Creates the Higher Education Veterans Service Act. Requires all public colleges and universities to conduct a survey of the services and programs that are provided for veterans, active duty military personnel, and their families, at each of their respective campuses; sets forth the survey requirements. Requires each public college and university to appoint a Coordinator of Veterans and Military Personnel Student Services on each campus of the college or university that has an onsite, daily, full-time student headcount above 1,000 students; sets forth requirements concerning the coordinator. Provides that the Board of Higher Education and the Department of Veterans' Affairs may issue a best practices report to highlight those programs and services that are most beneficial to veterans and active duty military personnel. Sets forth additional provisions concerning a college's or university's best efforts and the fiscal impact of programs and services. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that before the sentencing hearing and as part of the presentence investigation, the court shall inquire of the defendant whether the defendant is currently serving in or is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States. Provides that if the defendant is currently serving in the Armed Forces of the United States or is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States and has been diagnosed as having a mental illness by a qualified psychiatrist or clinical psychologist or physician, the court may: (1) order that the officer preparing the presentence report consult with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, or another agency or person with suitable knowledge or experience for the purpose of providing the court with information regarding treatment options available to the defendant, including federal, State, and local programming; and (2) consider the treatment recommendations of any diagnosing or treating mental health professionals together with the treatment options available to the defendant in imposing sentence.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act concerning the credit for wages paid to qualified veterans. Extends the credit to also apply to wages paid to qualified veterans who did not serve on active duty in Southwest Asia. Increases the amount of the credit to (i) 10% (but in no event to exceed $1,200) of the gross wages paid to qualified veterans who served on active duty in Southwest Asia and (ii) 7.5% (but in no event to exceed $800) of the gross wages paid to all other qualified veterans.
Amends the Methamphetamine Precursor Control Act. Creates a pilot program coordinated by the Illinois State Police in Adams, Madison, St. Clair, and Vermilion Counties, known as the Illinois State Police Precursor Tracking Program or Pilot Program, to: (1) track purchases of targeted methamphetamine precursor across multiple locations; (2) identify persons obtaining or distributing targeted methamphetamine precursors for the likely purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine; (3) starve methamphetamine manufacturers of the methamphetamine precursors they need to make methamphetamine; (4) locate and shut down methamphetamine laboratories; and (5) ultimately reduce the harm that methamphetamine manufacturing and manufacturers are inflicting on individuals, families, communities, first responders, the economy, and the environment in Illinois and beyond. Provides that the Program shall be 2 years in duration. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall prior to the end of this 2-year period report to the Governor and General Assembly on the implementation and efficacy of the Pilot Program and may recommend to them the continuation, modification, or termination of the Program. Provides that the Program shall be funded by the Illinois State Police through federal grant moneys and other available sources. Provides penalties for violations of the Program. Effective 90 days after becoming law.
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall work with representatives of residential services providers and with representatives of other State agencies to develop a performance-based model for residential services. Provides that the rate paid by the other State agencies for comparable residential services shall not be less than the performance-based rates set by the Department. Provides that the performance-based model to be developed shall include required program components and a rate-setting methodology that incorporates the reasonable costs of the required program components, subject to certain provisions of the Illinois Administrative Code. Defines "residential services". Effective July 1, 2009.
Amends the State Prompt Payment Act. Includes within the definition of "goods or services", prevention, intervention, or treatment services and supports for persons with developmental disabilities, mental health services, alcohol and substance abuse services, rehabilitation services, and early intervention services provided by a vendor, which includes but is not limited to a licensed community-based provider but does not include a licensed hospital, a unit of local government, or a university. Effective immediately.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that the offense of aggravated battery with a firearm is also committed if the firearm is discharged on school grounds at a person known to be a student and causes injury to that student. Provides for enhanced penalties for carrying or possessing firearms or other dangerous weapons in a conveyance owned, leased, or contracted by a public transportation agency or on a public way within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising a public transportation facility. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that it is an aggravating factor in sentencing that the defendant committed an offense while the defendant or the victim was in a train, bus, or other vehicle used for public transportation.
Creates the Joint Task Force on Breeders and Pet Stores to investigate and make recommendations on ways to strengthen Illinois law regarding the breeding industry and pet store industry.
Creates the Interfund Borrowing Act of 2009. Contains only a short title provision.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the sexual exploitation of children.