Sen. Chapin Rose

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning administration of the Code.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides for the issuance of Law Enforcement Torch Run For Special Olympics license plates. Provides that the applicant shall pay an additional fee of $45 for original issuance of the plates, of which $43 shall be deposited into the Illinois Special Olympics Checkoff Fund and $2 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund.

Amends the School Code and the Counties Code. Provides that it is a State's Attorney's duty to notify the State Superintendent of Education upon the conviction of any individual known to possess a certificate issued under the School Code of any of certain offenses or any other felony conviction. In the criminal history records check provisions of the School Code, makes changes concerning the offenses for which a school board may not knowingly employ a person. Provides that no one may be certified to teach or supervise in the public schools who has been convicted of certain offenses (instead of providing that in determining good character, any felony conviction of an applicant may be taken into consideration, but such a conviction shall not operate as a bar to registration). In provisions concerning suspension or revocation of a certificate, provides that the State Superintendent of Education has the exclusive authority to initiate the suspension of up to 5 calendar years or revocation of any certificate (instead of providing that a certificate may be suspended for a period not to exceed one calendar year by the regional superintendent of schools or for a period not to exceed 5 calendar years by the State Superintendent). With respect to certificate suspension and revocation, makes changes concerning an investigation, notice, a hearing, an appeal, and the offenses that are grounds for suspension and revocation. Makes other changes.

Amends the Meat and Poultry Inspection Act. Creates an exemption under the Meat and Poultry Inspection act for livestock raisers for livestock under 500 pounds if such raisers slaughter, eviscerate, or further process not more than 300 livestock during the calendar year. Prohibits exempt livestock raisers from engaging in buying or selling livestock products other than those produced from livestock raised on their own farms or premises. Requires such livestock or livestock products to be slaughtered, otherwise prepared, sold or delivered to the consumer on or from the premises for which the exemption is given. Requires the slaughter or preparation by the exempt raiser to be performed in sanitary facilities, in a sanitary manner, and subject to periodic inspection by Department of Agriculture personnel. Requires persons desiring such exemptions to submit in writing a request to the Department of Agriculture. Provides that the exemption shall be effective upon written notice from the Department of Agriculture and shall remain in effect for a period of 2 years, unless revoked. Provides that adequate records must be maintained by exempt raisers to assure that not more than the number of exempted livestock are slaughtered or processed in one calendar year and that such records shall be kept for one year following the termination of each exemption. Requires any advertisement by exempt raisers regarding the exempt livestock or livestock products to reflect the fact of exemption so as not to mislead the consumer to presume official inspection has been made under the Meat and Poultry Inspection Act.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. In provisions exempting farm machinery and equipment, provides that "farm machinery and equipment" includes drainage, irrigation, and sub-irrigation systems, which include, without limitation, sub-irrigation tiling. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the admissibility of hearsay evidence in a prosecution for elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that the unlawful use of weapons statute does not apply to the purchase, possession, or carrying of a switchblade knife by a peace officer.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the 20 mile per hour school zone speed limit applies on a school day when school is in session or school children are present and within a school zone or so close thereto that a potential hazard exists because of the close proximity of the motorized traffic (rather than on a school day when school children are present and so close thereto that a potential hazard exists because of the close proximity of the motorized traffic).

Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, when assessing employer payment for any amount due for salary increases in excess of 6%, the System shall exclude any earnings increase (i) awarded to tenured faculty based upon the completion of certain criteria that is specified in a collective bargaining contract, (ii) resulting from a promotion for academic professionals, or (iii) resulting from a peer group study of compensation. Effective immediately.