Amends the Elevator Safety and Regulation Act. Provides that special purpose personnel elevators within the scope of section 17.1 of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Code (ASME A17.1) and used only by authorized personnel are exempt from regulation under the Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act and the Illinois Income Tax Act. Authorizes the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to establish systems and programs to encourage employers to match employee contributions to prepaid programs of college savings by making donations to the Commission for prepaid programs of college savings and its programs of grants and loans to make higher education affordable for all residents of the State and to receive, hold, and disburse all such funds made available through those programs for the purposes for which they are authorized by rule or by law. Creates an income tax credit for employers who, during the taxable year, make a matching donation on behalf of an employee. Provides that the credit is 25% of the matching donation, but not to exceed $500 per employee. Provides that the credit may be carried forward for 3 taxable years. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that if an applicant for medical assistance is a resident in a nursing home, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services must notify the nursing home, in writing, of the Department's decision on the application. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Establishes the Illinois Hope and Opportunity Pathways through Education (IHOPE) Program to develop a comprehensive system in this State to re-enroll significant numbers of high school dropouts in programs that will enable them to earn their high school diploma. Requires the State Board of Education to implement and administer the IHOPE Program. Provides that the IHOPE Program shall award grants to educational service regions and the Chicago school district from appropriated funds to assist in establishing instructional programs and other services designed to re-enroll high school dropouts. Provides that the IHOPE Program shall provide incentive grant funds for regional offices of education and the Chicago school district to develop partnerships with school districts, public community colleges, and community groups to build comprehensive plans to re-enroll high school dropouts in their regions or districts. Sets forth requirements for programs funded through the IHOPE Program. Provides for an IHOPE Plan, sub-grants, how funding is distributed, State aid, categories of programming, the evaluation of programs, and rules. Effective July 1, 2009.
Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Provides that the Act applies to certain projects located outside of the State, if the project involves property or facilities that are owned, operated, leased, or managed by an entity located within the State. Sets forth criteria for approving out-of-State projects. Provides that the Authority shall not provide financing for any project, or portion of a project, located outside of the United States. Provides that the Authority shall not provide financing that constitutes an indebtedness of the State for any project, or portion of a project, located outside of the State. Provides that the Illinois Finance Authority may approve an application to finance or refinance a project located outside of the State only if the Authority has the ability to issue at least another $1,000,000,000 of bonds after giving effect to the financing or refinancing or the out-of-state project. Proposes that the Authority shall not provide financing that uses State volume cap under Section 146 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for a project located outside of the State. Effective immediately.
Creates the War on Terrorism Compensation Act. Provides that every person who has served on active duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001 and prior to such time as Congress declares such persons ineligible for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal or the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal is entitled to receive compensation of $100 for such service if he or she had been a resident of the State of Illinois for at least 12 months immediately preceding the time he or she entered such service and meets certain other requirements. Provides that no payment may be made to any person who, though in such service: did civilian work at civilian pay; did not serve at least 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days outside the United States or its territories; or has received from another state a bonus or compensation of like nature. Provides that applications for compensation must be made to the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Effective immediately.
Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the application of the Act.
Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Increases the authorization for certain agricultural assistance by $150,000,000. Authorizes bonds for "renewable energy resources projects" (in addition to clean coal and energy projects), including electric transmission lines and equipment and plants that produce renewable fuels. Allows clean coal projects to include transportation of carbon, clean coal facilities, and SNG facilities. Provides that bond authorization for these purposes is in addition to and not limited by other bond limitations in the Act. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Migrant Labor Camp Law. Provides that licenses shall be issued prior to operation (instead of upon a calendar year basis). Effective immediately.
Mourns the death of Illinois Army National Guard Sergeant First Class Paul Smith of East Peoria.
