Sen. William E. Peterson

Mourns the death of Richard C. Reed of Deerfield.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that in hearings the Property Tax Appeal Board shall not be limited to the evidence presented to the board of of review of the county. Provides that a party participating in the hearing before the Property Tax Appeal Board is entitled to introduce evidence that is otherwise proper and admissible without regard to whether that evidence has previously been introduced at a hearing before the board of review of the county. Provides that the changes made by this amendatory Act shall be construed as declaratory of existing law and not as an new enactment. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Richard C. Reed of Deerfield.

Amends the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption provisions in the Property Tax Code. Increases the ceiling for household income eligibility, for taxable years 2004 and thereafter, from $40,000 per year to $50,000 per year. Amends the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption provisions and the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement from the State. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that for all counties, except counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the maximum reduction from assessed value for the senior citizens homestead exemption shall be $2,500 for taxable years 2003 and thereafter (now, $2,000). Provides that for all counties, except counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the maximum reduction from assessed value for the general homestead exemption shall be $4,500 for taxable years 2003 and thereafter (now, $3,500). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning child care for TANF recipients, provides that beginning July 1, 2004, the rates paid by the Department of Human Services to all providers of child care services who are licensed under the Child Care Act of 1969 shall be increased by an amount equal to 2% of the rates in effect on June 30, 2004. Effective July 1, 2004.

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 Interagency Wetland Policy Act of 1989. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that an area of land, or any part thereof, disconnected by petition of the owner from a municipality, which has incorporated at least 2 years prior to the date of the filing of the petition for disconnection, shall not be subdivided into lots and blocks within 5 years from the date of the disconnection (now 1 year). Effective immediately.