Amends the Downstate Teachers Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that benefits shall be paid in 12 monthly installments on a schedule of payments determined by the Office of the Comptroller rather than in 12 monthly installments as of the first day of each month. Effective immediately.
Appropriates $1 to the Department of Agriculture for the Illinois State Fair. Effective July 1, 2004.
Amends the Drycleaner Environmental Response Trust Fund Act. Extends the remedial claim filing deadline, the date for the repeal of the Section concerning the fee and tax provisions, and the date by which site investigations must be completed. Adds members to the Drycleaner Environmental Response Trust Fund Council. Requires the advice and consent of the Senate for the appointment of Council members. Requires that the Council submit to the Agency for review any prioritization of remediation sites. Provides that agencies shall submit to the Council information concerning the contractors that have been previously approved by the agencies. Requires the Council to define certain terms. Sets out the requirements for containment dikes or other containment structures. Provides for the licensure of operators of drycleaning drop-off facilities and dealers of drycleaning solvents. Provides that the Department may adopt rules allowing the payment of the license fees by credit card provided that the Department is not required to pay the discount fee charged by the credit issuer. Requires drycleaning facilities and drycleaning drop-off facilities to carry insurance. Changes the reimbursement amounts and the annual premium for insurance. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2004, except that the changes made to Sections 20 and 45 of the Drycleaner Environmental Response Trust Fund Act are effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Requires that the Procurement Policy Board be made a party to (i) discussions and negotiations for capital projects, real estate purchases, and agency requests to lease new space and (ii) the review of an agency's exercise of a lease renewal option.
Amends the Law Enforcement Officers, Civil Defense Workers, Civil Air Patrol Members, Paramedics, Firemen, Chaplains, and State Employees Compensation Act. Provides that the term "law enforcement officer" includes a person who is employed as a security guard by the State on a full-time, part-time, temporary, or contractual-payroll basis and whose death in the line of duty results from injury incurred on or after September 1, 2004. Also makes technical corrections. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Fair Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Act. Requires the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency to keep the following State historic sites open to the public 7 days per week: Black Hawk State Historic Site, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site, U.S. Grant Home State Historic Site, Lincoln-Herndon Law Office State Historic Site, Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site, Lincoln's Tomb State Historic Site, Pierre Menard Home State Historic Site, and Old State Capitol State Historic Site. Effective July 1, 2003.
Creates the Local Government Firearm Regulation Preemption Act and amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that a person who possesses, transports, stores, purchases, sells, or otherwise deals in firearms, ammunition, components, accessories, and accoutrements in compliance with U.S. and State law is entitled to possess, transport, store, purchase, sell, and otherwise deal in these items throughout this State. Preempts units of local government, including home rule units, from regulating firearms, ammunition, components, accessories, or accoutrements, except as provided in the Local Government Firearm Regulation Preemption Act. Effective immediately.
Designates specified portions of Illinois Route 123, Route 97, and the Athens Blacktop, collectively, as the Abraham Lincoln Highway.
Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Extends the partial exemption from the taxes imposed by these Acts on gasohol to December 31, 2013 (now ends on July 1, 2003), gradually reducing the partial exemption to zero after December 31, 2013. Partially exempts E85 blend fuel and bio-diesel blend fuel in the same amount and according to the same schedule as gasohol. Provides that if, at any time, the tax under these Acts on gasohol, E85 blend fuel, and bio-diesel blend fuel is imposed at 1.25%, then the partial exemption of the tax on those items does not apply during that time. Effective immediately.
