By Jim Covington

Director of Legislative Affairs

The Governor continues to sign bills into law as they approach the "drop date" of 60 days from when the General Assembly sends them to him.

Sixth graders' health examination. Public Act 95-737 (Coulson, R-Glenview; Lightford, D-Maywood) amends the School Code to exempt a sixth grader from being forced to get another health examination if the child was examined within one year before entering the fifth grade for the 2007-2008 school year. Effective July 16, 2008.

School-bus safety. Public Act 95-756 (Cullerton, D-Chicago; Mathias, R-Buffalo Grove) creates an additional safety precaution for school-bus drivers at railroad crossings. Drivers will be required to open the service door and driver's window in addition to other safety precautions already required. Effective Jan. 1, 2009.

Township Code I. Public Act 95-759 (Holbrook, D-Belleville; Clayborne, D-E. St. Louis) allows bond proceeds to be expended under the direction of a majority of the board of trustees. But a majority of the board of trustees may designate that the bond proceeds be expended under the direction and warrant of the highway commissioner if the highway commissioner provides written consent to that action. Effective July 28, 2008.

Township Code II. Public Act 95-761 (Ramey, R-Carol Stream; Peterson, R-Long Grove) changes procedures for agendas and notices for annual and special meetings. For annual meetings, it requires that the township board adopt an agenda at least 10 days before the meeting. Voters may request an agenda item be considered by giving written notice of a specific request to the township clerk no later than March 1 before the annual meeting. Items not on the published agenda may not be considered. For special meetings, only subjects relevant to statutory powers granted to electors may be considered. It limits special meetings to the business included in the statement and notice. At least 15 or more electors must be present for a quorum for the special meeting to be convened. Effective July 28, 2008.

Aggravated battery of a child. Public Act 95-768 (Bomke, R-Springfield; Poe, R-Springfield) makes it aggravated battery of a child if the defendant is at least 18-years-old and knowingly causes bodily harm, disability, or disfigurement to any child under the age of 13 years or to any person who is severely or profoundly retarded. The penalty is a Class 3 felony but causing "great bodily harm or permanent disability" is still a Class X felony. Effective January 1, 2009.

Consecutive sentence for contraband. Public Act 95-766 (Brosnahan, D-Oak Lawn; Wil-helmi, D-Joliet) requires a consecutive sentence if a defendant is convicted of possessing illegal contraband while serving another sentence in a penal institution or in pre-trial detention in a county jail regardless of the order in which the judgments of conviction are entered. Effective Jan. 1, 2009.

County retailers' tax. Senate Bill 1290 (Harmon, D-Oak Park; Leitch, R-Peoria) allows a county board to impose a special county retailers' occupation tax for "public facility purposes" if the tax is imposed by a referendum. '"Public facilities purposes' means the acquisition, development, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, improvement, financing, architectural planning, and installation of capital facilities consisting of buildings, structures, and durable equipment and for the acquisition and improvement of real property and interest in real property required, or expected to be required, in connection with the public facilities, for use by the county for the furnishing of governmental services to its citizens, including but not limited to museums and nursing homes." Senate Bill 1290 passed out of the House and was sent to the Senate for concurrence during the fall veto session.