Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that deer may be taken with a crossbow during a crossbow season of not more than 14 days set annually by the Director between the dates of November 1st and December 31st, but that 14-day season may not overlap with the open season for taking deer. Effective immediately.
Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Adds religious institutions to the term description of "child welfare agency" so that it now includes agencies established by a political subdivision to protect, guard, train or care for children outside their own homes and all agencies, persons, groups of persons, associations, organizations, corporations, institutions, religious institutions, centers, or groups providing adoption services. Amends the Adoption Act. Provides that a church, synagogue, temple, mosque, or other religious institution that is an agency providing adoption services as defined in Section 2.24 of the Child Care Act of 1969 and that is licensed as a child welfare agency as defined in Section 2.08 of the Child Care Act of 1969 may adopt faith-based policies and practices relating to the placement of children for adoption which provide for the placement of a child with a prospective adoptive parent who holds the same religious beliefs as those held by that religious institution, while maintaining the welfare of the child as the primary consideration in the placement.
Amends the State Finance Act, the Illinois Income Tax Act, and the Property Tax Code. In the Property Tax Code, creates the standard homestead exemption in an amount equal to $100,000 and repeals Sections concerning various other homestead exemptions. In the Illinois Income Tax Act, increases the rate of tax on individuals and on trusts and estates from 3% to a rate determined by the Department by rule, and requires that the additional revenue generated from the increased rate must be deposited into the Homestead Property Tax Replacement Fund. Creates that Fund in the State Finance Act and requires that, from the moneys in that Fund, the Department of Revenue must make grants to taxing districts in the State in the amount of any decreased property tax revenue due to the implementation of the standard homestead exemption. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Makes various corresponding changes. Effective immediately, except that certain provisions concerning the repeal of homestead exemptions take effect January 1, 2010.
Amends the Election Code. Limits the campaign expenditures of a candidate for State Senator or State Representative to $50,000 and $25,000, respectively. Applies the limit separately to the period before the general primary and the period between the primary and the general election.
Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Includes religious institutions in the definition of "child welfare agency". Amends the Adoption Act. Provides that a church, synagogue, temple, mosque, or other religious institution that is an agency providing adoption services as defined in the Child Care Act of 1969 and that is licensed as a child welfare agency as defined in the Child Care Act of 1969 may adopt faith-based policies and practices relating to the placement of children for adoption that provide for the placement of a child with a prospective adoptive parent who holds the same religious beliefs as those held by that religious institution while maintaining the welfare of the child as the primary consideration in the placement.
Amends the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004. Provides that no person may practice veterinary medicine in the State except within the context of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Changes the definition of "veterinarian-client-patient relationship" to include a licensed veterinarian who has access to the animal patient's records and has been designated by the veterinarian with the prior relationship with the animal patient to provide reasonable and appropriate medical care if he or she is unavailable. Adds exemptions from the Act for certain specified persons. Requires a veterinarian to maintain patient records, which shall include certain specified information, for a minimum of 5 years from the date of the last known contact with an animal patient. Increases the maximum civil penalty allowed for a violation of the Act from $5,000 to $10,000. Makes several changes to the definition of "practice of veterinary medicine". Makes changes to the definitions of "accredited program in veterinary technology", "certified veterinary technician", and "complementary, alternative, and integrative therapies". Defines "immediate supervision", "licensed veterinarian", "veterinary premises", "veterinary prescription drugs", and "veterinary specialist". Replaces all references in the Act to "Director" with "Secretary". Makes other changes. Also makes technical changes. Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Extends the repeal date of the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004 from January 1, 2014 to January 1, 2020. Effective immediately.
Congratulates Mary Bricker for her years of service as president of the Iroquois County Republican Women's Club.
Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Provides that the Authority is authorized to issue bonds or notes in an amount not to exceed $450,000 (now, $250,000). Provides that in any calendar year after 2007, the $450,000 amount shall be increased by an amount equal to such dollar amount multiplied by the inflation percentage determined under Section 305(c) of the federal Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1925) as of June 18, 2008. Provides that any increase must be rounded to the nearest multiple of $100. Effective immediately.
Amends the Personnel Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Public University Energy Conservation Act. Provides that "energy conservation measure" includes construction of a new building or facility that is designed to reduce energy consumption or operating costs.
