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 Children's Product Safety Act. Provides that a "children's product" is one designed or intended for the care of or use by a child under age 12 (instead of under age 6). Replaces the definition of "commercial user" with a definition of "commercial dealer", which includes one who manufactures children's products. Imposes requirements on commercial dealers in children's products with respect to product recalls. Provides that a commercial dealer who violates the Act is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each day the violation continues (instead of providing that a commercial user who willfully and knowingly violates the Act is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor). Provides that nothing in the Act relieves a commercial dealer from compliance with stricter requirements imposed by a federal agency. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Employee, State Universities, Downstate Teacher, and Chicago Teacher Articles of the Pension Code to provide for a one-time increase in certain retirement and survivor's annuities. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Provides that if a teacher or employee of a school district (other than the Chicago school district) does not use the full amount of annual sick leave allowed, the unused amount shall be allowed to accumulate to a minimum available leave of 360 (instead of 180) days at full pay. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.
Amends the Illinois Pension Code to allow investigators for the Office of the Attorney General to transfer credits for up to 12 years of prior service as a police officer, sheriff's law enforcement employee, or municipal conservator of the peace to the State Employee Pension System from certain other pension funds; requires payment of the difference in employee and employer contributions. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that payment received during a period of up to 2 academic years for unused sick leave may be considered as earnings for all employees. (Currently, this option is available only to those employees who have collectively bargained for it). Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Requires participation by all full-time municipal police officers who do not participate in an Article 3 police pension fund. Makes these police officers eligible for the sheriff's law enforcement (SLEP) formula. Excludes Chicago. Pre-empts home rule powers. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Creates the Simplified Business Tax Reporting Act. Contains the short title only.
Amends the education expense credit provisions of the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, for taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2003, to be eligible for the education expense credit the taxpayer's gross income for federal income tax purposes must be equal to or less than 150% of the poverty level as established by the federal Office of Management and Budget. Effective immediately.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Increases the fee imposed on the sale of new tires. Provides for the increase to be distributed to units of local government and local public health departments by the Illinois Department of Public Health, to be used for investigation, monitoring, training, and other purposes relating to the spread of disease by mosquitoes and other vectors. Effective July 1, 2003.
