96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB4932

 

Introduced 1/15/2010, by Rep. Suzanne Bassi - Sidney H. Mathias - Michael P. McAuliffe

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
35 ILCS 200/15-176
35 ILCS 200/15-177

    Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the alternative general homestead exemption applies on a permanent basis and increases the maximum amount of the exemption to $40,000 beginning in taxable year 2010. Removes an income limitation from the long-time occupant homestead exemption. Provides that, beginning in taxable year 2010, for the purpose of calculating the long-time occupant homestead exemption, "adjusted homestead value" is the lesser of (i) the property's base homestead value increased by 7% for each taxable year after the base year through and including the current tax year or (ii) the property's equalized assessed value for the current tax year minus the general homestead deduction. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1     AN ACT concerning revenue.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Property Tax Code is amended by changing
5 Sections 15-176 and 15-177 as follows:
 
6     (35 ILCS 200/15-176)
7     Sec. 15-176. Alternative general homestead exemption.
8     (a) For the assessment years as determined under subsection
9 (j), in any county that has elected, by an ordinance in
10 accordance with subsection (k), to be subject to the provisions
11 of this Section in lieu of the provisions of Section 15-175,
12 homestead property is entitled to an annual homestead exemption
13 equal to a reduction in the property's equalized assessed value
14 calculated as provided in this Section.
15     (b) As used in this Section:
16         (1) "Assessor" means the supervisor of assessments or
17     the chief county assessment officer of each county.
18         (2) "Adjusted homestead value" means the lesser of the
19     following values:
20             (A) The property's base homestead value increased
21         by 7% for each tax year after the base year through and
22         including the current tax year, or, if the property is
23         sold or ownership is otherwise transferred, the

 

 

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1         property's base homestead value increased by 7% for
2         each tax year after the year of the sale or transfer
3         through and including the current tax year. The
4         increase by 7% each year is an increase by 7% over the
5         prior year.
6             (B) The property's equalized assessed value for
7         the current tax year minus: (i) $4,500 in Cook County
8         or $3,500 in all other counties in tax year 2003; (ii)
9         $5,000 in all counties in tax years 2004 and 2005; and
10         (iii) the lesser of the amount of the general homestead
11         exemption under Section 15-175 or an amount equal to
12         the increase in the equalized assessed value for the
13         current tax year above the equalized assessed value for
14         1977 in tax year 2006 and thereafter.
15         (3) "Base homestead value".
16             (A) Except as provided in subdivision (b)(3)(A-5)
17         or (b)(3)(B), "base homestead value" means the
18         equalized assessed value of the property for the base
19         year prior to exemptions, minus (i) $4,500 in Cook
20         County or $3,500 in all other counties in tax year
21         2003, (ii) $5,000 in all counties in tax years 2004 and
22         2005, or (iii) the lesser of the amount of the general
23         homestead exemption under Section 15-175 or an amount
24         equal to the increase in the equalized assessed value
25         for the current tax year above the equalized assessed
26         value for 1977 in tax year 2006 and thereafter,

 

 

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1         provided that it was assessed for that year as
2         residential property qualified for any of the
3         homestead exemptions under Sections 15-170 through
4         15-175 of this Code, then in force, and further
5         provided that the property's assessment was not based
6         on a reduced assessed value resulting from a temporary
7         irregularity in the property for that year. Except as
8         provided in subdivision (b)(3)(B), if the property did
9         not have a residential equalized assessed value for the
10         base year, then "base homestead value" means the base
11         homestead value established by the assessor under
12         subsection (c).
13             (A-5) On or before September 1, 2007, in Cook
14         County, the base homestead value, as set forth under
15         subdivision (b)(3)(A) and except as provided under
16         subdivision (b) (3) (B), must be recalculated as the
17         equalized assessed value of the property for the base
18         year, prior to exemptions, minus:
19                 (1) if the general assessment year for the
20             property was 2003, the lesser of (i) $4,500 or (ii)
21             the amount equal to the increase in equalized
22             assessed value for the 2002 tax year above the
23             equalized assessed value for 1977;
24                 (2) if the general assessment year for the
25             property was 2004, the lesser of (i) $4,500 or (ii)
26             the amount equal to the increase in equalized

 

 

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1             assessed value for the 2003 tax year above the
2             equalized assessed value for 1977;
3                 (3) if the general assessment year for the
4             property was 2005, the lesser of (i) $5,000 or (ii)
5             the amount equal to the increase in equalized
6             assessed value for the 2004 tax year above the
7             equalized assessed value for 1977.
8             (B) If the property is sold or ownership is
9         otherwise transferred, other than sales or transfers
10         between spouses or between a parent and a child, "base
11         homestead value" means the equalized assessed value of
12         the property at the time of the sale or transfer prior
13         to exemptions, minus: (i) $4,500 in Cook County or
14         $3,500 in all other counties in tax year 2003; (ii)
15         $5,000 in all counties in tax years 2004 and 2005; and
16         (iii) the lesser of the amount of the general homestead
17         exemption under Section 15-175 or an amount equal to
18         the increase in the equalized assessed value for the
19         current tax year above the equalized assessed value for
20         1977 in tax year 2006 and thereafter, provided that it
21         was assessed as residential property qualified for any
22         of the homestead exemptions under Sections 15-170
23         through 15-175 of this Code, then in force, and further
24         provided that the property's assessment was not based
25         on a reduced assessed value resulting from a temporary
26         irregularity in the property.

