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.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that any military veteran who qualifies for the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption under the Property Tax Code shall pay $24, rather than the fee otherwise provided in the Vehicle Code, for registration of specified vehicles.
Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs for the Illinois Main Streets Program. Effective July 1, 2003.
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.
Creates the Childhood Hunger Relief Act and amends the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act. Requires the board of education for certain school districts to utilize available federal funding to establish a school breakfast program and a summer food service program. Provides that applications for participation in the school food programs shall be filed with the State Board of Education and information about the child's status shall be provided by the Department of Human Services upon written request. Makes changes concerning the breakfast incentive program. Effective immediately.
Amends the Election Code and the School Code. Changes the consolidated primary election from the last Tuesday in February of odd-numbered years to the third Tuesday in March of those years. Changes the consolidated election from the first Tuesday in April of odd-numbered years to the first Tuesday in May of those years.
Amends the Election Code. Provides for the use of mail-in ballots for the consolidated election held in April of 2005. Provides that the election authority shall mail ballots to each registered voter not more than 40 nor less than 5 days before the date of the election. Establishes procedures for the return of the ballots. Provides for the delivery of ballots to the judges of election. Provides for the casting of mail-in ballots. Provides that the State Board of Elections shall adopt rules and procedures for the implementation of the use of mail-in ballots within 270 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Requires the State Board to report to the General Assembly on the problems and successes of conducting elections with mail-in ballots. Contains other provisions. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates a homestead improvement exemption for the installation and maintenance of a residential fire safety sprinkler system. Provides that homestead properties that have been improved with a fire safety sprinkler system after January 1, 2004 are entitled to a fire safety sprinkler homestead improvement exemption, limited to $2,500 or the actual cost of installation, whichever is less, for the year that the system is installed, and $100 each year thereafter that the system remains in place, when that property is owned and used exclusively for a residential purpose. Further amends the Property Tax Code and the Criminal Code of 1961 to add cross-references. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement from the State. Effective immediately.
Appropriates $45,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Corrections for all costs associated with the opening and operation of the Thomson Correctional Center. Effective July 1, 2004.
Amends the Election Code. In the Article governing the use of in-precinct voting systems with optic scan technology, makes changes in terms and procedures to accommodate the use of touch-screen computers to display and mark ballots. Effective immediately.
