Congratulates Dr. Kurt Crowe on receiving the 2014 Rural Physician of Excellence Award from the Illinois Rural Health Association.
Amends the Wildlife Code. Adds the Gray wolf, American black bear, and Cougar to the list of protected species under the Act.
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. With respect to the Monetary Award Program, provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall, twice a year (instead of each year), receive and consider applications for grant assistance. Provides that the first application period for grants for the next academic year shall be open to all eligible students and the second application period shall occur immediately before commencement of the academic year and shall be open only to non-traditional students and traditional students who missed the first application deadline due to unforeseen circumstances, as defined by the Commission. Requires the Commission to apportion grant funds between persons who applied during the first application period and person who applied during the second application period, in such manner as the Commission shall determine. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that person with disabilities parking placards or decals that are issued to veterans with a permanent disability shall not require evidence of disability for renewal.
If and only if Senate Bill 26 of the 98th General Assembly becomes law, amends: the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013 by making various changes concerning the composition and duties of and support to the working group created by the Act; and the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code by providing that the creation of comparable programs for the services contained in the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013 for community-based providers by the Division of Mental Health of the Department of Human Services shall be in concert with the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse of the Department of Human Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Effective immediately.
Amends the Emergency Telephone System Act. Provides that an entity that installs or operates a private business switch service shall install and operate that service such that when a user dials the digits "9-1-1" the emergency call can be connected to the 9-1-1 system without first dialing any number or set of numbers. Sets forth penalties for failing to comply with the requirements of this amendatory Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Community Support Systems Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Counties Code. Provides that each fiscal year, within 30 days of the close of an audit of the county's funds and accounts, the auditor conducting the audit shall: (1) provide a copy of any management letter and a copy of any audited financial statements to each member of the county board; and (2) present the information from the audit to the county board either in person or by a live phone or web connection during a public meeting. Provides that if the county maintains an Internet website, the county board shall post the information contained in any management letter or financial statements to its website. Makes similar changes in the Illinois Municipal Code.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates an abatement for property that (i) is used exclusively for commercial or industrial purposes and (ii) has been rebuilt following a natural disaster occurring in taxable year 2013 or any taxable year thereafter. Effective immediately.
Amends the Local Government Debt Reform Act. Provides that the approval of bonds authorized to be issued under the Counties Code and approved by Jackson County voters in a 1994 referendum, of which less than $200,000 were issued, and for which the purpose of the bonds is flooding prevention, shall remain approved for 25 years after the date of the referendum. Effective immediately.
