Rep. Raymond Poe

Amends the State Finance Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Retired Officers Security Act. Permits the Department of State Police to issue permits to carry concealed firearms to retired peace officers and retired military who have served honorably for at least 10 years. Provides that permits to carry a concealed firearm shall be valid throughout the State for a period of 4 years from the date of issuance. Provides that a person in compliance with the terms of the permit may carry concealed firearms on or about his or her person. Provides that the permittee shall carry the permit at all times the permittee is carrying a concealed firearm and shall display the permit upon the request of a law enforcement officer. Establishes firearm proficiency tests for applicants for concealed carry permits. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2010. Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Pre-empts home rule regulation of the issuance of concealed carry permits. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that no transfers may be made, in order to help defray the State's operating costs for the fiscal year, from the Road Fund or the State Construction Account Fund on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Effective July 1, 2004.

Amends the Disaster Service Volunteer Leave Act and the Local Government Disaster Service Volunteer Act. Provides that State and local government employees who are assigned to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, in accordance with specified laws or rules, may be granted leave upon request of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency in the same manner as disaster service volunteers of the American Red Cross. Requires that work leave requests for out-of-state disasters shall be coordinated by the American Red Cross and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency through the Illinois State Emergency Operations Center. Authorizes the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to consult with the Department of Central Management Services on leave issues. Requires that leave for disasters within the United States or its territories shall not be unreasonably denied. Removes the requirement that leave for American Red Cross volunteers must be for service relating to a disaster in Illinois. Effective July 1, 2003.

Amends the School Code. Provides for tax equivalent grants to a district in which the State Capitol is located. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning downstate teachers.

Encourages the Governor to extend benefit enhancements to merit compensation employees similar to those given to AFSCME members.

Amends the State Employee and Downstate Teacher Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides an early retirement benefit program for certain persons who leave active service on or after January 1, 2003 and before January 1, 2005. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Public Aid may not establish any formulary limits on, or restrict by any prior authorization requirement, any insulin prescription drug as prescribed and determined to be medically necessary for the treatment of diabetes. Effective July 1, 2004.

Names Interstate 72, traversing through the heart of Illinois as the Purple Heart Memorial Highway.