Rep. Jim Durkin

Congratulates Elizabeth Arts on being named the Western Springs 2008 Woman of the Year.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Creates the offense of indecent solicitation of a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a person under 17 years of age. Provides that the offense is committed if the person knowingly uses a computer on-line service, Internet service, local bulletin board service, or any other device capable of electronic data storage or transmission to solicit, lure, or entice, or attempt to solicit, lure, or entice a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a person under 17 years of age or a person believed to be a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a person under 17 years of age to consent to the participation of such person under 17 years of age in any act of sexual penetration or sexual conduct with a person 17 years of age or over.

Amends the Compensation Review Act. Provides that the compensation of all officials and employees whose compensation is determined under the Act is frozen at the dollar amount in effect on the effective date of the amendatory Act, and that dollar amount shall not change without the specific authority of the General Assembly, by law. Further provides that any cost of living adjustment previously authorized under the Act is eliminated and no longer operative after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Abolishes the Compensation Review Board. Establishes the Illinois Citizens' Accountability Review Board, consisting of 12 members appointed by the Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Comptroller, State Treasurer, legislative leaders, and Auditor General. Requires the Board to annually adopt reports recommending State officer and appointee compensation, one for judges and State's Attorneys and one for all others (now, the Compensation Review Board biennially adopts one report for all offices and positions). In order for the recommendations to become effective in whole or reduced amounts, requires the General Assembly to approve or reduce each report by resolution (now, the General Assembly must adopt a resolution disapproving or reducing the report to prevent the recommendations from taking effect). Authorizes the Board to issue a report recommending no change, which is binding and may not be revised by the General Assembly. Amends various Acts to change references from the Compensation Review Board to the Illinois Citizens' Accountability Review Board.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a fine imposed by a municipality, except for a civil penalty imposed for failure to make returns or pay taxes imposed by the municipality, may not exceed $1,000 (rather than $750). Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a system for administrative adjudication of violations of parking, standing, and automated traffic law regulations may not adjudicate any civil offense carrying a fine in excess of $1,000 (rather than $250).

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders to the extent that the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders are not already covered by the policy or plan. Provides that this coverage shall be subject to a maximum benefit of $36,000 per year, but shall not be subject to any limits on the number of visits to an autism service provider. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Illinois Department of State Police shall, within 30 days after sentencing, collect and analyze DNA samples required to be submitted by a person who has been convicted of a felony.

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.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that a statement of a witness is not excluded at the trial or hearing of any defendant by the hearsay rule or as a violation of any right to confront witnesses if the witness was killed, bribed, kidnapped, secreted, intimidated, or otherwise induced by a party, or one for whose conduct such party is legally responsible, to prevent the witness from being available to testify at such trial or hearing. Provides that the party seeking to introduce the statement shall disclose the statement sufficiently in advance of trial or hearing to provide the opposing party with a fair opportunity to meet it. Provides that the disclosure shall include notice of an intent to offer the statement, including the identity of the declarant. Provides that prior to ruling on the admissibility of a statement under this provision, the court shall conduct a hearing outside the presence of the jury. Provides that except in cases where a preponderance of the evidence establishes that the defendant killed the declarant, the party seeking to introduce the statement shall be required to show by a preponderance of the evidence that the party who caused the unavailability of the witness did so with the intent or motive that the witness be unavailable for trial or hearing. Provides that the court is not required to find that the conduct or wrongdoing amounts to a criminal act. Provides that nothing in this provision shall be construed to prevent the admissibility of statements under existing hearsay exceptions. Provides that the provisions of the Act are severable.

Amends the Compensation Review Act. Requires that the Compensation Review Board file separate reports with respect to (i) State executive branch constitutional officers and General Assembly members and (ii) all other offices and positions subject to the Act. Provides that a report is effective if approved in whole or reduced by a resolution adopted by the General Assembly (now, effective unless disapproved in whole or reduced by a resolution adopted by the General Assembly). Requires a separate resolution and vote for each report. Removes an obsolete reference to the period for disapproval of the Board's initial report.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.