Sen. Louis S. Viverito

Mourns the death of Patricia A. Terc of Arlington Heights.

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that when the two Houses adjourn on Thursday, February 03, 2005, the Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at 12:00 o'clock noon; and the House of Representatives stands adjourned until Monday, February 07, 2005, in perfunctory session; and when it adjourns on that day, it stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 08, 2005, and when it adjourns on that day, it stands adjourned until Wednesday, February 09, 2005, and when it adjourns on that day, it stands adjourned until Thursday, February 10, 2005, and when it adjourns on that day, it stands adjourned until Monday, February 14, 2005, in perfunctory session; and when it adjourns on that day, it stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 15, 2005.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that a non-resident dealer's licensee that meets the qualifications for licensure as a first-class wine-maker's licensee, other than the requirement that he or she be located in Illinois, may manufacture, store, and sell wine in the same manner as a first-class wine-maker's licensee. Provides that a non-resident dealer's licensee that meets the qualifications for licensure as a second-class wine-maker's licensee, other than the requirement that he or she be located in Illinois, may manufacture, store, and sell wine in the same manner as a second-class wine-maker's licensee. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the members of each Public Aid Committee and the members of the Cook County Townships Public Aid Committee are immune from personal liability in connection with their service on the committee to the same extent as an elected or appointed judge in this State is immune from personal liability in connection with the performance of his or her duties as judge. Effective immediately.

Amends the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act. Authorizes the District to impose a tax for the purpose of providing funds for staffing, services, materials, and equipment to secure and safeguard sewers, sewage treatment plants, and appurtenances thereto at a rate not to exceed 0.0025% of the assessed valuation of the taxable property of the District. Amends the Property Tax Code to exclude the new tax from the applicable definition of "aggregate extension" for purposes of the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure to prohibit court orders and judgments from concealing public hazards. Effective July 1, 2003, and applies to causes of action accruing on or after that date.

Amends the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disabilities Act. Changes the Act's title and short title to add references to veterans. Adds the promotion and encouragement of the economic development of veteran-owned business enterprises as a public policy for the State, and establishes a goal of 3% of the total dollar amount of State contracts to be awarded to businesses owned by veterans. Extends repeal of the Act from September 6, 2004 to September 6, 2008. Amends the Build Illinois Act to authorize small business loans to veteran-owned small businesses. Makes conforming changes in other Acts. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the definition of "33 1/3%".

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging by providing that, beginning July 1, 2004, vendors of homemaker, chore, and housekeeping services shall receive a rate increase of $1.16 per hour if at least $0.86 of that increase is used to increase the wages of homemakers and chore housekeepers. Provides that vendors receiving this increase must submit proof to the Department, either (i) by a an audited supplemental to the Direct Service Workers cost report or (ii) by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, that they have increased homemakers' and chore housekeepers' wages by $0.86 per hour. Effective on July 1, 2004.

Amends the Open Meetings Act to allow members of a public body to attend a meeting by electronic means, subject to certain limitations. Requires the physical presence of the person testifying in any contested case, as defined in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, unless all parties waive the requirement of physical presence. Requires minutes of all public bodies to reflect whether members were physically present or present by electronic means. Provides that a quorum of the members must be physically present for the public body to vote on the issuance of bonds. Allows a public body to adopt rules concerning attendance at meetings by electronic means. Prohibits electronic communication during the course of a meeting of a public body between members of the public body who are physically present at the meeting. Makes other changes.