Sen. Frank C. Watson

Creates the State Facility Overtime Act. Provides that the Director of the State agency responsible for the operation of specified State facilities (or the Director's designee or agent) may not require an employee to accept work in excess of an agreed upon, predetermined, and regularly scheduled daily work shift, not to exceed 40 hours per week. Provides for: exceptions to the prohibition; posting a summary of the Act and applicable rules; investigation of complaints by the Illinois Department of Labor and disposition of complaints; adoption of administrative rules; construction; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Amends "An Act making appropriations", Public Act 95-348. Restores and increases a vetoed appropriation to the Department of Agriculture for deposit into the State Cooperative Extension Service Trust Fund, and adds language providing that the appropriation is for 4-H Youth Development Educators. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Ends the current exemption for disabled veterans with the 2007 tax year. Beginning with the 2008 tax year, provides a property tax exemption for property that is owned and used as a homestead by a disabled veteran or the spouse or unmarried surviving spouse of the veteran. Provides that the amount of the exemption is an amount equal to the assessed value of the property multiplied by the percentage of disability of the veteran. Sets forth requirements for the exemptions. Provides that a surviving spouse may transfer the exemption to homestead property acquired after the veteran's death. Requires an annual application for the exemptions. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $8,200,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Veterans' Affairs for staffing at the Illinois Veterans' Home at LaSalle. Effective July 1, 2008.

Amends the Department of Agriculture Law. Provides that the Department shall not require a premises identification number to exhibit or enter livestock or horses at any fair or exhibition in Illinois, unless required by federal law or regulation, without first receiving approval for such a requirement from the governing board of the fair or exhibition.

Mourns the passing of our esteemed colleague, former Illinois State Senator John J. Nimrod.

Amends “An Act concerning appropriations”, Public Act 95-731, and “An Act concerning appropriations” Public Act 95-734. Eliminates certain appropriations to certain State agencies. Restores appropriations to the Historic Preservation Agency and the Department of Natural Resources that were reduced or vetoed by the Governor. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions defining "eligible employment" for the purpose of allowing teachers to return to teaching in subject shortage areas without impairing his or her retirement status or retirement annuity, removes the June 30, 2008 ending date. Includes language exempting the changes from provisions concerning new benefit increases. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Classifies community college districts as units of local government that must adopt resolutions regulating the political activities and the solicitation and acceptance of gifts by their officials and employees (now, classified as State agencies subject to the entire Act's regulation and enforcement by the Executive Ethics Commission and the Governor's Executive Inspector General). Effective immediately.

Disapproves the 2008 report of the Compensation Review Board.