Sen. Susan Garrett

Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section concerning the returning veterans' homestead exemption, provides that the veteran may apply the exemption for the taxable year after he or she returns if (i) he or she first acquires a principal residence during the taxable year in which he or she returns, but after January 1 of that year, and (ii) if the property is owned and occupied as a principal residence by the veteran on January 1 of the next taxable year. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Extends the time period during which a school district other than the Chicago school district may transfer moneys from specified funds for any purpose from June 30, 2010 to June 30, 2013. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services, in cooperation with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, to develop and implement a streamlined auditing and accreditation system to reduce the need for community providers to undergo audits from multiple licensing or accreditation systems. Provides that the streamlined system shall, to the extent possible, utilize one auditing group to provide uniformity from one organization to the next and from one year to the next.

Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. In a provision prohibiting fee splitting, exempts from the provision an entity that is an Illinois not for profit corporation that is recognized as exempt from the payment of federal income taxes as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and all of its members are full-time faculty members of a medical school that offers a M.D. degree program that is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and a program of graduate medical education that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Effective immediately.

Amends the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. Provides that the information packet given to a relinquishing parent in accordance with the Act shall not exceed 5 pages and shall include, in addition to other required information, a one-page brochure (self-mailer) that describes the Safe Haven Law; a one-page brochure (self-mailer) that describes the Illinois Adoption Registry; and a one-page brochure describing health information for the mother and how she can get medical care if she needs it. Requires the information packet to be designed in coordination between the Office of Vital Records and the Department of Children and Family Services. Requires the Office of Vital Records to continue to maintain and distribute the information packet, and to hold on file all foundling records of relinquished newborns. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Allows a school treasurer to pay recurring bills upon certification by the clerk or secretary of the school board (instead of requiring an order of the school board signed by the president and clerk or secretary or by a majority of the board). Makes changes concerning when the record of the official acts of the school board must be submitted to the treasurer. With respect to the prohibition on a school board member having an interest in district contracts, work, business, or sales, provides that a board member shall not be deemed interested if the board member is an employee of a business that is involved in the transaction of business with the school district, provided that the board member has no ownership interest in the business. Provides that a school board member's oath of office must be administered as determined by the board. Removes a provision that allows a school board to visit and inspect schools. Provides that a school board may authorize by policy (rather than by regulation) the superintendent, principal, assistant principal, or dean of students to suspend pupils. Provides that a school board must be given a summary of the notice of a parent's right to a review of the suspension (instead of a copy of the full statement of the reasons for the suspension and the notice of the parent's right to a review). Makes changes concerning when an educational support personnel employee who has been dismissed is paid. Makes changes concerning the filing of a teacher's transcript of college credits. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Platon Constantine Deliyannis of Deerfield.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code and the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Provides that continuation of and notice concerning group hospital, surgical, and major medical coverage and group HMO coverage, with respect to an employee or member who is involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and the end of the period set forth in the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (instead of December 31, 2009), shall be available if the employee or member was insured under the group policy or group contract on the day prior to the termination. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Celebrates National Drinking Water Week and applauds the workers who work hard every day to ensure that the citizens of the State of Illinois have safe, fresh, reliable, high-quality drinking water.

Amends the Counties Code. Authorizes a county to establish an affordable housing trust fund. Defines an "affordable housing trust fund". Provides that any county that establishes an affordable housing trust fund may provide by ordinance or resolution for a surcharge on the recordation of any "real estate-related document" for the purpose of funding the trust fund. Provides for the collection of the surcharge. Effective immediately.