Rep. Ronald A. Wait

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Allows qualified veterans to deduct, from their base income, any compensation, up to $50,000 per year, during the 5-year period directly following that qualified veteran's discharge from military service. Defines a "qualified veteran" as a veteran who was an Illinois resident at the time that he or she entered military service, who was honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States, the Illinois National Guard, or any reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, and who served for at least 6 months in an active-duty capacity in a combat zone. Exempts the deduction from the Act's sunset provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Circuit Courts Act. Creates an additional Boone County resident judgeship in the 17th judicial circuit (Boone and Winnebago counties), to be elected first in 2008. Authorizes the Illinois Supreme Court to fill the judgeship by appointment until then. Specifies that the judgeship is not a subcircuit judgeship. Effective July 1, 2007.

Amends the School Code and the Counties Code. Provides that it is a State's Attorney's duty to notify the State Superintendent of Education upon the conviction of any individual known to possess a certificate issued under the School Code of any of certain offenses or any other felony conviction. In the criminal history records check provisions of the School Code, makes changes concerning the offenses for which a school board may not knowingly employ a person. Provides that no one may be certified to teach or supervise in the public schools who has been convicted of certain offenses (instead of providing that in determining good character, any felony conviction of an applicant may be taken into consideration, but such a conviction shall not operate as a bar to registration). In provisions concerning suspension or revocation of a certificate, provides that the State Superintendent of Education has the exclusive authority to initiate the suspension of up to 5 calendar years or revocation of any certificate (instead of providing that a certificate may be suspended for a period not to exceed one calendar year by the regional superintendent of schools or for a period not to exceed 5 calendar years by the State Superintendent). With respect to certificate suspension and revocation, makes changes concerning an investigation, notice, a hearing, an appeal, and the offenses that are grounds for suspension and revocation. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the amount of the earned income tax credit from 5% of the federal credit to: (i) 7.5% of the federal tax credit for taxable years ending in calendar year 2007; and (ii) 10% of the federal tax credit for taxable years ending in calendar year 2008 or thereafter. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county with a population of less than 1,000,000 may levy an annual tax for farmland preservation easement purposes. Provides that the tax may not exceed 0.05% of the equalized assessed value of taxable property in the county. Provides that the tax must be approved by referendum. Provides that the tax may be discontinued by referendum.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning Medicaid rates for nursing homes, provides that for facilities licensed by the Department of Public Health under the Nursing Home Care Act as skilled nursing facilities or intermediate care facilities, the support component of the rates taking effect on July 1, 2008 shall be computed using the most recent cost reports on file with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services no later than April 1, 2006, updated for inflation to January 1, 2007. Provides that facilities shall have the support component of their Medicaid rate computed every year using the most recent cost reports on file with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services no later than April 1, 2 years prior to the year in which the new rate takes effect, updated for inflation to January 1 of the year prior to the year in which the new rate takes effect. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Authorizes the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to make participation loans to small businesses that are at least 51% owned and managed by one or more persons who are veterans for the purposes of promoting the creation of veteran-owned small businesses and promoting the creation of jobs within small businesses. Provides that a loan may not exceed $100,000 or 50% of the business project costs. Provides that a loan may be made only if, in the Department's judgment, the number of jobs to be created is reasonable in relation to the loan funds requested. Provides that a loan must be protected by security. Effective immediately.

Amends the Motor Fuel and Petroleum Standards Act. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2008, any gasoline sold or offered for sale in this State for use in motor vehicles must contain a minimum of 10% ethanol, by volume, with specified exceptions. Effective January 1, 2008.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that when an individual purchases a policy of accident and health insurance that is a high deductible plan with a health savings account, the individual may waive coverage for insurance mandates as required by the Code.

Amends the Election Code, the Illinois Procurement Code, and the State Property Control Act. Requires the State Board of Elections to develop and maintain on its website a searchable database, derived from political committees' finance reports, of contributors to candidates for and holders of the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Comptroller, and State Treasurer. Prohibits an executive branch State agency from executing a lease with a business entity if the business entity or any of its affiliates has made any campaign contribution of $150 to the officeholder responsible for awarding the lease during the 24 months before the general election at which that officeholder was first elected or re-elected to his or her current office and the officeholder's entire term. Requires the business entity to disclose its affiliates and to certify that no violating contributions have been made. Requires the State agency to check the names of the business entity and its affiliates against the State Board of Elections' contributor database. Makes violations subject to voidability of the lease, voidability of other State leases, and prohibition against future leases. Applies to certain leases otherwise not subject to the Illinois Procurement Code. Effective immediately.