Congratulates Ottawa Township High School on winning first place in the 2006 Class AA IHSA Music Sweepstakes for the tenth year in a row.
Amends the IMRF Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Prohibits a person convicted of a felony relating to or arising out of or in connection with his or her service as an employee who is an employee of more than one employer that participates in the Fund from receiving benefits based on any of his or her service as an employee for all employers that participate in the Fund. Provides that, if, as a result of the felony, the employee is ordered by the court to pay restitution to the employer, then (i) the employer may apply for a refund of employee contributions on the employee's behalf and (ii) pursuant to appropriate documentation from the employer and the court, the Fund shall pay to the employer all or a portion of the refund in a sum sufficient to satisfy the court-ordered restitution. Effective immediately.
Amends the Statute on Statutes. Prohibits all takings under the power of eminent domain by the State or a unit of local government for private development unless the property is within an area that is a "blighted area" and the condemning authority has entered into a written agreement with a private person or entity that agrees to undertake a development project within the blighted area that specifically details the reasons for which the property or rights in the property are necessary for the success of the development project. Defines "private development". Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act in the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that in all eminent domain actions in which a property owner is displaced, the displacing entity must pay certain costs related to the relocation and displacement of the property owner's residence, business, or farm operation. Amends the Eminent Domain Article in the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that, in a condemnation proceeding in which the property has been designated by the condemning authority by ordinance as blighted, the condemning authority must demonstrate and prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the property is blighted property. Provides that the existence of an ordinance designating property as blighted is not prima facie evidence of blight. Provides that an ordinance designating property as "blighted property" shall not be presumed to be valid for purposes of the condemnation proceeding. Makes changes concerning the valuation of condemned property. Requires reimbursement of the property owner for certain relocation costs. Establishes guidelines for determining reasonable attorney's fees (i) if the court awards just compensation that exceeds the initial written offer of the condemning authority and (ii) if the court determines that the taking is not warranted. Preempts home rule powers. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Creates the Southern Illinois Economic Development Authority Act. Establishes the Southern Illinois Economic Development Authority in Franklin, Perry, Randolph, Jackson, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Alexander, Pulaski, and Massac counties in order to promote economic development within those counties. Contains provisions concerning the powers and duties of the Authority. Allows the Authority to acquire, own, sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of interests in real property and to issue bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness for certain purposes in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000,000. Provides that the Authority shall be governed by a 21-member board. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Creates a new Article concerning the conversion and formation of school districts. Contains provisions concerning school district conversions; combined school district formation; unit school district formation; partial elementary unit school district formation; petitions; the holding of an election; taxes, bonds, and working cash funds; the effective date of a change; a map showing the change; assets, liabilities, bonded indebtedness, and tax rates; teachers in contractual continued service; limitations on contesting boundary changes; a limitation on successive petitions; a school district's nonrecognition status; unit district formation and a joint agreement vocational education program; and incentives. Repeals provisions concerning unit school district conversion in districts with not more than 250 students in grades 9 through 12, unit school district formation, school district combination, school district conversion, and supplementary State aid for new, annexing, and resulting districts. Makes related changes in the School Code and Election Code. Effective July 1, 2006.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning issuance of a tax bill.
Urges the Department of Transportation and the appropriate local agencies to erect signs along the Galena Trail and Coach Road designating it as such.
Congratulates Judie McConville of Ottawa on her outstanding career and her recent award.
Congratulates Larry McGrogan on being named one of IGA's 2006 International Retailers of the Year.
Congratulates Walter Baltikauski of Spring Valley on the occasion of his retirement from the Spring Valley Fire Department after 43 years of service.
