Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the amount of the earned income tax credit from 5% of the federal credit to: (i) 7.5% of the federal tax credit for taxable years ending in calendar year 2007; and (ii) 10% of the federal tax credit for taxable years ending in calendar year 2008 or thereafter. Effective immediately.
Amends the Military Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning funding for the Department of Military Affairs.
Amends the School Code. Provides that a General Assembly scholarship may be used at a public community college, not just a State university. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective July 1, 2007.
Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Provides that the Comprehensive Health Education Program shall include instruction in grades 8 through 12 on teen dating violence.
Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to develop a curriculum for use in middle schools and high schools that (1) educates students on the dangers of gang membership from a legal standpoint, emotional standpoint, and mental health standpoint; (2) offers strategies for leaving a gang if a student has already joined one; (3) includes a component about the legal ramifications of drug dealing; and (4) offers information for those students who need drug treatment.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961 relating to the offenses of bringing contraband into a penal institution, possessing contraband in a penal institution, bringing contraband into a penal institution by an employee; unauthorized possessing of contraband in a penal institution by an employee; and unauthorized delivery of contraband in a penal institution by an employee. Provides that the possession of tobacco products by inmates and the delivery of such tobacco products to inmates in penal institutions are prohibited. Provides that a violation is a petty offense for which a fine not exceeding $250 may be imposed.
Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Under specified circumstances, allows for a maximum of 5 additional charter schools exclusively for truants or dropouts in Chicago if the limit on the number of charter schools that may operate at any one time in the rest of the State has not been reached. Provides that if any of the additional charter schools are not used exclusively for truants or dropouts, then the State Board of Education shall withhold and the charter school shall forfeit all State funding designated for that school.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that a person also commits arson if he or she knowingly participates in methamphetamine manufacturing or knowingly uses any vehicle, structure, or real property to manufacture methamphetamine and as a result of such methamphetamine manufacturing or an attempt to manufacture methamphetamine a fire or explosion occurs within the property used to manufacture or attempt to manufacture methamphetamine or within other property in proximity to the property used to manufacture or attempt to manufacture methamphetamine.
Amends the Payday Loan Reform Act. Changes the definition of "payday loan" to include any loan with a finance charge exceeding an annual percentage rate of 36% (instead of with a finance charge exceeding an annual percentage rate of 36% and with a term that does not exceed 120 days). Provides that no lender may make a payday loan with periodic payments unless the periodic payments are substantially equal term payments and, if paid as scheduled, result in full payment of the principal and interest owed on the loan at the end of the loan term. Requires the licensee, as part of the information that he or she must collect and maintain, to include the total number of lawsuits filed by the licensee or its agent against consumers to collect on payday loans from consumers during the preceding calendar year. Prohibits a licensee or a person making payday loans from evading the requirements and prohibitions of the Act by use of a device or subterfuge including, but not limited to, (i) disguising a payday loan as a different type of transaction, or (ii) characterizing a required fee as a purchase of a good or service in connection with a payday loan. Authorizes the Department to develop rules to determine if any person or entity seeks to evade the applicability of this Act by any device, subterfuge, or pretense. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Finance Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning special funds.
