Sen. Don Harmon

Amends the Service Occupation Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning rules.

Amends the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the purpose of the Act.

Amends the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption provisions of the Property Tax Code. Increases the ceiling for household income eligibility, for taxable years 2005 and thereafter, from $45,000 per year to $46,000 per year. Sets forth the amount of the exemption for which an applicant is eligible to receive based upon the applicant's household income. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Gas Use Tax Law. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning self-assessing purchasers.

Creates the Employee and Retiree Benefit Protection Act. Provides that unsecured claims for contributions to employee and retiree benefit plans, including health and pension benefits, arising from all past, present, and future obligations of an employer to fully funds those plans, have a higher priority in bankruptcy proceedings than the priorities set forth in the federal Bankruptcy Code. Provides that employee and retiree health and pension benefits provided to an employee or retiree shall be continued to be provided to the employee or retiree in the same manner and with the same benefits that would otherwise have been provided to that employee or retiree if the employer has not been subject to bankruptcy proceedings. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning leaseback exemptions.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the earned income tax credit.

Amends the Service Occupation Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning rules.

Creates the Open Space Financing Act. Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to issue revenue bonds secured by real estate transfer tax receipts collected and deposited into the Open Space Bond Repayment Fund and the Natural Areas Bond Repayment Fund. Sets forth procedures for issuing the bonds and distributing the bond proceeds. Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that beginning July 1, 2006 (now, July 1, 2003) of the moneys collected under the Real Estate Transfer Tax Law, 50% shall be deposited into the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund, 35% shall be deposited into the OSLAD Fund, and 15% shall be deposited into the NAA Fund. Amends the Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall determine the manner and extent to which property under consideration for acquisition would assist in storm water management, water supply and quality assurance, or other infrastructure needs, but this determination shall not prevent the Department from acquiring property. Amends the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Provides that grants for green infrastructure projects made before December 31, 2009 to units of local government may be conditioned upon the State providing assistance on a 60/40 matching basis. Sets forth additional requirements for grants for green infrastructure projects. Provides that, in considering applications for certain grants, the Department shall give scoring points to the applicants that demonstrate the greatest potential for improving water supply and quality or for reducing the capital, operating, or maintenance costs of meeting water-related infrastructure requirements. Creates the Open Space Bond Repayment Fund and the Natural Areas Bond Repayment Fund. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.