Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Requires a new applicant for an owners license to competitively bid what percentage of adjusted gross receipts it shall pay as a wagering tax, with the new license going to the highest bidder. Requires each licensee to make a quarterly report to the Board indicating profits and losses. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Exempts manning levels as a required subject of collective bargaining. With respect to peace officers, fire fighters, and security employees, (i) provides that, in the absence of an agreement, an arbitration panel's consideration of the unit of government's ability to meet costs is limited to existing revenues and (ii) in a non-home rule municipality with a population in excess of 140,000, excludes manning levels from successor fire fighter agreements unless the municipality's corporate authorities agree otherwise.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if property is annexed or disconnected from any taxing district at any time during the taxable year, the taxpayer may apply to the taxing district for a refund of the amount of property taxes (i) paid by the taxpayer, (ii) distributed to the taxing district, and (iii) attributable to the annexed or disconnected property for the portion of the taxable year during which the property was not included in the taxing district. Provides that the taxing district shall refund those amounts to the taxpayer within 60 days after the application is received. Preempts home rule powers. Effective immediately.
Appropriates $200,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the University of Illinois for continued research on and developing a pilot project using miscanthus to generate energy. Effective July 1, 2009.
Amends the Home Rule County Use Tax Law in the Counties Code. Makes a technical change.
Creates the Aerospace Competitiveness Act. Establishes the Illinois Council on Aerospace and provides for its membership. The purpose of the Council is to emulate national and international best practices that will: (1) improve coordination and responsiveness of the State's aerospace training, education, research, and development programs to meet industry needs; (2) enhance the State's economic climate for the industry; and (3) ensure that Illinois remains the best place in the world to design and manufacture aircraft and grow jobs in the aerospace industry. Sets forth the responsibilities of the Council and provides for funding and reports. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Illinois Aerospace Council Fund.
Creates the Science Advisory Board Act. Creates the Science Advisory Board for the purpose of rendering scientific assessment of, as well as risk-based analysis and consensus advice upon questions of science posed by the Governor or Legislative Committees having jurisdiction over scientific matters. Provides for appointments to the Board; terms of appointees; and the removal of appointees. Sets forth qualifications for Board members. Prohibits certain persons from participating in the work of the Board. Requires the Board to review and summarize pertinent scientific studies related to charged topics; to summarize findings and recommendations in a manner that is timely, objective, transparent, and understandable by elected officials and policymakers; to achieve consensus in its decision making, if possible, and to provide for reports of minority opinions, if consensus is not possible. Sets out other requirements for Board action. Provides that the Director of the Legislative Research Unit shall act as the Executive Director of the Board and shall assign such clerical and staff support from the Legislative Research Unit staff as is required. Requires members of the Board to be reimbursed from appropriations made by the General Assembly for reasonable expenses incurred as a result of their services.
Amends the School Code and the State Finance Act. Creates the Early Graduation Scholarship Program, to be implemented and administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission on or before September 1, 2010, in conjunction with the State Board of Education. Requires each school district that provides instruction in grades 9 through 12 in this State to participate in and promote to students the program. Provides that participating full-time students who graduate from public high school at least one year early shall receive a scholarship in an amount not to exceed two-thirds of the foundation level of support amount specified in the State aid formula provisions of the School Code or the actual cost of tuition, books, and fees, whichever is less, in both the first academic year of postsecondary instruction and the second academic year of postsecondary instruction, to be used to pay all or a portion of the tuition, books, and fees charged at an institution of higher learning in this State for a maximum of 2 academic years. Also provides for scholarships for full-time students who graduate one semester early and part-time students. Contains provisions concerning eligibility, funding, including the creation of the Early Graduation Scholarship Fund, and submission of an annual report. Repeals these provisions on July 1, 2017.
Creates the 72-Hour Budget Review Act. Sets forth time requirements for which certain appropriation or revenue legislation must be made publicly available before passage. Provides that the time requirements may be waived by an affirmative two-thirds vote of the full committee or chamber considering the legislation. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that conservation practice cost-share grants from the Partners for Conservation Fund may be made to livestock operations. Effective July 1, 2010.
