Amends the School Code. Provides that a General Assembly scholarship covers the payment of tuition and fees if amounts are appropriated for that purpose to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (now, the scholarship exempts the holder from the payment of tuition and fees). Effective immediately.
Amends the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In the provisions restricting the return to employment after receiving early retirement benefits, excludes elective office. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Finance Act. Exempts the State College and University Trust Fund and the University Grant Fund from the Act's administrative charge-back provisions. Effective immediately.
Creates the Illinois AgrAbility Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the University of Illinois Extension, shall contract with a non-profit disability service provider or other entity that assists disabled farmers, to establish and administer the Illinois AgrAbility Program in order to assist individuals who are engaged in farming or an agriculture-related activity and who have been affected by disability. Sets forth services to be provided by the Illinois AgrAbility Program. Sets forth eligibility requirements for the Program. Creates the Illinois AgrAbility Fund, a special fund created in the State treasury and, subject to appropriation, provides that moneys in the Fund may be expended for the Illinois AgrAbility Program and for no other purpose. Requires the University of Illinois Extension to submit certain documents to the Department of Agriculture. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Illinois AgrAbility Fund. Effective immediately.
Amends the Economic Development Area Tax Increment Allocation Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the certification of economic development project areas.
Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act, the Election Code, and the University of Illinois Trustees Act. Provides for the election (instead of appointment) of trustees of the University of Illinois beginning in 2006. Effective immediately.
Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Beginning with members elected in 2008, changes the House of Representatives from a 118-member body elected from 118 districts to a 117-member body elected from 39 districts of 3 members each. Prohibits a political party from limiting its nominations to less than 3 candidates in a Representative District. Permits a voter to cast 3 votes among one, 2, or 3 candidates for Representative. Requires the Representative Districts to be redistricted in 2007 in the same manner as decennial redistricting of Legislative and Representative Districts. Effective upon being declared adopted and applies to the election of Representatives in 2008 and thereafter.
Amends the Illinois Lottery Law to ban persons under 21 years of age from purchasing lottery tickets. Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 to ban persons under 21 years of age from being patrons of the pari-mutuel system of wagering. Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 and the Riverboat Gambling Act. Limits the loaning of cash to any person and the accepting of post-dated checks at gambling facilities. Provides that a violation is a Class C misdemeanor. Provides that a riverboat owners licensee may not conduct gambling between the hours of 3:00 A.M. and 5:00 A.M. Effective immediately.
Amends the Economic Development Area Tax Increment Allocation Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.
