Sen. Shane Cultra

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. For taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2004, allows a deduction of up to $10,000 if the taxpayer, while living, donates one or more of his or her human organs to another human being for human organ transplantation. Provides that the deduction may be claimed only once and for only unreimbursed travel and lodging expenses and lost wages incurred by the claimant and related to the claimant's organ donation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning terms.

Creates the Sex Offender Residency Act. Requires the Department of Corrections, in consultation with the Prisoner Review Board, to adopt rules establishing criteria to be considered in determining the permanent residence requirements for a sex offender released on mandatory supervised release or parole. Provides that the Department shall include in the rules: (1) a general prohibition against allowing a sex offender to reside near locations where children are the primary occupants or users; (2) the bases upon which exceptions to the general prohibition are authorized; and (3) a process that allows communities that would be affected by a decision about the location of a sex offender's residence to be informed of the decision-making process before the offender is released. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Finance Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act. Requires the Department of Natural Resources to conduct a study to (i) develop an understanding of the geology of each aquifer in the State; (ii) determine the groundwater flow through the geologic units and the interaction of groundwater with surface waters; and (iii) determine the chemistry of the geologic units and the groundwater in those units. Requires the Department to develop geologic and groundwater flow models for each underground aquifer in the State based upon information obtained from the study. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that no transfers may be made, in order to help defray the State's operating costs for the fiscal year, from the Road Fund or the State Construction Account Fund on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Effective July 1, 2004.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that it is an affirmative defense to a violation of a municipal ordinance that prohibits, regulates, or restricts the private ownership of firearms if the individual who is charged with the violation used the firearm in an act of self-defense or defense of another. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Physical Therapy Act. Makes changes in the educational requirements for licensure as a physical therapist and a physical therapist assistants. Provides that the programs of study must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (rather than approved by the Department). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Department of Transportation and local authorities may issue permits allowing certain additional vehicles with weights exceeding normal limits to transport specified agricultural products over any highway except an interstate highway. Provides that the permit may be issued to a 3, 4, or 5 axle (as well as to a 2 axle) vehicle registered with the Secretary of State. Provides that the weight of a 3 or 4 axle vehicle may not exceed the normal weight limit by more than 20%, and the weight of a 5 axle vehicle may not exceed the normal limit by more than 10%. Provides that a vehicle may not exceed the license limits for that vehicle. Deletes language providing that these permits may authorize transport during the harvest season only. Provides that these vehicles may transport products from a storage facility (as well as from a field). Deletes language providing that the vehicle's destination must be a specified processing plant. Effective immediately.