Sen. Ira I. Silverstein

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a vehicle using diesel fuel with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of more than 8,000 pounds may not have its engine idling for more than 5 minutes within any 60 minute period. Creates exemptions. Provides that a person who operates a vehicle in violation of the provision is guilty of a petty offense punishable by a fine of $50 for a first offense and $150 for a second or subsequent offense within any 12 month period.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Re-enacts the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption. The exemption was created by Public Act 88-669, which has been held to be unconstitutional as a violation of the single subject clause of the Illinois Constitution. Includes validation provisions. Increases the maximum reduction for the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption from $3,000 to $3,500 for taxable years 2006 and thereafter. Increases the maximum income limitation in the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption from $45,000 to $50,000 for taxable years 2006 and thereafter. Amends the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Act. Increases the maximum income limitation under the Act from $40,000 to $45,000 for taxable years 2006 and thereafter. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to submit a report to the General Assembly containing information on hospitals that have submitted a plan to provide emergency services to sexual assault survivors to the Department and to post the report on its Internet website. Changes the maximum fine for failure to submit a Plan of Correction or to implement the Plan of Correction to $1,000 (now, $100.00) per day. Requires the Department to accept and investigate any complaint of a hospital not providing services required by the Act. Effective immediately.

Condemns the recent statement by the President of Iran that denied the occurrence of the Holocaust and supported moving the State of Israel to Europe.

Creates the Mercury Switch Removal Act. Provides that mercury switches removed from end-of-life vehicles must be managed in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act and regulations adopted thereunder. Requires vehicle recyclers, vehicle crushers, and scrap metal recyclers that remove mercury switches to maintain certain records and make reports relating to the mercury switches removed. Requires manufacturers of vehicles in Illinois that contain mercury switches to begin a mercury switch collection program, within 60 days of the effective date of this Act, that facilitates the removal of mercury switches from end-of-life vehicles prior to the vehicles being flattened, crushed, shredded, or otherwise processed for recycling. Sets forth that these programs must, to the extent practicable, use the currently available vehicle recycling infrastructure and be designed to achieve a capture rate of not less than (i) 35% for the period of July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007; (ii) 50% for the period of July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008; and (iii) 70% for the period of July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009 and for each subsequent period of July 1 through June 30. Sets forth certain requirements for these collection programs including that each manufacturer adopt an implementation plan for their mercury switch collection program. Provides that if the required capture rates are not met, the Agency shall provide notice to the manufacturers subject to the collection requirements, and that beginning 30 days after the Agency first provides notice, a vehicle recycler that sells, gives, or otherwise conveys an end-of-life vehicle to an on-site or off-site vehicle crusher or a scrap metal recycler must remove all mercury switches from the vehicle prior to its conveyance, and that manufacturers subject to these collection requirements must provide to vehicle recyclers, vehicle crushers, and scrap metal recyclers (i) $2.00 for each mercury switch removed by the vehicle recycler, vehicle crusher, or the scrap metal recycler, (ii) the costs of the containers in which the mercury switches are collected, and (iii) the costs of packaging and transporting the mercury switches off-site. Provides civil penalties for violations of the Act. Authorizes periodic reviews of these programs. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2018. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Condominium Property Act. Provides that the Board of Managers may not make a rule or regulation that shall prohibit any reasonable accommodation for religious practices, including the attachment of religiously-mandated objects to the front door area of a condominium unit.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Increases the penalty for official misconduct committed by a public officer or employee from a Class 3 felony to a Class 2 felony. Creates the offense of public contractor misconduct. Defines the offense. Provides that a violation is a Class 2 felony.

Mourns the death of Lester Brownstein of Morton Grove.

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish a State goal that all school districts have a wellness policy that is consistent with recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Requires the Department of Public Health and the State Board to form an interagency working group to publish model wellness policies and sample programs. Requires the State Board to establish a pilot project to implement model wellness policies. Creates the School Wellness Policy Taskforce to identify barriers to implementing wellness policies, recommend how to reduce those barriers, recommend statewide school nutrition standards, and evaluate the effectiveness of wellness policies. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Rabbi Albert Milton Kanter.