Sen. Kirk W. Dillard

Mourns the death of United States Army Staff Sergeant Jeremy E. Bessa.

Mourns the death of Janet G. LeWald of Naperville.

Mourns the death of Dr. Robert J. "Bob" Heaston of Naperville and Vienna, Virginia.

Mourns the death of Raymond M. Fitzgerald.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Prohibits an officer, member, or State employee, for one year after most recently commencing State service, from knowingly participating in procurement, regulatory, or licensing decisions directly related to a person or entity that employed or compensated that officer, member, or employee, or his or her spouse or certain family members, during the year before the commencement of State employment. Permits waivers of the prohibitions on the same basis as the Act's current revolving door prohibition. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Prohibits specified procurement officials and executive officers confirmed by the Senate, during the first year in that position, from making procurement decisions relating to a person or entity that employed or compensated the official during the 2 years before commencing the affected position. Effective immediately.

Amends the Capital Punishment Reform Study Committee Act. Provides that the Capital Punishment Reform Study Committee shall submit its final report to the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2009 (rather than 5 years after the effective date of the Act). Effective immediately.

Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that the Regional Transportation Authority must implement a single fare card system to allow senior citizens aged 65 and older who reside within the metropolitan region to use all transit services provided by the Chicago Transit Authority, the Suburban Bus Division, and the Commuter Rail Division free of charge. Sets forth certain criteria for the fare cards. Provides that it is a Class A misdemeanor for an applicant to provide false information on an application for a senior citizen fare card. Provides that the Chicago Transit Authority, the Suburban Bus Division, and the Commuter Rail Division must provide transit services free of charge to active duty military personnel who are in uniform. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Makes the minimum nomination petition signature requirement for county offices in counties other than Cook County 0.05% of the number of voters in a certain category or 500, whichever is greater (now, 0.5% of the number of voters in a certain category).

Amends the Personnel Code. Includes intern programs within the provisions concerning trainee programs. Prohibits an intern or trainee, or former intern or trainee, who has not been granted a veteran preference from being appointed in other than an intern or trainee capacity to a position for which a qualified veteran preference recipient is eligible. Prohibits an intern or trainee, or former intern or trainee, who has not been granted a veteran preference from being appointed to a position with the intent of avoiding or evading the public policy of preferring veterans for the position. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that any recipient of State funds shall give the highest priority to the use of energy efficient lights in any traffic control devices funded by State moneys. Limits home rule powers. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.