Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Allows the purchase of up to 5 (rather than 2) years of service credit for time spent on active duty in the armed forces before becoming a participant, and reduces the required contribution for that credit. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that if an Illinois resident who is a member of the Illinois National Guard or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States (now, applies only to reservists and there is no residency requirement) and who has an ownership interest in property taxed under the Code is called to active duty for deployment outside the continental United States and is on active duty on the due date of any installment of taxes due under the Code, he or she shall not be deemed delinquent in the payment of the installment and no interest shall accrue or be charged as a penalty on the installment until one year (now, 30 days) after that member returns from active duty. Requires notification of the county clerk within 30 days of deactivation, with failure to notify to result in penalties and interest accruing from the date of deactivation. Effective immediately.
Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2004, the tax with respect to textbooks required for use at State universities and public community colleges or certain other institutions of higher learning is imposed under these Acts at the rate of 1.25% (eliminating the State's portion of the tax). Authorizes the Department of Revenue to adopt rules. Amends the State Finance Act to adjust the distribution with respect to this tax. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Finance Act, the Illinois Vehicle Code, the Clerks of Courts Act, and the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a $5 surcharge shall be collected in addition to every fine imposed for a seat belt violation and shall be deposited into the Seat Belt Compliance Program Fund and shall be used by the Department of State Police for the Seat Belt Compliance Program or by the Department of State Police for grants to other State, county, or municipal law enforcement agencies for seat belt compliance programs established to increase seat safety belt compliance by high school students, including but not limited to the Operation Cool Program. Creates the Seat Belt Compliance Program Fund in the State treasury.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, for taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2004, each taxpayer is entitled to an income tax credit in the amount of $1,000 per taxable year if, at any time during the taxable year, the taxpayer's spouse served on active duty in the Illinois National Guard or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States. Allows the credit to be carried forward for 10 years and exempts the credit from the sunset provisions of the Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Beginning on January 1, 2005, adds epilepsy, including its secondary conditions and side effects, as a covered illness. Effective immediately.
Amends the County Jail Act. Provides that the costs of medical or hospital services of a prisoner held in a county jail who has been determined to be eligible for medical assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code at the time the person is initially detained pending trial shall be reimbursed by the Department of Public Aid to the extent those costs exceed $500 (rather than $2,500).
Amends the Western Illinois University Law. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the powers and duties of the Board of Trustees.
Amends the County Jail Act. Provides that when long-term care or nursing home care is required by the arrestee and the arresting authority releases the arrestee for treatment at the long-term care facility or nursing home, the long-term care facility or nursing home shall notify the State's Attorney of the committing county and the chief law enforcement officer of the arresting authority of the pending release of the arrestee from the long-term care facility or nursing home at least 48 hours before that release. Effective immediately.
Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department shall not require a county to implement any specific bulletin, circular, formula, or other written material having the force of administrative law, including, but not limited to, what is described as "Bulletin 810", that purports to create a consistent methodology for the assessment of farmland property for property tax purposes, until January 1, 2008. Effective immediately.
