Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Increases the penalties for domestic battery and violation of an order of protection from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class 4 felony for a first offense and from a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent conviction to a Class 3 felony. Increases the penalties for these offenses from a Class 4 felony to a Class 3 felony if the defendant had a prior conviction for certain specified offenses. Increases the penalties for aggravated domestic battery from a Class 2 felony to a Class 1 felony.

Creates Rental Housing Support Program Act. Creates the Illinois Housing Development Authority with powers and duties, such as: make grants to non-profit organizations designated by municipalities; grants to be distributed according to a formula based on U.S. Census data to 20 designated areas of the State; make grants for long-term operating support for affordable rental housing; limits eligibility for tenancy in units supported by grants to those households with income that is 30% or below of the area's median family income. Makes other provisions. Amends the State Finance Act by adding the Rental Housing Support Program Fund. Amends the Counties Code to provide that recorders shall collect a $10 Rental Housing Support Program surcharge for recording any real estate-related document. Allocates from each $10 surcharge, $1 to county's general revenue fund and $9 to the Department of Revenue for deposit in the Rental Housing Support Program Fund. Effective July 1, 2005.

Amends the University of Illinois Act. Provides that each county is annually entitled to one honorary scholarship in the university for the benefit of children of persons who served in the armed forces of the United States any time on or after September 11, 2001 and until Congress or the President orders that persons in service are no longer eligible for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

Mourns the death in Iraq of Lance Corporal Hector Ramos, USMC, of Aurora.

Mourns the death of Guy H. Bodor of Aurora.

Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Adds a caption to a Section concerning definitions.

Amends provisions of the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act concerning a local public entity's duty to maintain its property in a reasonably safe condition for intended and permitted users. Provides that a person riding a bicycle is deemed to be an intended and permitted user of a roadway, except in the case of roadways upon which the use of bicycles is prohibited and the prohibition is indicated by appropriate signage.

Amends the Attorney General Act. Transfers the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program from the Department on Aging to the Attorney General. Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging to make conforming changes.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Changes the age at which a person may be convicted of contributing to the criminal delinquency of a juvenile from 21 years and upwards to 18 years and upwards. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State shall not issue a driver's license or permit to, and is authorized to suspend the license or permit of, any person under the age of 19 years who has been found to have seriously disrupted the educational atmosphere of his or her school on at least 3 occasions. Establishes procedures that must be followed before the finding can be made.