Sen. Gary Forby

Mourns the death of Frances Florence Jones of Christopher.

Mourns the death of John S. Baker of Marion.

Mourns the death of James M. "Strawberry" Nelson of Anna.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the exercise of "quick-take" eminent domain powers.

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Removes provisions that now allow a right of admission to veterans of the Spanish American War or World War One. Provides that a veteran is entitled to admission to an Illinois Veterans Home for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care if he or she (i) has served in the armed forces of the United States at least one day in the Global War on Terrorism, (ii) has served and was honorably discharged or retired from the armed forces of the United States for a service connected disability or injury, (iii) has served as an enlisted person at least 90 days on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, excluding service on active duty for training purposes only, and entered active duty before September 8, 1980, (iv) has served as an officer at least 90 days on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, excluding service on active duty for training purposes only, and entered active duty before October 17, 1981, (v) has served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States for 24 months of continuous service or more, excluding active duty for training purposes only, and enlisted after September 7, 1980, (vi) has served as a reservist in the armed forces of the United States or the National Guard and the service included being called to federal active duty, excluding service on active duty for training purposes only, and who completed the term, or (vii) has been discharged for reasons of hardship or released from active duty due to a reduction in the United States armed forces prior to the completion of the required period of service, regardless of the actual time served. Provides that an individual who served during a time of conflict has preference over all other qualifying candidates, for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care at any Illinois Veterans Home. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall establish a grant program to encourage farmers to add additives to anhydrous ammonia for the purpose of acting as a marking agent, leak detector, and theft detector to prevent the use of anhydrous ammonia in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine, and to add additives to anhydrous ammonia that render it inert for the purposes of methamphetamine production. Provides that the Department shall determine the eligibility of applicants for grants under this program. Provides that subject to appropriations made for this purpose by the General Assembly, the Department shall award grants to eligible farmers in accordance with rules adopted by the Department. Effective July 1, 2005.

Amends the Drug Court Treatment Act. Provides that the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts shall conduct education seminars for judges throughout the State on how to operate drug court programs with a specific emphasis on cases involving the illegal possession of methamphetamine. Effective July 1, 2005.

Amends the Secretary of State Act and the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Secretary of State and the Department of Revenue, in consultation with the Department of State Police, to establish and maintain programs to mail information on missing children to Illinois residents. Provides that, under the program, the Secretary of State and the Department must include information on missing children with certain other forms that it mails to taxpayers in the State. Requires the Department of Revenue to publish on its Internet website photographs and other information concerning missing children.

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Provides that, subject to appropriations for that purpose, the Department shall fund 2 service officer positions for each veterans service organization that maintains an office in the Veterans Affairs Regional Office (VARO) in Chicago. Provides that a service officer whose position is funded under these provisions shall be an employee of the veterans service organization with which the service officer is placed, and the service officer shall be under the direct control of that veterans service organization. Provides that such a service officer must be certified by the federal government in the manner in which the head service officer of each office is certified. Provides that to be eligible to receive any moneys for the funding of a service officer position under these provisions, a veterans service organization must have maintained a state headquarters in this State for at least 10 years before July 1, 2005. Provides that a veterans service organization that is being funded with State or county moneys under any other provision of law on the effective date of this amendatory Act may not receive any moneys for the funding of a service officer position under these provisions.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department shall create and maintain a program that generates awareness among Illinois small manufacturers regarding opportunities to bid for work on federal, State, and local government contracts.