Sen. Jil Tracy

Creates the Crossing of Railroad Right-of-way Act. Applies only to crossings of a railroad right-of-way that is owned by a land management company and not a registered rail carrier. Provides that public utilities that locate their facilities within the railroad right-of-way for a crossing shall pay the land management company a one-time standard crossing fee of $1,500 for each crossing. Provides special circumstances under which the standard crossing fee is not imposed. Provides that, if the parties cannot agree that special circumstances exist, the dispute shall be submitted to non-binding arbitration. Provides procedures for the non-binding arbitration and provides that, if the parties cannot resolve their dispute based on the arbitrator's recommendation within 30 days, either party may, upon the expiration of the 30-day period, give written notice to the other party of the commencement of a binding arbitration proceeding. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the State Finance Act, the School Code, and the Public Community College Act. Creates the School Wind and Solar Generation Program to fund wind generation projects and solar generation projects for school districts and community college districts. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to implement and administer the program; allows the Department to award full or partial grants for, without limitation, engineering studies, feasibility studies, research studies, and construction costs. For each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014, requires the State Comptroller to order transferred and the State Treasurer to transfer $5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the School Wind and Solar Generation Fund, a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that all money in the Fund must be used for the purposes of the program. Allows school districts and community college districts to own and operate solar generation turbine farms (not just wind generation turbine farms) that directly or indirectly reduce energy or other operating costs. Effective immediately.

Creates the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Education Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health, subject to appropriation, shall establish the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Education Program to promote public awareness of the syndrome and the importance of early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. Provides that the Department shall work with health care providers, local public health agencies, and other appropriate agencies to coordinate and promote professional education programs. Provides that the Department may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source for the purposes of carrying out its duties under the Act.

Creates the 2-1-1 Service Act. Sets forth the findings of the General Assembly. Provides that "2-1-1" is created as the official State dialing code for public access to information and referral for health and human services and information about access to services after a natural or non-natural disaster. Contains provisions concerning the designation of a lead entity for 2-1-1. Contains provisions concerning the establishment or prohibition of new information services by specified parties. Contains provisions concerning 2-1-1 services, including the promotion of 2-1-1. Requires participants in 2-1-1 service to meet certain guidelines. Contains provisions concerning the liability of 2-1-1 providers. Amends the State Finance Act to create the 2-1-1 Account Fund in the State treasury to hold moneys from specified sources. Contains provisions concerning the use of moneys for projects and activities in support of 2-1-1-eligible activities. Provides that the lead entity shall provide an annual report to the General Assembly and the Illinois Commerce Commission beginning in calendar year 2010. Contains a severability clause.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. With respect to an executive branch State employee who is the subject of an Executive Inspector General's investigation and whose agency head or ultimate jurisdictional authority agrees with the Inspector General as to disciplinary action against the employee, establishes procedures for providing a redacted version of the Inspector General's summary investigation report to the Executive Ethics Commission, to the employee, and to the public, under certain circumstances.

Amends the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Provides that a person may not under any circumstances charge a fee to a claimant for assistance in completing an application form for a property tax relief grant or pharmaceutical assistance under the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Solicitation for Charity Act. Provides that a charitable organization registered pursuant to the Act that receives in any 12 month period ending upon its established fiscal or calendar year contributions in excess of $300,000 shall file a written report with the Attorney General which shall include a financial statement covering the immediately preceding 12 month period of operation (now, in excess of $150,000).

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that specified persons who have not yet submitted a sample of blood, saliva, or tissue shall be required to submit a specimen of blood, saliva, or tissue prior to their final discharge or within 6 months from the effective date of the amendatory Act, whichever is sooner. Provides that "these specimens shall be placed into the State or national DNA database, to be used in accordance with other provisions of this Act, by the Illinois State Police". Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption and the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption continue if the taxpayer becomes a resident of a facility licensed under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Exempts from an eavesdropping violation, with prior notification to the State's Attorney of the county in which it is to occur, recording or listening with the aid of any device to any conversation where a law enforcement officer, or any person acting at the direction of law enforcement, is a party to the conversation and has consented to it being intercepted or recorded under circumstances where the use of the device is necessary for the protection of the law enforcement officer or any person acting at the direction of law enforcement, in the course of an investigation of a felony offense involving any weapon listed in the statute concerning unlawful use of weapons. Effective immediately.