Amends the Local Government Debt Reform Act and the Public Community College Act. Authorizes Kishwaukee College District No. 523 to issue bonds for building purposes for 25 years (instead of 20 years) if approved at referendum and specified conditions are met. Effective immediately.
Amends the Fire Protection District Act. Provides that an elected or appointed 7-member board of trustees of a fire protection district may be decreased to an elected or appointed 5-member or 3-member board by referendum. Sets forth the procedure for decreasing the size of a 7-member board. Specifies the terms of the board members. Provides that the terms of the 7 persons serving on the board at the time of the reduction of the number of members to 5 or 3 shall terminate upon certification of the election results, except that they shall continue to serve until the 5-member or 3-member board is appointed and qualified or elected and qualified. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Authorizes taxing districts to order a property tax abatement for property located in an underserved area and used as a new office by a healthcare provider. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Code and the Special Assessment Supplemental Bond and Procedures Act. Sets forth an alternative procedure to apportion the assessment and the installments of a divided parcel. Effective immediately.
Makes appropriations to the Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University for various purposes, including for ordinary and contingent expenses, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010. Effective July 1, 2010.
Amends the Property Tax Code concerning the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption. Sets forth provisions for calculating the base amount for a new residence if the taxpayer changes residences. Effective immediately.
Creates the Endow Illinois Tax Credit Act and amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Requires the Department of Revenue to authorize an income tax credit to taxpayers who provide an endowment gift to a permanent endowment fund. Sets forth procedures and criteria for authorizing the credits. Provides that the aggregate amount of all credits that the Department may authorize may not exceed $50,000,000 in 2009, $75,000,000 in 2010, or $100,000,000 in 2011 and each calendar year thereafter. Provides conditions for eligibility. Requires the Department to make an annual report concerning the credits. Provides that the credit may be carried forward for 3 years. Exempts the credit from the Act's sunset provisions. Effective immediately.
Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall establish and administer a Safe Routes to School Non-Infrastructure Program to fund education, encouragement, evaluation, and enforcement strategies to help children enjoy healthy and safe walk, roll, and bike commutes to and from school. Creates the Childhood Obesity Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Department of Transportation to make grants to school districts, units of local government, and not-for-profit organizations. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a tax checkoff for the Childhood Obesity Fund. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Creates the offense of distracted driving, which a person commits by operating a motor vehicle in violation of a law or ordinance governing the movement of vehicles while also engaging in certain activities. Provides that a law enforcement officer may charge a person with distracted driving if the officer (i) has stopped the person for any violation of a law or ordinance governing the movement of vehicles and (ii) determines that the person was driving while distracted. Specifies that distracted driving may not be recorded on a person's driving record, but requires a person who has committed distracted driving to pay an additional fine equivalent to the amount of the fine for the underlying offense that he or she committed.
Directs the Illinois State Board of Investment to conduct an independent asset allocation study of College Illinois! investments to determine the overall level of risk associated with the program's investment mix, and directs the Auditor General to conduct a special audit of College Illinois! operations to document growth in program administrative costs and determine the efficacy of program administration on behalf of participants.
