Amends the Township Code. Provides that certain contracts for construction work with an estimated cost of more than $20,000 (now, $2,500) shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder after public notice. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987. Makes changes to the definition of "ocular pharmaceutical agents". Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Includes optometrists in the definitions of "practitioner", "prescriber", and "prescription" and in a provision concerning the scope of the Act.
Amends the Board of Higher Education Act and the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that if a State university determines that a student needs remedial coursework, then the university must require that the student complete the remedial coursework before pursuing his or her course of study. Provides that a student is not ineligible for Monetary Award Program consideration if (1) a State university that the student was enrolled at required that the student complete remedial coursework; (2) by subtracting the total number of semester credit hours, not to exceed 15 semester credit hours, of required remedial coursework that the student successfully completed and received award payments for, the student has received less than the equivalent of 135 semester credit hours of award payments; and (3) the student began his or her post-secondary course of study during the 2007-2008 academic year. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle or individual proceeding in the same direction on a highway must maintain a distance of at least 3 feet between the vehicle and the bicycle or individual. Provides that a bicycle rider may signal a right turn by extending his or her right hand horizontally and to the right side of the bicycle. Provides that the rider of a bicycle or a motorized pedal cycle shall ride as close to the right-hand curb or edge as practicable and safe (rather than as close as practicable), except in specified circumstances. Provides that, in addition to the existing exceptions, the rider is not required to ride as close to the right-hand curb or edge as practicable and safe when the rider is approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
Creates the Illinois Food, Farms, and Jobs Act and the Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force. Sets out the composition of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall develop a plan for expanding and supporting a State local and organic food system and for assessing and overcoming obstacles to an increase in locally grown food and local organic food production. Sets out the contents of the plan. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Illinois Local Organic Food and Farm Fund. Effective immediately.
Creates the Employee Classification Act. Provides that an individual performing services for a contractor is deemed to be an employee of the employer. Provides that an individual performing services for a contractor is deemed to be an employee of the contractor unless it is shown that: (1) the individual has been and will continue to be free from control or direction over the performance of the service for the contractor, both under the individual's contract of service and in fact; (2) the service performed by the individual is outside the usual course of services performed by the contractor; and (3) the individual is engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, profession or business; or (4) the individual is deemed a legitimate sole proprietor or partnership. Provides that subcontractors or lower tiered contractors are subject to all provisions of the Act. Provides that he Department of Labor shall post a summary of the requirements of this Act in English, Spanish, and Polish on its official web site and on bulletin boards in each of its offices. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for an employer or entity not to designate an individual as an employee under the Act unless the employer or entity satisfies the provisions of the Act. Provides for civil remedies and civil penalties. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2008.
Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that the board of each community college district shall require all of its full-time students who are in their first year of attendance at the community college, including transfer students, to meet with a guidance counselor or academic advisor at the community college to discuss course selection at least once during the student's first year of attendance, preferably during the first semester of attendance. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.
Mourns the death of Robert E. Hynes of Chicago.
Mourns the death of Gerald T. Callahan.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Increases the penalties for theft of property from a charitable organization by one class than otherwise would have been the penalties for the offense if the offense had not been committed against a charitable organization.
