Rep. Raymond Poe

Requires the Capital Development Board to report certain information regarding State facilities, including the Illinois State Fairgrounds, to the General Assembly. Requires the Capital Development Board to submit an interim report by July 15, 2008 and a final report by October 1, 2008. Provides that the resolution supersedes House Resolution 1048 of the 95th General Assembly.

In addition to any other amounts appropriated for these purposes, appropriates a total of $29,800,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for: (1) staffing at the Center for Rural Health; (2) the expansion of medical practitioner grant programs; (3) the Rural Medical Education Initiative at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford; (4) the Rural Health Initiative at Southern Illinois University; (5) the Community Health Center Expansion Program; (6) increasing local health protection grants; and (7) earmarking funding for mental health service initiatives under the Illinois Rural/Downstate Health Act. Effective July 1, 2008.

Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law. Requires the Department of Central Management Services, in cooperation with the Department of Human Services, to develop and implement plans to increase the number of individuals with a disability employed by State government. Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in cooperation with the Department of Human Services, to develop and implement a public awareness campaign designed to increase statewide awareness of issues that affect individuals with a disability. Sets forth requirements for the public awareness campaign. Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish procedures and adopt rules for the certification of employees and individuals with a disability with respect to certain tax credits set forth under the Illinois Income Tax Act. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Requires that each notice of a contract contain a statement to encourage prospective vendors to hire individuals with a disability. Provides that a chief procurement officer may encourage prospective vendors to consider hiring individuals with a disability. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a tax credit for taxpayers who, during the taxable year, pay wages to an employee with a disability. Creates a tax credit for taxpayers who, during the taxable year, hire a net new qualified employee with a disability. Creates a tax credit for taxpayers who are qualified individuals with a disability. Sets forth the amounts and requirements for these credits. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides for the issuance of U.S. Army license plates to qualified applicants for an additional charge of $15 at original issuance, to be deposited into the Secretary of State Special license plate fund.

Urges the Illinois State Board of Investments not to make changes to deferred compensation rules and operations until a consensus is reached and after the conclusion of the present period of unusual market uncertainty.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the basic amount of the standard exemption, annually, by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for the previous calendar year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Increases the death benefit from $3,000 to $5,000. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires a tax-equivalent grant to be paid to any school district where a State-owned institution is located (now, a school district is entitled to a grant only if the State owns 45% or more of the total land area of the district). Effective immediately.

Creates the State Employees Residency Act. Requires that State executive branch officeholders, appointees, and employees, and others working on the State's behalf, in positions that include supervision, management, or direction of or authority over State employees located in the State capital must establish and maintain a primary residence in the State capital or within 60 miles of the State capital within 60 days after election, appointment, employment, or acceptance of the position. Prohibits the use of State funds or State-compensated time for travel by those persons to or from their State capital work site. Requires that the person be present at the State capital work location at least 80% of the work year.

Urges the Governor to keep the Division of Traffic Safety of the Department of Transportation in Springfield.