Sen. Edward Petka

Creates the Senior Citizens' Property Tax Freeze Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Eminent Domain Article of the Code of Civil Procedure. Requires all units of local government other than a municipality or a county to obtain the approval by ordinance of the municipality or county within which the subject property is located before entering into negotiations or commencing proceedings to acquire property by eminent domain. Requires units of local government and school districts to follow certain procedures to acquire property under the power of eminent domain. Requires the condemning authority to reimburse certain appraisal costs, attorney's fees, and relocation expenses. Requires the Office of the Attorney General to publish a summary of eminent domain rights and remedies for inclusion with certain notices. Authorizes the court to dismiss a complaint for condemnation if it finds that the condemning authority or any other governmental entity has exercised or failed to exercise a regulatory power for the purpose of holding down or diminishing just compensation. Places restrictions on the sale to a private party of property acquired by eminent domain. Prohibits a plaintiff from dismissing or abandoning condemnation proceedings after the complaint has been filed but provides that certain public utilities are not prohibited from dismissing or abandoning the proceedings until after the property is taken. Provides that the condemning authority is liable for costs, expenses, and reasonable attorney's fees incurred by a landowner in obtaining deposit of an amount not deposited in the time provided in the order of taking. Authorizes the use of evidence of comparable sales initiated and bona fide offers to purchase offered prior to filing of the complaint for use in determining the fair cash market value of the property. Makes other changes. Preempts home rule powers. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.

Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Requires that Legislative and Representative Districts be substantially equal in population of citizens (now, substantially equal in population). Effective with the 2011 redistricting.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Makes a technical change in the Section concerning the unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the provision that states that certain municipal officials are conservators of the peace after completion of a training course administered by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board does not apply to any alderman, councilman, or trustee of a municipality that restricts or prohibits the private ownership or possession of any firearms by residents of that municipality by ordinance or resolution. Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that a violation of the offense of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by any alderman, councilman, or trustee of a municipality not entitled to carry or possess a firearm in accordance with that provision of the Illinois Municipal Code is a Class 3 felony. Effective immediately.

Proposes to amend the Suffrage and Elections Article of the Illinois Constitution concerning voter disqualification. Provides that a person civilly committed as a sexually dangerous person or as a sexually violent person shall lose the right to vote, which shall be restored not later than upon completion of his civil commitment. Effective upon being declared adopted in accordance with Section 7 of the Illinois Constitutional Amendment Act.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 and the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that every person arrested for committing a felony shall have a sample of his or her saliva or tissue taken for DNA fingerprinting analysis, at the time of booking, for the purpose of determining identity and for certain other specified purposes. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of State Police shall implement this provision. Provides that this provision becomes operative no later than the earliest of the following: (1) two years after the effective date of this amendatory Act; (2) the date on which the Department of State Police informs law enforcement agencies that the Department is ready to collect samples; or (3) January 1, 2008. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that vehicles more than 25 years old are exempt from emissions testing under the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Law of 1995. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Phillip "Phil" Francik of Plainfield, Illinois.

Mourns the death of Edwardo Lopez, Jr., of Aurora, Illinois.