Amends the Election Code. Permits a person to vote by absentee ballot on the basis that he or she is 65 years old or older.
Amends the Election Code. Sets the minimum number of petition signatures for a local public question at 8% of the number of votes cast by registered voters in the governmental unit in the most recent gubernatorial election (now, 10% of the registered voters in the governmental unit).
Amends the Election Code. Beginning January 1, 2007, permits an election authority to accept in-person voter registrations on the day of the consolidated primary election and the day of the consolidated election.
Amends the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. In a provision concerning eligibility for grants under the Act, increases the household income eligibility limitations for grant year 2006, and provides that, for grant years 2007 and thereafter, the limitations shall be increased annually by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for the previous calendar year. Effective immediately.
Amends the Election Code. Changes the petition signature requirement for a new political party to at least twice the minimum number required for an established party candidate for the office on the slate with the lowest signature requirement. Changes the petition signature requirement for an independent candidate to at least twice the minimum number required for an established party candidate for that office.
Amends the Election Code to eliminate the requirement that a voter declare party affiliation when voting at a primary election. Provides that the voter shall receive the primary ballot of each of the established political parties nominating candidates for office at the primary election, but may cast a ballot of only one political party, except in certain cases involving statewide political parties and political parties established only within a political subdivision. Effective January 1, 2007.
Appropriates $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2005 as a lump sum from the Wildlife and Fish Fund to the Department of Natural Resources for the purposes of Personal Services, State Contributions to Social Security, State Contributions to State Employees' Retirement System, and Group Insurance. Provides that these amounts must be expended to immediately reinstate the 89 employees laid off by the Department due to a budgetary shortfall. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section concerning the redemption of property sold for taxes, provides that the county clerk may, at his or her sole discretion, accept a deposit for the redemption by credit card. Effective immediately.
Creates the Supreme Court Campaign Reform Act. Provides that candidates for the Supreme Court may apply for a public financing benefit in connection with their campaign. Sets the amount of the public financing benefit at $750,000 for the general primary and general election cycle. Sets requirements for qualifying for the public financing benefits. Limits the amount of private contributions qualified candidates may accept. Limits the amounts that non-participating candidates may accept from private sources during campaign periods to $1,000 in the aggregate. Provides that qualified candidates must be distributed a line of credit from the Illinois Supreme Court Democracy Trust Fund to be used for lawful political expenditures. Provides for the increase of the line of credit if non-complying candidates make certain expenditures. Sets penalties for violations of the Act. Provides that the Illinois Supreme Court may require attorneys to contribute money to the Fund not to exceed $25 annually. Contains other provisions. Amends the Election Code. Provides that a payment for electioneering communications is an "expenditure". Provides that a group that "accepts contributions or makes expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $3,000 for the purpose of electioneering communications" is a political committee. Allows the Board of Elections to impose a fine against a committee that fails to report expenditures that could trigger matching funds under the Supreme Court Campaign Reform Act. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois Supreme Court Democracy Trust Fund. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Requires the Department of Revenue to print on its standard individual income tax form a provision by which the taxpayer may make a contribution (not less than $1) to the Illinois Supreme Court Democracy Trust Fund. Amends the Clerk of the Courts Act. Requires circuit court clerks to transfer $1 from each appearance fee paid to the State Treasurer for deposit into the Supreme Court Democracy Trust Fund and, to defray that expense, the county board may, by resolution, require the clerk of the circuit court in the county to charge and collect a Supreme Court Democracy Trust Fund fee of not more than $1, which shall be paid at the time that any appearance fee is paid. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Adds a Section concerning compensation disclosure and unfair trade practices. Contains only a Section heading.
