Sen. Don Harmon

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Creates the offense of being an armed habitual criminal. Provides that a person commits the offense of being an armed habitual criminal if he or she receives, sells, possesses, or transfers any firearm after having been convicted a total of 3 or more times of any of the following offenses: first degree murder; aggravated battery; aggravated battery with a firearm; unlawful use of a weapon by a felon; robbery; armed robbery; residential burglary; home invasion; vehicular hijacking; gunrunning; intimidation; armed violence; criminal sexual assault; aggravated criminal sexual assault; predatory criminal sexual assault of a child; aggravated domestic battery; or any violation of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act or the Cannabis Control Act that is punishable as a Class 3 felony or higher. Provides that a violation is a Class X felony. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a prisoner serving a sentence for being an armed habitual criminal shall receive no more than 4.5 days of good conduct credit for each month of his or her sentence of imprisonment. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Repeals a Section concerning the furlough of inmates to State agencies for research. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Finance Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the State Pensions Fund.

Amends the Special Service Area Tax Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that a municipality may propose a special service area as provided in this Law for the purpose of providing improvements to any one or more buildings if the improvements are required by municipal ordinance in order to protect the health and safety of workers, tenants, and visitors in the buildings. Sets forth requirements for establishing the special service area.

Mourns the death of Shaniya Ja'el Crittle.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning tax checkoff explanations.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a tax checkoff for the Illinois Brain Tumor Research Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Fund. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, from appropriations to the Department from the Fund, the Department shall make grants to the American Brain Tumor Association for the purpose of research dedicated to the elimination of brain tumors. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the definition of "33 1/3%".

Amends the Physical Fitness Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the African-American HIV/AIDS Response Act. Requires that each of the following designate an African-American HIV/AIDS Response Officer, responsible for coordinating efforts to address the African-American AIDS crisis within his or her respective Office or Department and serving as a liaison to governmental and non-governmental entities: the Office of the Governor; the Department of Human Services; the Department of Public Health; and the Department of Corrections. Provides that a State agency that operates a facility that (i) is accessible to the public, (ii) is a high-traffic facility, and (iii) serves a high-risk community must provide the following in each such facility where space and security reasonably permit: space for free HIV counseling and antibody testing. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois; provides that on its official Web site, the Department shall provide Web-friendly and printer-friendly versions of educational materials in connection with HIV and AIDS, targeted to persons presently or previously committed to the Department of Corrections or confined in a county jail, as well as family members and friends of such persons. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code; provides that certain prohibitions against eligibility for cash assistance under the Code for persons convicted of certain drug offenses do not apply to an individual who has tested positive for HIV; requires the Department of Public Aid to seek federal approval to expand access to health care under the Medicaid program for persons living with HIV/AIDS. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections; requires the Department of Corrections to provide committed persons, their family members, and visitors with certain materials and services in connection with HIV/AIDS, including testing, counseling, and medical care. Amends the County Jail Act, and imposes similar requirements on sheriffs and wardens of county jails. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2006.