Sen. Ira I. Silverstein

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and the State Finance Act. Creates the Autism Research Fund and provides that, from appropriations from the Fund, the Department of Public Health must make grants to public or private entities in Illinois for the purpose of funding research concerning the disorder of autism. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to create a tax checkoff for the Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Designates the month of November of each year as Alzheimer's Awareness Month.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions requiring an insurer that provides coverage for hospital or medical expenses under a group policy of accident and health insurance or health care plan to provide coverage under the policy for treatment of serious mental illness under the same terms and conditions as coverage for hospital or medical expenses related to other illnesses and diseases (commonly referred to as "mental health parity"), eliminates the December 31, 2005 sunset date that applies to those provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Business Corporation Act of 1983. Provides that unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation, a shareholder who executes and delivers to the corporation a written instrument irrevocably waiving the right (i) to vote any shares held by such shareholder, whether for the election of directors or otherwise, (ii) to be a director or officer of the corporation, and (iii) in any other manner to control, directly or indirectly, corporate actions or the election or removal of any director or officer of the corporation, and who at the time of such waiver is not a director or officer of the corporation, shall have no fiduciary duty to the corporation or any of its shareholders arising out of the fact that such person is a shareholder of the corporation. Provides that the corporation shall give prompt notice of such waiver to the remaining shareholders, except that no such notice need be given by a corporation that has shares listed on a national securities exchange or regularly traded in a market maintained by one or more members of a national or affiliated securities association. Effective July 1, 2005.

Amends the Military Code of Illinois. Provides that on or after July 1, 2006, if the Adjutant General determines that Illinois National Guard personnel are not available to perform military funeral honors, the Adjutant General may authorize another appropriate organization to provide one or more of its members to perform those honors and, subject to appropriations for that purpose, shall authorize the payment of a $100 stipend to the organization. Provides that the Code does not establish any entitlement to military funeral honors if the Adjutant General determines that such other appropriate personnel are not available to perform those honors or if adequate appropriated funds are not available. Effective July 1, 2006.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code provision regarding Illinois Fire Fighters' license plates. Provides that all moneys deposited into the Illinois Fire Fighters' Memorial Fund shall be used exclusively for the purposes listed in the Vehicle Code provision.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that an order of protection may also be issued when the alleged offender and victim are family or household members and the alleged violation is unlawful restraint, aggravated unlawful restraint, child pornography, domestic battery, aggravated battery of a senior citizen, interfering with reporting of domestic violence, stalking, aggravated stalking, cyberstalking, criminal trespass to a residence, criminal damage to property, criminal trespass to a vehicle, criminal trespass to real property, disorderly conduct, or harassment by telephone.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that property up to an assessed value of $70,000 (now,$58,000), owned and used exclusively by a disabled veteran, or the spouse or unmarried surviving spouse of the veteran, as a home, is exempt. Effective immediately.

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act to extend the repeal of the Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act to January 1, 2016. Amends the Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act. Provides that every roofing contractor shall affix the licensee's name, as it appears on the license (now, just requires the contractor to affix the licensee's name), on all commercial vehicles (rather than just vehicles) used as part of his or her business as a roofing contractor. Removes provisions concerning fees for applicants for initial certification who apply for licensure during the second half of the biennial period, fees for any change of the license that requires the issuance of a new license, and the maximum amount of the biennial renewal fee. Changes the number of members of the Roofing Advisory Board from 8 to 7. Removes a provision requiring one of the licensed roofing contractors on the Board to be a representative of an association predominately representing retailers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that in determining the appropriate sentence for any conviction under the Act, the sentencing court may consider the possession, delivery, or manufacture of controlled substances or cannabis in the presence of a child under 17 years of age.