Amends the Medical Care Savings Account Act of 2000. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning programs established under a prior Act.
Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Requires all automobiles purchased from State funds to be flexible fuel vehicles. Defines "flexible fuel vehicles" as automobiles or light trucks with the ability to operate on both gasoline and alternative fuels such as E-85. Authorizes the Chief Procurement Officer to exempt certain vehicle classes from this requirement based on intended use or other reasonable considerations.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the Veterans' 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 veteran. Defines "veteran" as an Illinois resident who: is or has been a member of the Armed Forces of the United States; is a member of the Ready Reserve of the Illinois National Guard while on active military service under an order of the President of the United States; or is a member of any reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States while on active military service under an order of the President of the United States. 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 veterans' 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.
Amends Downstate Public Transportation Act. Provides that a nonurbanized area may be a participant without any receipt of federal rural public transportation assistance (now, requires receipt of federal rural public transportation assistance on or before June 30, 2002). Provides that any mass transit district participant that increased its boundaries by annexing counties or municipalities (now, only counties) is eligible for payment of the maximum eligible operating expenses of the district based upon its projected operating expenses. Provides that the maximum amount of the eligible operating expenses appropriation in subsequent years may not exceed the amount appropriated in the prior year by more than 10%. Provides that 3 definitions of "public transportation" no longer include the characteristic of a service area that is approved by IDOT (now, requires IDOT approval).
Amends the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides for the creation of a policy commission to establish a uniform policy for the resolution of contested board elections, which shall be adopted by the boards of trustees of the 5 State-funded retirement systems. Effective immediately.
Creates the Interpreter for the Deaf Licensure Act of 2006 to replace the Interpreters for the Deaf Act. Provides for the regulation of interpreters for the deaf through licensure by the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission. Establishes the Board of Interpreters and provides for evaluation teams. Preempts home rule. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Interpreters for the Deaf Fund. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure to add a provision concerning privileged communications involving interpreters for the hearing impaired. Repeals the Interpreters for the Deaf Act.
Amends the State Finance Act. Excludes moneys received by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation under the Illinois Credit Union Act from those moneys required to be deposited into the Financial Institution Fund. Makes certain provisions concerning transfers to the General Revenue Fund inapplicable to (i) any fund established under the Illinois Credit Union Act, the Illinois Banking Act, the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985, or the Savings Bank Act and (ii) the Professions Indirect Cost Fund. Limits transfers and expenditures from those funds to specified purposes. Prohibits the allocation or transfer of additional amounts generated by certain fee increases with respect to or from the Credit Union Fund. Amends the Illinois Banking Act, the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985, and the Savings Bank Act. With respect to the moneys in each of the Bank and Trust Company Fund, the Savings and Residential Finance Regulatory Fund, and the Credit Union Fund, (i) exempts those moneys from assignment or transfer except for unappropriated administrative expenses and (ii) provides that the moneys remain the property of and must be held in trust for the financial institutions from which they were collected. For FY08, requires the Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate (now, the Director of the Division of Banks and Real Estate) to adopt rules to adjust regulatory fee rates in the specified manner. Amends the Illinois Credit Union Act. Provides that the regulatory fee paid by a credit union to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall be the lesser of (i) the rate pursuant to the regulatory fee schedule or (ii) a rate established in a manner proportionately consistent with the rates in the regulatory fee schedule and that would fund the actual administrative and operational expenses of the Credit Union Section. Increases rates in the regulatory fee schedule for credit unions with total assets over $5,000,000. Requires the Director of Financial and Professional Regulation to adjust the fee schedule for the next fiscal year. Provides that the fee schedule may be increased by no more than 5% annually if necessary to defray the actual (now, estimated) administrative and operational expenses of the Credit Union Section (now, the Department). Prohibits any increase in the fee schedule if the amount remaining in the Credit Union Fund at the end of the fiscal year is equal to or greater than 25% of the actual administrative and operational expenses for the preceding fiscal year. Requires the Director to base the regulatory fee for the next fiscal year on the credit union's total assets as of December 31 of the preceding calendar year. Beginning on July 1, 2005, requires a credit union to pay the regulatory fee in quarterly installments due and payable on the due date for the call report for the preceding quarter (now, a credit union is required to pay the regulatory fee in full no later than March 1 of each calendar year). Provides for a regulatory fee cap of $125,000 (now, $187,500). 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 Volunteer Firefighter Job Protection Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Volunteer EMT and Firefighter Job Protection Act and makes corresponding changes. Makes the provisions of the Act applicable to all licensed EMT's who provide services to a unit of local government with a population of 3,500 or less. Defines "volunteer EMT" to mean a person who works without monetary compensation for a unit of local government and is licensed as an EMT under the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Effective immediately.
Creates the Vicious and Dangerous Dog Task Force to address protecting the public health and safety stemming from vicious and dangerous dog attacks.
