Rep. Mike Boland

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Election Code. Requires election authorities to prepare and provide special consolidated primary election absentee ballots that permit instant run-off voting for absentee voters in the United States military or outside the United States on the consolidated primary and consolidated election days. Requires the State Board of Elections to adopt implementing rules.

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Deletes language that provided that an individual shall be considered to be unavailable for work on a day that is a holiday according to the custom of the individual's trade or occupation if the individual's failure to work on that day is a result of the holiday. Changes provisions regarding the eligibility of certain academic and other personnel between academic years and during vacation periods to provide that an individual is ineligible for benefits on the basis of wages for services in an instructional, research, or principal administrative capacity performed for an educational institution (including services performed while in the employ of an educational service agency) during the period between 2 successive academic years or terms, during a paid sabbatical leave, or during an established and customary vacation period or holiday recess if the individual performed those services immediately before the period or recess and there is a reasonable assurance that the individual will perform those services after the period or recess. Contains applicability provisions.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the Military Servicemembers' Homestead Exemption, under which an annual homestead exemption, limited to $3,000 per year from the property's value is granted for certain property that is used as the primary residence by a military servicemember. Sets forth procedures for the application and grant of the exemption. Provides that the chief county assessment officer of each county must provide to each person allowed a Military Servicemembers' Homestead Exemption a form to designate any other person to receive a duplicate of any notice of delinquency in the payment of taxes assessed and levied under this Code on the property of the person receiving the exemption and sets forth procedures for filing and rescinding the designation. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Provides that the question of whether to call a constitutional convention required by Article XIV of the Illinois Constitution to appear on the November 4, 2008 general election ballot should be reworded, and all ballots altered accordingly, to conform to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, as well as the laws of the State of Illinois, particularly Section 16-6 of the Election Code.

Creates the Official Flags Restricted Sales Act. Provides that no person shall sell or offer for sale at retail in Illinois after January 1, 2009, any of the following flags, unless the flag was manufactured in the United States: the United States flag, the State flag of Illinois, or a MIA or POW flag. Provides that a person who violates this prohibition is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.

Amends the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Provides that individuals who are volunteer emergency workers qualify for grants and benefits under the Act if they meet the income requirements. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Authorizes a school board to place an advisory question on the ballot by a majority vote of the board.

Amends the senior citizens homestead exemption Section of the Property Tax Code to provide that, for taxable years 2008 and thereafter, disabled persons are eligible for the exemption as well. Defines "disabled person" to have the same meaning as in the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the IMRF Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Makes county probation officers eligible for the sheriff's law enforcement employee (SLEP) formula. Allows these probation officers to convert non-SLEP service as a probation officer into SLEP credit by paying the difference in employee contributions plus interest; waives the interest if payment is made within one year. Allows a participating municipality to phase in the costs of converting the service with payments over 5 years. Effective immediately.