MISCELLANEOUS

HB 452 - Civil Procedure - Quick Take Property
Authorizes various "Quick Take" for Rosemont, Franklin Park, Taylorville, Lincolnshire, Marion, Geneva, Arcola, Schiller Park, Springfield, Palentine, Crest Hill. Also authorizes conveyance for Bartlett and Chicago. Will appear at 5 ILCS 539/. P.A. 91-367; effective 7-30-99.

HB 1180 - Solicitation for Charity Act
Amends the Solicitation for Charity Act. Requires public safety personnel organizations and their fund raisers to keep specified records. Prohibits a public safety personnel organization from making specified representations or using specified words in its name unless it meets certain requirements. Imposes civil and criminal penalties for violations. Amends provisions of the Criminal Code of 1961 relating to false personation and solicitation. Makes various changes in the categories of persons and organizations to which the provisions apply. Prohibits solicitation of financial contributions under specified circumstances. Provides that violation is a Class 4 felony. Makes other changes. Provides that nothing in the Act shall prohibit a Public Safety Personnel Organization from stating the actual number of members it has in any geographical area. Authorizes use of "Cook County Sheriff" or "Cook County Sheriff's Police" in the title of an organization when conducting certain activities without including the lawful complete name of the organization. P.A. 91-301; effective 7-29-99.

HB 1688 - Property Conservation Rights
Amends the Real Property Conservation Rights Act to provide that any owner of real property in this State may convey conservation rights in the property to the federal government. Amends the Property Tax Code to provide that any property dedicated as a nature preserve buffer under the Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act is encumbered by a public easement. Provides that a tax deed issued with respect to any property sold under the Code shall not extinguish or affect any conservation right. Further amends the Real Property Conservation Rights Act to provide that no conservation easement held by a public body shall diminish the powers granted in any other law to acquire and use land for public purposes. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure to provide that the right to just compensation applies to owners of any conservation right where the conservation right is taken or altered. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure to provide that the right to compensation applies to property subject to a conservation right under the Real Property Conservation Rights Act, and the amount of compensation for the taking of the property shall not be diminished or reduced by virtue of the existence of the conservation right. P.A. 91-497; effective 1-1-2000.

HB 2298 - Special Use Authorization
Amends the Counties Code. Deletes the current text of the Section concerning special use authorizations. Provides that the county board may, by ordinance, provide for the classification of special uses. Provides that the board of appeals must hold a public hearing on the proposed special use. Requires the notice of the hearing to contain information about the location of the property for which a special use is proposed, the owners of the property, and a brief statement of the proposed special use. Requires that notice be given to: (1) municipalities whose boundaries are located within 1-1/2 miles of the property proposed as a special use and, (2) owners of property adjacent to or immediately across the street from the property proposed as a special use. Provides that the person requesting the special use must pay the cost of the notice. Provides that the board of appeals shall recommend to the county board whether the special use should be denied, granted, or granted subject to conditions. Provides that the county board may delegate the authority to grant or deny special uses to the board of appeals. P.A. 91-334; effective 7-29-99.

SB 457 - Plumbing License Irrigation
Amends the Illinois Plumbing License Law. Provides that the installation of lawn sprinkler systems, including the piping and appurtenances, does not require licensure under this Act or under local ordinance, except that a licensed plumber or licensed apprentice plumber must install the backflow prevention device if the lawn sprinkler is connected to a potable water system and must inspect every lawn sprinkler system installed by an unlicensed person. The new provisions are repealed December 3, 1999. P.A. 91-35; effective 6-10-99.

SB 1017 - Illinois Horse Racing Act and Riverboat Gambling Act Revisions
This proposal permits the East Dubuque riverboat to move to a different location anywhere in Illinois, including in Cook County. Allows all riverboats to engage in dockside gaming. Reduces taxes paid by horse racing facilities, resulting in the reopening of Arlington Park racetrack in 2000. There are also provisions for funding to the Universities Athletic Capital Improvement Fund and for the enhancement of Cook County's criminal justice system. P.A. 91-40; effective 6-25-99 and 1-1-2000.

SB 1066 - Fund for Illinois' Future
Increases the tax on beer from 7 cents to 18.5 cents per gallon, and from 0.65 to 1.7 cents per bottle; on wine from 23 or 60 cents to 73 cents per gallon, and from 5 or 12 cents to 15 cents per bottle; and on liquor from $2.00 to $4.50 per gallon, and from 40 to 90 cents per bottle. Effective July 1, 1999. P.A. 91-38; effective 6-15-99.