Rep. Rich Brauer

Amends the Illinois Promotion Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning administration and definitions.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that for taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2003, each taxpayer who was a member in good standing of a volunteer fire department during the entire taxable year is entitled to an income tax credit. Provides that the credit may not exceed $500 or the amount of the taxpayer's liability under this Act, whichever is less. Prohibits the carry forward of an excess tax credit to a succeeding year's tax liability. Exempts the provisions from the sunset requirements. Effective July 1, 2003.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Conditions the exercise of a renewal option in a property lease upon approval by the Procurement Policy Board. Requires the Board to consider whether the lease contains a purchase option when the State occupies 100% of the property.

Creates the Loan Repayment Assistance for Physicians Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to establish an educational loan repayment assistance program for physicians who practice in Illinois. Provides that beginning July 1, 2004, the Department shall consider applications for assistance under the program. Sets forth eligibility requirements for applicants. Provides that for each year that a qualified applicant practices full-time as a physician, the Department shall, subject to appropriation, award a grant to that person in an amount equal to the amount in educational loans that the person must repay that year. Provides that the total amount in grants that a person may be awarded shall not exceed $25,000. Provides that loan payment recipients who fail to practice full-time in Illinois for 3 years shall repay the Department a sum equal to 3 times the amount received under the program. Effective July 1, 2004.

Amends the Historic Preservation Agency Act. Adds a caption and makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.

Appropriates $15,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Agriculture for the purposes of the Food and Agriculture Research Act. Effective July 1, 2004.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a $2,000 tax credit for each taxpayer who purchases a new E85 ethanol powered motor vehicle for each vehicle purchased during the taxable year. Creates a $10,000 tax credit for each motor fuel retailer who installs one or more new E85 ethanol fuel dispensing pumps at his or her motor fuel retail store in Illinois during the taxable year. Provides that each of the credits applies to taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2003 and on or before December 30, 2008. Provides that the credits may not reduce the taxpayer's liability to less than zero. Effective January 1, 2004.

Amends the Recreational Use of Land and Water Areas Act. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to encourage owners of land to make land and water areas available to any individual or members of the public (now, to make land and water areas available to the public) for recreational or conservation purposes by limiting their liability toward persons entering thereon for such purposes. Provides that residential buildings are not included in the definition of "land". Changes the definition of "recreational or conservation purpose" to include hunting, hiking, pleasure driving, motorcycling, operation of an all terrain vehicle, rock climbing, trapping, horseback riding of an entrant's own horse or horses, fishing, swimming, boating, camping, picnicking, nature study, water or snow skiing, sledding, snowmobiling, other summer and winter sports, and viewing or enjoying historical, archaeological, scenic, or scientific sites (now, defined as any activity undertaken for conservation, resource management, exercise, education, relaxation, or pleasure). Effective immediately.