 

 

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1         (3.5) "Base year" means (i) tax year 2002 in Cook
2     County or (ii) tax year 2005 or 2006 in all other counties
3     in accordance with the designation made by the county as
4     provided in subsection (k).
5         (4) "Current tax year" means the tax year for which the
6     exemption under this Section is being applied.
7         (5) "Equalized assessed value" means the property's
8     assessed value as equalized by the Department.
9         (6) "Homestead" or "homestead property" means:
10             (A) Residential property that as of January 1 of
11         the tax year is occupied by its owner or owners as his,
12         her, or their principal dwelling place, or that is a
13         leasehold interest on which a single family residence
14         is situated, that is occupied as a residence by a
15         person who has a legal or equitable interest therein
16         evidenced by a written instrument, as an owner or as a
17         lessee, and on which the person is liable for the
18         payment of property taxes. Residential units in an
19         apartment building owned and operated as a
20         cooperative, or as a life care facility, which are
21         occupied by persons who hold a legal or equitable
22         interest in the cooperative apartment building or life
23         care facility as owners or lessees, and who are liable
24         by contract for the payment of property taxes, shall be
25         included within this definition of homestead property.
26             (B) A homestead includes the dwelling place,

 

 

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1         appurtenant structures, and so much of the surrounding
2         land constituting the parcel on which the dwelling
3         place is situated as is used for residential purposes.
4         If the assessor has established a specific legal
5         description for a portion of property constituting the
6         homestead, then the homestead shall be limited to the
7         property within that description.
8         (7) "Life care facility" means a facility as defined in
9     Section 2 of the Life Care Facilities Act.
10     (c) If the property did not have a residential equalized
11 assessed value for the base year as provided in subdivision
12 (b)(3)(A) of this Section, then the assessor shall first
13 determine an initial value for the property by comparison with
14 assessed values for the base year of other properties having
15 physical and economic characteristics similar to those of the
16 subject property, so that the initial value is uniform in
17 relation to assessed values of those other properties for the
18 base year. The product of the initial value multiplied by the
19 equalized factor for the base year for homestead properties in
20 that county, less: (i) $4,500 in Cook County or $3,500 in all
21 other counties in tax years 2003; (ii) $5,000 in all counties
22 in tax year 2004 and 2005; and (iii) the lesser of the amount
23 of the general homestead exemption under Section 15-175 or an
24 amount equal to the increase in the equalized assessed value
25 for the current tax year above the equalized assessed value for
26 1977 in tax year 2006 and thereafter, is the base homestead

 

 

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1 value.
2     For any tax year for which the assessor determines or
3 adjusts an initial value and hence a base homestead value under
4 this subsection (c), the initial value shall be subject to
5 review by the same procedures applicable to assessed values
6 established under this Code for that tax year.
7     (d) The base homestead value shall remain constant, except
8 that the assessor may revise it under the following
9 circumstances:
10         (1) If the equalized assessed value of a homestead
11     property for the current tax year is less than the previous
12     base homestead value for that property, then the current
13     equalized assessed value (provided it is not based on a
14     reduced assessed value resulting from a temporary
15     irregularity in the property) shall become the base
16     homestead value in subsequent tax years.
17         (2) For any year in which new buildings, structures, or
18     other improvements are constructed on the homestead
19     property that would increase its assessed value, the
20     assessor shall adjust the base homestead value as provided
21     in subsection (c) of this Section with due regard to the
22     value added by the new improvements.
23         (3) If the property is sold or ownership is otherwise
24     transferred, the base homestead value of the property shall
25     be adjusted as provided in subdivision (b)(3)(B). This item
26     (3) does not apply to sales or transfers between spouses or

 

 

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1     between a parent and a child.
2         (4) the recalculation required in Cook County under
3     subdivision (b)(3)(A-5).
4     (e) The amount of the exemption under this Section is the
5 equalized assessed value of the homestead property for the
6 current tax year, minus the adjusted homestead value, with the
7 following exceptions:
8         (1) In Cook County, the exemption under this Section
9     shall not exceed $20,000 for any taxable year through tax
10     year:
11             (i) 2005, if the general assessment year for the
12         property is 2003;
13             (ii) 2006, if the general assessment year for the
14         property is 2004; or
15             (iii) 2007, if the general assessment year for the
16         property is 2005.
17         (1.1) Thereafter, in Cook County, and in all other
18     counties, the exemption is as follows:
19             (i) if the general assessment year for the property
20         is 2006, then the exemption may not exceed: $33,000 for
21         taxable year 2006; $26,000 for taxable year 2007; and
22         $20,000 for taxable years year 2008 and 2009; and
23         $40,000 for taxable year 2010 and thereafter;
24             (ii) if the general assessment year for the
25         property is 2007, then the exemption may not exceed:
26         $33,000 for taxable year 2007; $26,000 for taxable year

