Sen. Mattie Hunter

Mourns the death of Bobbie Johnson.

Mourns the death of Hurley L. Green.

Mourns the death of Khaldun "Khal" Everage of Chicago.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if in any taxable year the governing authority of any taxing district determines that a surplus of funds is available from any source, that taxing district may, by resolution or ordinance, eliminate its tax levy for that taxable year. Provides that the taxing district may resume its tax levy in any subsequent taxable year without additional referendum approval.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that effective January 1, 2013, licensed day care centers, licensed day care homes, and licensed group day care homes shall have the facility tested for radon at least once every 3 years. Provides that effective January 1, 2014, as part of an initial application or application for renewal of a license for day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services shall require proof the facility has been tested within the last 3 years for radon. Provides that the report of the most current radon measurement shall be posted in the facility next to the license issued by the Department. Effective January 1, 2013.

Amends the Illinois Residential Building Code Act. Provides that a contract to build a home must contain, in addition to the adoption of a referenced building code, a provision requiring that a radon mitigation system be included in the construction. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. In the provision concerning Gold Star Family members, includes mothers through adoption and fathers through adoption.

Amends the Illinois Plumbing License Law. Provides that by January 1, 2013, the Illinois Department of Public Health shall amend the existing minimum code of standards for plumbing and the fixtures, materials, design, and installation methods of plumbing systems to reflect advances in those technologies and methods that more efficiently utilize natural resources and protect public health. Provides that the Department shall consider the recommendations contained in nationally and internationally recognized plumbing codes and recommendations of nationally and internationally recognized material and equipment testing laboratories so that the State's plumbing code standards are consistent with the leading technologies and methods that more efficiently utilize natural resources and protect public health. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Changes the class of persons who qualify for scholarships and fee waivers granted by the Department of Children and Family Services to youth (rather than children) under care, youth who aged out of care at age 18 or older, or youth (rather than children) formerly under the care who have been adopted or are in a guardianship placement (rather than subsidized guardianship program). Limits the Department's selection of scholarship recipients to students who have earned a high school diploma from an accredited institution or a certificate of general education development (GED), or who have met the State criteria for high school graduation (rather than students who have completed 4 years in an accredited high school). Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department shall cause to be established an easily accessible online database for the purpose of compiling research expertise, intellectual property, and ongoing sponsored research projects at academic institutions across the State.