Sen. Frank C. Watson

Amends the Recyclable Metal Purchase Registration Law. Provides that iron, steel, and other ferrous metals are included in the definition of "recyclable metal". Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. In provisions exempting farm machinery and equipment, provides that "farm machinery and equipment" includes drainage, irrigation, and sub-irrigation systems, which include, without limitation, sub-irrigation tiling. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education, in cooperation with the Department of State Police, to develop a weapons safety program designed to protect children from the risk of gun-related death and injury. Provides that the program must be designed to teach children to follow an effective safety procedure when they are exposed to a gun and shall specifically warn children that contact with guns can result in serious injury or death. Provides that a school district may incorporate the weapons safety program into its curriculum. Requires the State Board of Education to submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly as to the status of the program no later than January 1, 2009.

Amends the Illinois Diseased Animals Act. Requires the Department of Agriculture to quarantine dogs testing positive for Brucella Canis and other dogs in contact with infected dogs. Sets forth conditions for releasing dogs from quarantine. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the surviving spouse of a police officer shall not be disqualified from receiving a survivor's pension if the surviving spouse was married to the deceased police officer for at least one year immediately preceding the date of death, regardless of whether the deceased police officer is still in service. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

If and only if Senate Bill 1544 of the 95th General Assembly becomes law, amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Restores provisions in the Illinois Income Tax Act concerning deductions for bond interest to the same language as those deduction provisions existed before Senate Bill 1544 of the 95th General Assembly became law. Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Authorizes the Agency to collect and solicit citizen complaints alleging a violation of the Act, any rule adopted under the Act, a permit granted by the Agency, or a condition of a permit via telephone, website, fax, mail, e-mail, or any other reasonable means. Provides that the Agency may accept citizen complaints that are anonymous and unaccompanied by the name and mailing address of the complainant, except that, for complaints alleging a violation arising out of agricultural production, the complainant must provide his or her name and mailing address. Sets forth that the Agency must keep the name and address of the complainant confidential, subject to certain penalties. Exempts the name and address of these complainants from public disclosure under provisions of the Act authorizing reasonable public inspection. Defines "agricultural production". Effective immediately.

If and only if Senate Bill 1544 of the 95th General Assembly becomes law, amends the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Restores provisions in the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act concerning an exemption for automobiles used for renting to the same language as those exemption provisions existed before Senate Bill 1544 of the 95th General Assembly became law. Effective immediately.

Amends the Toll Highway Act. Provides that no person or entity, other than the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, may operate or administer a system, other than the 9-1-1 emergency telephone system, for responding to calls from persons seeking emergency or non-emergency assistance on toll highways. Provides that the Authority may not operate or administer a system, other than the 9-1-1 emergency telephone system, for responding to calls for emergency assistance. Provides that the Authority may operate its own system for responding to calls for non-emergency assistance, if the number to be dialed by persons utilizing the system does not contain the digit "9". Provides that the Authority may not promote, by means of signs or by any other means, the use of any system other than the 9-1-1 system by any person seeking emergency or non-emergency assistance on toll highways. Effective July 1, 2007.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax deduction for taxpayers who are individuals, corporations, or not-for-profit organizations for income, royalties, or receipts from patents for an invention resulting from a development process conducted in Illinois. Effective immediately.