Appropriates $8,200,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Veterans' Affairs for staffing at the Illinois Veterans' Home at LaSalle. Effective July 1, 2008.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the amount of the research and development credit from 6.5% to 8% of the qualifying expenditures for increasing research activities in this State for taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2007. effective immediately.
Amends the Elevator Safety and Regulation Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning meetings of the Elevator Safety Review Board.
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that a statement of a witness is not excluded at the trial or hearing of any defendant by the hearsay rule or as a violation of any right to confront witnesses if the witness was killed, bribed, kidnapped, secreted, intimidated, or otherwise induced by a party, or one for whose conduct such party is legally responsible, to prevent the witness from being available to testify at such trial or hearing. Provides that the party seeking to introduce the statement shall disclose the statement sufficiently in advance of trial or hearing to provide the opposing party with a fair opportunity to meet it. Provides that the disclosure shall include notice of an intent to offer the statement, including the identity of the declarant. Provides that prior to ruling on the admissibility of a statement under this provision, the court shall conduct a hearing outside the presence of the jury. Provides that except in cases where a preponderance of the evidence establishes that the defendant killed the declarant, the party seeking to introduce the statement shall be required to show by a preponderance of the evidence that the party who caused the unavailability of the witness did so with the intent or motive that the witness be unavailable for trial or hearing. Provides that the court is not required to find that the conduct or wrongdoing amounts to a criminal act. Provides that nothing in this provision shall be construed to prevent the admissibility of statements under existing hearsay exceptions. Effective immediately.
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act, and the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that every circuit court clerk shall be responsible for providing information to individuals petitioning for ex parte orders of protection regarding notification of service of these orders of protection. Provides that such notification to the petitioner is required if the petitioner has registered a telephone number with the State's crime victim and witness notification system. Provides that the petitioner shall be informed of his or her option to receive notification of service of an ex parte order of protection or summons on the respondent by the circuit court clerk and shall be provided information on how to receive notification of service of ex parte orders of protection or summons to court. Provides that the local law enforcement agency or any other government agency responsible for serving ex parte orders of protection or summons to court shall record the service of these orders of protection into a law enforcement database, or similar electronic record keeping system, at the time when service occurs. Provides that these provisions shall only apply to those circuit court clerks able to access the statewide crime victim and witness notification system. Effective January 1, 2009.
Amends the School Code. Provides that teachers (not just school authorities) may inspect and search places and areas owned or controlled by the school, as well as personal effects left in those places and areas by students, without notice to or the consent of the student and without a search warrant, but that school authorities and teachers must be acting on a reasonable suspicion based on professional experience and judgment in performing inspections and searches. Provides that school authorities and teachers have the authority to perform an inspection or search if the inspection or search is conducted to ensure that classrooms, school buildings, school property, and students remain free from the threat of illegal drugs, weapons, or other illegal or dangerous substances or materials. Provides that the measures used to conduct an inspection or search must be reasonably related to the inspection's or search's objectives, without being excessively intrusive in light of the student's age, sex, and the nature of the offense. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.
Proposes to amend The Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Limits a person's total service in the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the Senate, Minority Leader of the House, or Minority Leader of the Senate to a total of 10 years in any one office and 14 years combined in 2 or more offices. Effective upon being declared adopted and applies to service on or after the second Wednesday in January, 2010.
Mourns the death of Ronald J. Jonas of Huntley.
Amends the State Treasurer Act. Requires the Treasurer to post information on his or her official website concerning the investment of public funds. Sets forth the required information. Does not require posting of information that is exempt from inspection and copying under the Freedom of Information Act.
Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that in a domestic violence case, upon the request of the petitioner, within 24 hours of the issuance of an order of protection, the clerk shall send a certified copy of the order to each specified health care facility or health care provider that furnished services to any child protected by the order. Provides that the health care provider shall place the order in the child's records. Provides that no health care provider who receives such an order shall allow a respondent access to the records of any child who is protected by the order or any other child of the petitioner. Provides that any person or facility (instead of only any person) that is licensed to administer health care shall not be civilly liable for any act or omission for complying with these provisions.
