Creates the State Employment Application Act. Provides that an application for State employment may not contain any question as to whether the applicant was convicted of or placed on supervision for a non-violent criminal offense but must contain a question as to whether the applicant for State employment has ever been convicted of a violent offense that is classified as a felony. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to prohibit a State agency from conducting a criminal background check of an applicant for State employment. Provides that if a federal or State law disqualifies a person convicted of certain offenses from holding a position, an application for that position may inquire as to whether the applicant has been convicted of a disqualifying offense. Provides that if an applicant is applying for a position of peace officer, an application for that position may inquire as to whether the applicant has been convicted of a disqualifying offense. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits a decision to refuse to hire on the basis that the applicant has been convicted of a criminal offense. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that each contract for the transportation of household goods by a common or contract carrier doing business in Illinois must contain an accurate estimate of the total value of the household goods being moved. Requires household goods common or contract carriers doing business in Illinois to provide, at a minimum, insurance or surety coverage equaling 2.5 times the estimated total value of the household goods being moved under the contract. Requires that the common or contract carrier must provide written proof of insurance or surety coverage in that amount to the person whose household goods are being moved. Effective immediately.
Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 and the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that persons under 18 years of age (rather than under 17 years of age) who commit offenses are subject to the proceedings under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 for delinquent minors. Effective January 1, 2010.
Creates the Homeowners' Solar Energy Act. Provides that no bylaw or action of a homeowners' association, property owners' association, or a condominium unit owners' association shall prohibit or be interpreted to prohibit a solar energy system or other energy device based on a renewable resource. Provides that no deed restrictions, covenants, or similar binding agreements running with the land shall prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting a solar energy system or other renewable resource energy device from being installed on residential dwelling property that does not exceed 3 stories. Provides that an owners' association may determine the location of a solar energy system. Provides that solar energy systems shall be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) or another nationally recognized certification entity. Provides that an application for the installation of a solar energy system shall be processed and approved as an application for architectural modification and shall not be willfully avoided or delayed. Provides that any entity, other than a public entity, that willfully violates this Act shall be liable to the applicant or other party adversely affected for actual damages. Provides that in any litigation under this Act, the prevailing party is entitled to reasonable attorney's fees. Provides that the legislative purpose of this Act is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare by encouraging the use of renewable resource energy systems to conserve and protect land and resources and prevent measures which will drive the cost of owning residential property beyond the capacity of private owners.
Amends the Children and Family Services Act and the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall establish, by contracts with private or public vendors, regional crisis residential centers with semi-secure facilities. Provides that these facilities shall be structured group care facilities licensed under rules adopted by the Department of Children and Family Services and shall have an average of at least 4 adult staff members and in no event less than 3 adult staff members to every 8 minors. Provides that a minor requiring authoritative intervention or a truant minor in need of supervision may be placed in a regional crisis residential center or a secure crisis residential center. Provides that within available funds appropriated for this purpose, the Department of Children and Family Services shall establish, by contracts with private or public vendors, regional crisis residential centers with secure facilities. Provides that these facilities shall be facilities licensed under rules adopted by the Department. Provides that these centers may also include semi-secure facilities. Provides that a minor admitted to a secure facility shall remain in the facility for at least 24 hours after admission but for not more than 5 consecutive days. Provides that if the minor admitted is transferred between secure and semi-secure facilities, the aggregate length of time spent in all such centers or facilities may not exceed 5 consecutive days per admission. Changes the requirements for which a minor may be adjudicated as requiring authoritative intervention.
Amends the Illinois Lottery Law. Creates the Lottery Supports Schools Fund. Provides that certain lottery revenues shall be deposited into the Fund. Provides that moneys in the fund shall be distributed to school districts based on the district's percentage of lottery sales. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Beginning with the first taxable year after the taxable year in which a Management and Concession Agreement is entered into under the Illinois Lottery Law, increases the individual rate from 3% to 3.25% and the corporate rate from 4.8% to 5.2%. Provides that 100% of the net increase in collections shall be deposited into the Common School Fund. All changes are contingent upon Senate Bill 2595, as amended by House Amendment No. 4, becoming law. Effective immediately.
Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Authorizes the Board of Education of the City of Chicago to levy a Public School Teachers' Pension and Retirement Fund and Pension Contribution Tax. Provides that proceeds of the tax may be used by the Board of Trustees of the Public School Teachers' Pension and Retirement Fund of Chicago for the purpose of making employer pension contributions. Effective immediately.
Amends the Secretary of State Merit Employment Code, the Comptroller Merit Employment Code, the Personnel Code, and the Illinois Municipal Code. Removes the list of misdemeanors that disqualify a convicted person from civil service testing and appointment under those Acts.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that an insurer that issues a liability insurance policy for a vehicle shall issue to the policy holder an insurance window sticker as evidence that the vehicle is covered by the policy. Provides that rules adopted by the Secretary of State shall prescribe that an insurance window sticker contain the same information as is required on an insurance card and shall require that reasonable measures be taken to prevent the fraudulent production of insurance window stickers. Provides that the insurance window sticker shall be permanently affixed to the lower left corner of the windshield of the vehicle. Provides that the display of a false insurance window sticker is a Class A misdemeanor. Provides that a person commits a Class 4 felony if he or she alters an invalid insurance window sticker to make it appear valid or knowingly makes, sells, or otherwise makes available an invalid or counterfeit insurance window sticker.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the Returning Veterans' Homestead Exemption, under which an exemption from the property's value is granted for residential property that is owned and occupied as a residence by a veteran for the tax year in which the veteran returns from active duty in an armed conflict involving the armed forces of the United States. In a Section concerning the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption, provides that in all counties (now, in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants), the county board may by resolution provide that if a person has been granted the homestead exemption, the person qualifying need not reapply for the exemption. In a Section concerning the alternative general homestead exemption, extends the alternative exemption by an additional 3 years. Provides that the maximum amount of the exemption is $60,000 if the general assessment year for the property is 2006 or later. Provides that the base year for counties other than Cook County is the 2005 or 2006 tax year. Provides that, to subject itself to the provisions of the alternative general homestead exemption, a county must adopt an ordinance to that effect within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.