Rep. Raymond Poe

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Deletes language that provides that no construction shall commence on any new nuclear power plant to be located within the State, and no certificate of public convenience and necessity or other authorization shall be issued therefor by the Illinois Commerce Commission, until the Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency finds that the United States Government, through its authorized agency, has identified and approved a demonstrable technology or means for the disposal of high level nuclear waste, or until such construction has been specifically approved by a statute enacted by the General Assembly. Deletes the definition of "high level nuclear waste". Effective immediately.

Designates the week of February 28 - March 6, 2011 as Illinois State Historical Society Markers Awareness Week in the State of Illinois.

Creates the State Facility Overtime Act. Provides that the Director of the State agency responsible for the operation of specified State facilities (or the Director's designee or agent) may not require an employee to accept work in excess of an agreed upon, predetermined, and regularly scheduled daily work shift, not to exceed 40 hours per week. Provides for: exceptions to the prohibition; posting a summary of the Act and applicable rules; investigation of complaints by the Illinois Department of Labor and disposition of complaints; adoption of administrative rules; construction; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning contractual continued service in school districts other than the Chicago school district, adds an exception to the probationary period of 4 consecutive school terms for a teacher who is first employed as a full-time teacher by a school district on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act but who, prior to employment with the district, already entered upon contractual continued service in another school district, in which case the probationary period is 2 consecutive school terms. Makes a similar change with respect to a teacher employed in a program of a special education joint agreement. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Urges the Departments on Aging and Central Management Services to work with the Procurement Policy Board to review current leases as well as existing space in State facilities to find the solution that imposes the smallest burden on Illinois taxpayers in this time of budget challenge.

Amends the State Employee Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Allows a member to establish service credit for up to 12 days of voluntary or involuntary furlough, beginning on or after July 1, 2010 and ending on or before June 30, 2011, used to address a State fiscal emergency. Provides that no additional contribution is required for this credit. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the disabled veterans exemption and the disabled veterans standard homestead exemption must be reestablished every 2 years (instead of on an annual basis). Effective immediately.

Amends the Newborn Metabolic Screening Act. Provides that the Metabolic Screening and Treatment Fund is not subject to sweeps, administrative charges, or charge-backs. Effective immediately.

Creates the Personal Services Budget Continuation Act. Provides that, if there is no applicable State appropriation for personal services and State contributions to Social Security in effect on the first day of any State fiscal year, then amounts shall be appropriated for those purposes that are equal to the previous fiscal year's line item appropriations. Provides that the Act is an irrevocable and continuing appropriation. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Facilities Closure Act. Provides that a recommendation of closure of a State facility may not be implemented unless the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, by resolution adopted by record vote of at least 8 members, approves the recommendation (now, the Commission's opinion is merely advisory). Provides that nothing in the Act precludes the executive branch agency recommending closure from providing relevant information to the affected State employees and their authorized bargaining representatives. Effective immediately.