Rep. Jim Sacia

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that every electronic benefits transfer ("LINK") card issued on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act by the Department of Human Services for the purpose of enabling the cardholder to obtain food stamp benefits or cash must include on the card's face a photograph of the cardholder. Provides that within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act, the Department shall replace every still-valid card issued before that date with a card that includes on its face a photograph of the cardholder.

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 State Employee Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Allows an investigator for the Secretary of State to elect to establish eligible creditable service for up to 5 years of service as a police officer under the Downstate Police Article or Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund Article if he or she has not otherwise established credit for that service by filing a written election with the Board within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act and paying to the System an amount determined by the Board to be equal to the amount of employee and employer contributions that would have been contributed had such contributions been made at the rates applicable to State policemen, plus interest thereon at the effective rate for each year, compounded annually, from the date of service to the date of payment. Exempts the changes from new benefit increase provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Establishes a prelicensing education program for used vehicle dealers. Requires at least one person who is associated with a used vehicle dealer to complete a minimum of 8 hours of prelicensing education program courses prior to the dealership applying for a license with the Secretary of State. Provides that the Illinois Independent Automobile Dealers Association, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Department of Transportation, the State Board of Education, and the Attorney General, shall develop the prelicensing course curricula for the used vehicle dealer education program, which shall include, but not be limited to, examination of federal and State laws applicable to the motor vehicle industry and federal and State regulations pertaining to used vehicle dealers. Provides that the education program courses shall be provided by the Illinois Independent Automobile Dealers Association in conjunction with a community college. Requires the community college providing used vehicle dealer education program courses to report on the program annually, by December 31, to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Transportation, the State Superintendent of Education, and the Attorney General. Makes exemptions to the education requirements. Provides that the State Board of Education shall adopt rules establishing reasonable fees to be charged for the prelicensing education courses and to be deposited into the Used Vehicle Dealer Education Fund for use for expenses related to the development and continuation of the prelicensing education courses. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Used Vehicle Dealer Education Fund. Effective January 1, 2009.

Amends the Bees and Apiaries Act. Requires the Department of Agriculture to adopt rules requiring any owner of property that is adjacent to a registered apiary to: (i) establish a buffer zone when spraying pesticides that are potentially harmful to bees; or (ii) use only pesticides that are not harmful to bees. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases amount of the education expense credit from 25% to 50% of qualified education expenses and increased the maximum amount of the credit from $500 to $750 per year. Provides that the credit is refundable. Effective immediately.

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 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, and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act to provide coverage for habilitative services, including, but not limited to occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy for children under the age of 19 with congenital or genetic defects existing at or from birth or with a defect acquired at a young age. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning financial exploitation of an elderly person.