Sen. Mike Jacobs

Amends the Chicago Firefighters Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the board of trustees of the Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund shall publish in a newspaper of general circulation the amounts of taxes to be levied in each year to provide revenue to the fund. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

In addition to any other amounts appropriated for this purpose, appropriates $7,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for the purpose of providing shelter and transitional housing and employment assistance for homeless youth. Effective July 1, 2008.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires electric utilities and alternative retail electric suppliers to provide net energy metering capabilities for their retail customers that own and operate solar or wind electrical generating facilities. Provides that net production by a customer shall be credited to its bill at the same rate the electric utility or alternative retail electrical supplier charges for electricity provided to the customer. Effective immediately.

Creates the Product Seller Liability Act. Provides that no action based on any legal theory for harm of any kind may be brought against a product seller unless the product seller: (1) manufactured, produced, or designed the product; (2) altered, modified, assembled, or failed to maintain the product, in a manner that caused the claimant's harm; or (3) made an express warranty as to the product, and the failure of the product to conform to the warranty caused the claimant's harm. Provides an exception to the prohibition of actions against a product seller if the product manufacturer is not subject to personal jurisdiction in Illinois. Provides that the Act applies to all claims filed on or after its effective date. Effective July 1, 2008.

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act in the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes technical changes concerning the location of citations for the completion dates for redevelopment projects. Provides that the redevelopment projects in the TIF districts created by (i) an ordinance that was adopted on December 31, 1986 by the Village of Milan and (ii) an ordinance that was adopted on September 8, 1994 by the City of West Frankfort must be completed by December 31 of the 35th year (now, the 23rd year) after the year in which the ordinance was adopted. Effective immediately.

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 Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Illinois Science and Technology Commission. Sets forth the purpose of the Commission. Sets forth the appointing authority and terms of the members.

Amends the Fire Department Promotion Act. With respect to subjective evaluation of candidates for promotion, sets up a procedure for the parties to select impartial qualified professionals as promotional assessors from a roster established by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Makes technical corrections. Effective immediately.

Creates the Fire and Life Safety Device Act. Provides that the manufacture, installation, or sale of any device or object that reasonably appears to be a smoke detector, sprinkler head, carbon monoxide alarm, heat detector, or any other similar device used for life safety or fire protection that is, in fact, neither designed nor capable of performing such life safety or fire protection function, is prohibited. Establishes penalties for violations of the Act. Provides that inspectors employed by municipalities, fire protection districts, and counties and those individuals who meet the certification requirements of the Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act may inspect such devices to ensure compliance with the Act.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes a technical change in a Section that prohibits the possession of burglary tools.