Rep. Jim Sacia

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county with a population of less than 1,000,000 may levy an annual tax for farmland preservation easement purposes. Provides that the tax may not exceed 0.05% of the equalized assessed value of taxable property in the county. Provides that the tax must be approved by referendum. Provides that the tax may be discontinued by referendum.

Creates the Small Retailer Tire Disposal Act. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency shall arrange for used tires to be collected from small retailers in the State. Provides that a collection site must be available in each county of the State on at least a quarterly basis. Provides that the Agency shall publish notice of the location, date, and time of a collection in the newspaper of greatest circulation in the county of the collection site for at least 2 consecutive weekends before the date of the collection.

Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Provides that dormant owners license, if it is available for reissuance on or after that effective date, shall authorize riverboat gambling from a home dock located in the municipality in which the license was first authorized. Repeals language allowing the dormant licensee to apply to relocate the riverboat.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Lowers the minimum age for issuance of an instruction permit to 14 years if the child (i) is enrolled in an approved driver education course or (ii) is enrolled in school, meets the educational requirements of the Driver Education Act, and has passed examinations prescribed by the Secretary of State. Makes conforming changes in driver education provisions of the School Code.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Exempts, from provisions prohibiting the sale, manufacture, purchase, possession, or carrying of specified weapons, an active member of a bona fide, nationally recognized military re-enacting group possessing a vintage rifle or modern reproduction thereof with a barrel or barrels less than 16 inches in length if: the modification is required and necessary to accurately portray the weapon for historical re-enactment purposes; the re-enactor possesses a valid and current re-enacting group membership credential; the overall length of the weapon as modified is not less than 26 inches; and the vintage rifle or modern reproduction thereof is used only during the historical re-enactment.

Amends the Illinois Renewable Fuels Development Program Act. Creates the Increased Ethanol Content Encouragement Program. Sets out legislative findings regarding certain types of ethanol blended fuel. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may provide information to gas stations in the State encouraging the stations to offer E25 as an option for customers. Provides that the Department may provide information to gas stations on any financial assistance that may be available to subsidize the cost of providing E25 blended fuel to consumers.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that any person who fails to answer an officer's temporary questioning (after the officer identifies himself as a peace officer and demands the name and address of the person and an explanation of his or her actions) is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Effective immediately.

Amends the Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Coal Resources Development Law of 1997. Provides that a public utility shall establish a program that allows customers to have the opportunity to purchase renewable energy at a premium price. Provides that the difference between the premium price and the standard rate that the customer would have paid if not participating in the program shall be paid directly to the renewable energy producer. Provides that a utility shall establish the premium price for customers that wish to purchase renewable energy at that premium price by filing a tariff with the Illinois Commerce Commission pursuant to Article IX of the Public Utilities Act, and shall justify to the satisfaction of the Commission the difference of the price between the premium price and what the customer would if not participating in the program.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, before beginning a project that involves the acquisition of private property, the Department shall issue a report outlining any possible negative effects the community will face as a result of lost tax revenue. Provides that the Department shall take any steps necessary to minimize these negative effects, including project changes and modifications.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning school bus identification markings.