity must be prepared by the county board and that all supporting documents are public records and subject to public examination and audit. Provides that all direct and indirect costs may be included in the determination of the costs of each service, program, and activity.

Appropriates the amount of $1, or so much of that amount as may be necessary, from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Corrections for the purpose of grants to provide funding to fully staff county juvenile detention centers. Effective on July 1, 2004.

Amends the State Finance Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Retired Officers Security Act. Permits the Department of State Police to issue permits to carry concealed firearms to retired peace officers and retired military who have served honorably for at least 10 years. Provides that permits to carry a concealed firearm shall be valid throughout the State for a period of 4 years from the date of issuance. Provides that a person in compliance with the terms of the permit may carry concealed firearms on or about his or her person. Provides that the permittee shall carry the permit at all times the permittee is carrying a concealed firearm and shall display the permit upon the request of a law enforcement officer. Establishes firearm proficiency tests for applicants for concealed carry permits. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2010. Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Pre-empts home rule regulation of the issuance of concealed carry permits. Effective immediately.