Sen. Rickey R. Hendon

Amends the State Finance Act. Creates a non-appropriated Fund, the Minority Film Support Fund, to be administered by the State Treasurer to help collateralize loans from financial institutions to minority film makers producing films or building or maintaining minority film and television studios when the institution's credit standards would not otherwise be met.

Amends the Bingo License and Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning civil penalties for the failure to obtain a license or special provider's permit.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that the tax exemptions for certain registered horses, or interests in horses, that are used for purposes of breeding or racing are exempt from the Acts' sunset provisions and the exemptions apply for all periods beginning May 30, 1995, but no claim for credit or refund is allowed for such taxes paid during the period beginning May 30, 2000 and ending on the effective date of this amendatory Act. Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 and the Riverboat Gambling Act to authorize electronic gaming at race tracks. Further amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Repeals provisions concerning the Horse Racing Equity Fund and certain surcharges. Imposes a tax on admissions to electronic gaming facilities. Provides for the distribution of the admission tax revenues. Makes changes concerning the collection and payment of certain purse moneys. Creates the Backstretch Programs Advisory Board. Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Authorizes 2 additional riverboat licenses. In the definitions Section, changes the term "gross receipts" to "whole gaming receipts" and changes the term "adjusted gross receipts" to "gross gaming receipts". Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934 to include a reference to land-based facilities in provisions concerning the authority of the Illinois Gaming Board. Amends the Criminal Code of 1961 to provide that certain provisions that apply to riverboat gambling also apply to electronic gaming. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Racing Industry Workers' Fund and the Depressed Communities Economic Development Fund as special funds in the State treasury. Contains a severability clause. Makes other changes. Preempts home rule. Effective immediately.

Urges the Chicago Transit Authority to repeal the 2009 fare increase.

Resolves that the Senate believes that it is not in the national interest of the U.S. to deepen its military involvement in Afghanistan.

Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Provides that the moneys deposited in the State Gaming Fund from (1) the re-issuance of a revoked or terminated license and (2) the operation of a riverboat by a licensee whose license was re-issued (including the admission tax and the privilege tax) shall be distributed as follows: the lesser of 20% or one-twelfth of $100,000,000 shall be transferred monthly from the State Gaming Fund into the Emergency Capital Program Fund and the remainder shall be transferred monthly from the State Gaming Fund into the Education Assistance Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Emergency Capital Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that moneys in the Emergency Capital Program Fund shall be used solely for the purpose of capital-related expenditures based on the emergency need of the project, as determined by the Capital Development Board. Effective immediately.

Amends various Acts to abolish the death penalty. Provides that on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act no person may be executed. Requires resentencing of those already sentenced to death. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the film production services credit.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Decreases from $100 to $25 the amounts of the maximum fine and the additional late penalty that may be imposed for an automated traffic law violation. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Homeowner's Emergency Assistance Program Act. Contains provisions concerning the powers and duties of the Illinois Housing Development Authority with respect to the Act. Contains provisions concerning the eligibility of a homeowner for assistance under the Act. Contains provisions concerning the assistance payments for eligible homeowners. Contains provisions concerning funding for the program. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2010. Effective immediately.