Rep. Michael K. Smith

Amends the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act. Requires the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to pay an impact fee of $203,442.14 to the county treasurer of Fulton County for the impact on that county of facilities located on real estate within that county that is owned and operated by the District. Requires the county treasurer to redistribute the impact fee to each taxing district in which that real property is located in the same proportion as the tax rate for each taxing district for taxable year 2003 bears to the total tax rate of all such taxing districts for taxable year 2003 under the Property Tax Code. Requires the District to pay the impact fee within 60 days after the effective date. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Repeals provisions that place limitations on administrative costs in school districts.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund Article of the Illinois Pension Code to authorize participation by employees of the United Counties Council of Illinois. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Employee Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that certain persons employed by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority are eligible for the alternative (State Police) formula. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Employee Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that persons under the alternative (State police) retirement formula may retire at any age after having established service sufficient to provide an alternative formula annuity equal to at least 80% of final average compensation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the money deposited in the Park and Conservation Fund from certificates of title shall be used for the acquisition and development of recreational paths or trails (instead of bike paths). Effective immediately.

Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, for an employee whose final rate of earnings period includes March 2005, the final rate of earnings means the average annual earnings during the 48 consecutive calendar month period ending with the last day of final termination of employment or the 4 consecutive academic years of service in which the employee's earnings were the highest, whichever is greater. In provisions concerning service for employment in public schools and service for other public employment, removes references to payment of 50% of the actuarial value of the increase in the retirement annuity provided by the service. In provisions concerning retirement annuities, provides that any retirement benefit accrued but unpaid on the death of an annuitant shall be paid to the annuitant's beneficiary. Makes changes concerning annuitants who return to employment for an employer. Provides that the 5 or more years of service after which a participant shall also be entitled to a distribution of employer contributions in a specified amount may include service for unused sick leave or reciprocal service from the participant's election to retire and apply the reciprocal provisions contained in the Code. Provides that certain military service shall be counted in determining when a self-managed plan becomes vested. Removes the requirement that, with respect to payment of benefits to persons under legal disability or minors, the receipt of payment be written for the purpose of the absolute discharge of the system's liability. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Teachers Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Extends the deadline for application for early retirement without discount from June 30, 2005 to June 30, 2010; also reduces the required contribution for some members. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires each electric utility to submit to the Illinois Commerce Commission a non-emergency vegetation management schedule for the utility's service areas that is no more than 4 years in duration and that ensures that trees in all parts of the utility's service areas are trimmed at least once every 4 years. Requires the Commission to post the schedule on its web site. Requires each electric utility to submit an annual report to the Commission indicating the percentage of the utility's vegetation management schedule that has been completed along with an affidavit from a representative of the utility that lists the number and nature of all complaints for the previous calendar year related to the ANSI A300 standards. Requires compensation for affected customers if more than 0.8% of the electric utility's total customers (now, more than 30,000 of the electric utility's customers) are subject to (i) a continuous interruption of power lasting 4 hours or more that results in the transmission of power at less than 50% of the standard voltage or that results in the total loss of power transmission or (ii) a power surge or other fluctuation that causes damage. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall require certain electric utilities or alternative retail electric suppliers to submit certain data concerning non-supervisory employees. Requires Commission rules to set forth (i) standards for inspecting, maintaining, and repairing certain electric generation facilities and electric transmission or distribution facilities and (ii) safety and reliability standards for certain electric generation facilities and electric transmission and distribution facilities. Deletes a provision that certain requirements apply only to an electric public utility having 1,000,000 or more customers.

Appropriates $10,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for a pilot class size reduction grant program. Effective July 1, 2006.