Sen. Terry Link

Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Pension Code. Requires participation by all full-time municipal police officers who do not participate in an Article 3 police pension fund. Makes these police officers eligible for the sheriff's law enforcement (SLEP) formula. Excludes Chicago. Pre-empts home rule powers. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois Professional Golfers Association Foundation Junior Golf Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides for the issuance of Illinois Professional Golfers Association Foundation Junior Golf license plates. Provides that in addition to the appropriate registration fees, an applicant for the special plate shall be charged a fee of $40 at original issuance and at renewal. Provides that $25 of the additional original issuance fee and $38 of the renewal fee shall be deposited into the Illinois Professional Golfers Association Foundation Junior Golf Fund. Provides that $15 of the original issuance fee and $2 of the renewal fee shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Provides that, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly and approval by the Secretary of State, the moneys in the Illinois Professional Golfers Association Foundation Junior Golf Fund shall be paid as grants to the Illinois Professional Golfers Association Foundation to help Association members expose Illinois youngsters to the game of golf. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, if a damaged vehicle is obstructing traffic lanes, the driver of the vehicle must make every reasonable effort to move the vehicle or have it moved so as not to block the traffic lanes. Provides that, if any peace officer or highway authority official finds a vehicle standing upon a highway in violation of a parking restriction or a disabled vehicle blocking a roadway, he or she may move the vehicle, require its operator to move the vehicle, or provide for its removal by a third party. Provides that the vehicle may be moved to the shoulder of the road, to a position where parking is permitted, or to public parking or storage premises. Provides that the operator or owner of the vehicle removed shall pay the reasonable charges for moving or towing and any storage involved, based upon the applicable local ordinance. Provides that a towing service is not liable for any property damage that occurs as a result of the removal or towing of the vehicle. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Banking Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the primary powers of banks.

Creates the Painter Licensing Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Appropriates $10,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for a pilot class size reduction grant program. Effective July 1, 2006.

Amends the Energy Assistance Act. Provides that no later than August 1 of each year, the Director of Revenue shall calculate the total amount of tax paid pursuant to the Gas Revenue Tax Act by persons eligible to receive assistance from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program during the 12-month period ending the previous June 30 and the total amount of Energy Assistance Charges paid by such persons during that same period. Provides that no later than September 1 of each year, the Director of Revenue shall cause an amount equal to the amount calculated under the foregoing provision in that year to be transferred from GRF to the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the inspection and review of school facilities.

Creates the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact Act. Provides that this State and the other contracting states solemnly agree to the terms of the compact, whose purposes include the promotion of development and implementation of improvements to intercity passenger rail service in the Midwest. Establishes a Commission, with 4 members from each contracting state, serving without compensation from the Commission, to carry out the purposes of the compact. Provides for the election of Commission officers, for meetings and Commission administration, and for financing of the operations of the Commission by the compacting states. Provides that the compact becomes effective among the contracting states upon the agreement of 3 eligible states to participate. Provides for the admission of additional states to the compact, amendment of the compact, the withdrawal, default, or termination of contracting states, and construction and severability of the compact.

Amends the Counties Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.