Sen. Kwame Raoul

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person charged for the first time with an equipment violation of a specified type shall not be convicted of the violation if the person presents satisfactory evidence in court that the vehicle has been repaired or altered in a manner that brings the vehicle into compliance with the applicable provision.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the registration for a tax sale in a county with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants must be accompanied by a deposit in an amount determined by the county collector, but not to exceed $250 in counties with less than 50,000 inhabitants or $500 in all other counties, which shall be applied to the amount due on the properties that the registrant has purchased, and, if the registrant does not participate in the sale, then the deposit is forfeited to the Tax Sale Automation Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Eliminates provision that a person who has been adjudicated a juvenile delinquent for an act which, if committed by an adult, would be a sex offense shall register as an adult sex offender within 10 days after attaining 17 years of age. Provides that in all cases involving an adjudicated juvenile delinquent who meets the definition of sex offender under the Act, the court shall determine at the sentencing hearing whether to order registration, and if so, the duration of the registration. Establishes factors that the court must consider in making such a determination. Effective immediately.

Amends the Circuit Courts Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the judicial circuits.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the General Provisions Article, allows certain pension funds to embrace the investment in international equities and fixed income in corporations created or existing under the laws of a foreign country or in such corporations through investments in certain pooled or commingled funds and provides that, for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Retirement Fund, the total market value of all stocks and convertible debt shall not exceed 75% of the aggregate market value of all fund investments. In the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Article, (i) makes changes concerning the timing of the first annuity payment date for retirement and survivor's annuities; (ii) provides that an employee in service before June 13, 1997 shall also receive a child's disability benefit during the period of disability of $10 per month for each unmarried natural or adopted child of the employee under 18 years of age (language granting this benefit was removed from the statutes by Public Act 90-12, effective June 13, 1997); (iii) provides that there shall be deducted from each payment of salary an amount equal to 7% of salary as the employee's contribution for the retirement annuity, including child's annuity, and 0.5% of salary as the employee's contribution for annual increases to the retirement annuity (was, 7 1/2% of salary as employees contribution for the retirement annuity, including annual increases therefore and child's annuity); (iv) makes changes concerning refunds after the death of a survivor of the employee and spouse; and (v) makes changes concerning the investment authority of the Retirement Board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Provides that in all cases involving an adjudicated juvenile delinquent who meets the definition of sex offender as set forth in the Act, the court shall order the minor to register as a sex offender. Provides that once an adjudicated juvenile delinquent is ordered to register as a sex offender, the adjudicated juvenile delinquent shall be subject to the registration requirements set forth in the Act for the term of his or her registration. Provides that no less than 5 years after registration, the minor may petition for the termination of the term of registration. Provides that the court may upon a hearing on the petition for termination of registration, terminate registration if the court finds that the registrant poses no risk to the community by a preponderance of the evidence based upon certain factors. Provides that an adjudicated juvenile delinquent shall not be considered a sexual predator, as defined in the Act, for the purposes of mandatory registration for the term of natural life. Provides that these provisions apply retroactively. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions concerning service for employment in public schools and other public employment, replaces references to service in the military forces with references to service in a capacity essentially similar or equivalent to that of a teacher. Deletes a provision requiring the Board of Trustees of the State Universities Retirement System to have the System's actuary prepare a report showing the actual rate of participation in the self-managed plan and the extent to which employee optional retirement plan participation has reduced the State's required contributions to the System. Provides that, in addition to warrants and checks, the State Comptroller and payroll officers may use an electronic funds transfer to pay employees. Repeals a provision encouraging the System to use emerging investment managers, minority-owned businesses, female-owned businesses, and business owned by persons with disabilities in managing the system's assets. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires a person having custody or control of a child who is below the compulsory school age and who is enrolled in kindergarten in a public school to cause the child to attend the public school. Includes in the definition of "dropout" a child enrolled in kindergarten. Effective June 30, 2007.

Amends the Safe Homes Act. In provisions authorizing tenants to request that a landlord change the locks if one or more of the tenants reasonably believes that one of the tenants or a member of tenant's household is under a credible imminent threat of domestic or sexual violence at the premises, deletes a requirement that the threat be from a person who is not a lessee under the lease. Requires a tenant requesting a change of locks because of a threat of violence from another lessee to include with the request a plenary order of protection or a plenary civil no contact order granting the tenant exclusive possession of the premises. Provides that a tenant who changes the locks shall make a good faith effort to give a key to the new locks to the landlord (instead of giving a key to the new locks to the landlord). Provides that "if the landlord changes the locks, the landlord shall make a good faith effort to give a key to the new locks to the tenant as soon as possible or not more than 48 hours of the locks being changed" and that a landlord who changes the locks and does not make a good faith effort to provide a copy of a key to the tenant within 48 hours of the landlord changing the locks is liable for any damages to the tenant incurred as a result of not having access to his or her unit. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning regional superintendents of schools.