Amends the State Employee Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Creates a program of optional additional benefits and contributions. Provides for termination of the program on July 1, 2006. Effective immediately.
Amends the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. With respect to occupational disease disability benefits, provides that heart disease, stroke, tuberculosis, or disease of the lungs or respiratory tract that develops or manifests itself during a period while the firefighter is in the service of the fire department is rebuttably presumed to have resulted from service as a firefighter. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Chicago Teachers Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a member who retires after June 1, 2004 and before June 30, 2009 and within 6 months of the last day of teaching for which contributions were required may make a one time contribution to the system and thereby avoid early retirement reduction in allowance. Provides that an election by a member to make such a contribution obligates the last Employer to make a one time contribution to the Fund. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that an active teacher member of the Board of Trustees who ceases teaching may serve out the remainder of his or her term. Provides that a vacancy occurring in the elective membership of the board shall be filled by a qualified person selected by the remaining elected members of the board, rather than by the board as a whole. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the State aid formula.
Amends the School Code. In the State aid formula provisions, changes a component used to calculate local property tax revenues per pupil and a component used to adjust the real property equalized assessed valuation, for a school district maintaining grades 9 through 12, from 1.05% to (i) 1.06% for the 2004-2005 school year, (ii) 1.07% for the 2005-2006 school year, (iii) 1.08% for the 2006-2007 school year, (iv) 1.09% for the 2007-2008 school year, and (v) 1.10% for the 2008-2009 school year and each school year thereafter. Effective July 1, 2004.
Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Changes the definition of the term "employee" to include individuals who were participating employees employed by the Board of Higher Education for the Illinois Century Network prior to July 1, 2004 for as long as those individuals remain employed by the Department of Central Management Services in a position with the Illinois Century Network. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Fire Marshal Act. Authorizes the State Fire Marshal to make bulk procurements of supplies and equipment for purchase by the State's fire departments and fire protection districts. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Allows a surviving spouse without dependents to begin receiving survivor's benefits before attaining age 50. Effective immediately.