 

 

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1         2008; and $20,000 for taxable year 2009; and $40,000
2         for taxable year 2010 and thereafter; and
3             (iii) if the general assessment year for the
4         property is 2008, then the exemption may not exceed:
5         $33,000 for taxable year 2008; $26,000 for taxable year
6         2009; and $40,000 $20,000 for taxable year 2010 and
7         thereafter.
8         (1.5) In Cook County, for the 2006 taxable year only,
9     the maximum amount of the exemption set forth under
10     subsection (e)(1.1)(i) of this Section may be increased:
11     (i) by $7,000 if the equalized assessed value of the
12     property in that taxable year exceeds the equalized
13     assessed value of that property in 2002 by 100% or more; or
14     (ii) by $2,000 if the equalized assessed value of the
15     property in that taxable year exceeds the equalized
16     assessed value of that property in 2002 by more than 80%
17     but less than 100%.
18         (2) In the case of homestead property that also
19     qualifies for the exemption under Section 15-172, the
20     property is entitled to the exemption under this Section,
21     limited to the amount of (i) $4,500 in Cook County or
22     $3,500 in all other counties in tax year 2003, (ii) $5,000
23     in all counties in tax years 2004 and 2005, or (iii) the
24     lesser of the amount of the general homestead exemption
25     under Section 15-175 or an amount equal to the increase in
26     the equalized assessed value for the current tax year above

 

 

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1     the equalized assessed value for 1977 in tax year 2006 and
2     thereafter.
3     (f) In the case of an apartment building owned and operated
4 as a cooperative, or as a life care facility, that contains
5 residential units that qualify as homestead property under this
6 Section, the maximum cumulative exemption amount attributed to
7 the entire building or facility shall not exceed the sum of the
8 exemptions calculated for each qualified residential unit. The
9 cooperative association, management firm, or other person or
10 entity that manages or controls the cooperative apartment
11 building or life care facility shall credit the exemption
12 attributable to each residential unit only to the apportioned
13 tax liability of the owner or other person responsible for
14 payment of taxes as to that unit. Any person who willfully
15 refuses to so credit the exemption is guilty of a Class B
16 misdemeanor.
17     (g) When married persons maintain separate residences, the
18 exemption provided under this Section shall be claimed by only
19 one such person and for only one residence.
20     (h) In the event of a sale or other transfer in ownership
21 of the homestead property, the exemption under this Section
22 shall remain in effect for the remainder of the tax year and be
23 calculated using the same base homestead value in which the
24 sale or transfer occurs, but (other than for sales or transfers
25 between spouses or between a parent and a child) shall be
26 calculated for any subsequent tax year using the new base

 

 

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1 homestead value as provided in subdivision (b)(3)(B). The
2 assessor may require the new owner of the property to apply for
3 the exemption in the following year.
4     (i) The assessor may determine whether property qualifies
5 as a homestead under this Section by application, visual
6 inspection, questionnaire, or other reasonable methods. Each
7 year, at the time the assessment books are certified to the
8 county clerk by the board of review, the assessor shall furnish
9 to the county clerk a list of the properties qualified for the
10 homestead exemption under this Section. The list shall note the
11 base homestead value of each property to be used in the
12 calculation of the exemption for the current tax year.
13     (j) In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the
14 provisions of this Section apply as follows:
15         (1) If the general assessment year for the property is
16     2003, this Section applies for assessment year years 2003
17     and thereafter. , 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.
18     Thereafter, the provisions of Section 15-175 apply.
19         (2) If the general assessment year for the property is
20     2004, this Section applies for assessment year years 2004
21     and thereafter. , 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.
22     Thereafter, the provisions of Section 15-175 apply.
23         (3) If the general assessment year for the property is
24     2005, this Section applies for assessment year years 2005
25     and thereafter. , 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
26     Thereafter, the provisions of Section 15-175 apply.

 

 

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1     In counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, this
2 Section applies for assessment years (i) 2006, 2007, and 2008,
3 and 2009 if tax year 2005 is the designated base year or (ii)
4 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 if tax year 2006 is the designated
5 base year. Thereafter, the provisions of Section 15-175 apply.
6     (k) To be subject to the provisions of this Section in lieu
7 of Section 15-175, a county must adopt an ordinance to subject
8 itself to the provisions of this Section within 6 months after
9 the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General
10 Assembly. In a county other than Cook County, the ordinance
11 must designate either tax year 2005 or tax year 2006 as the
12 base year.
13     (l) Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of the State Mandates
14 Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the
15 implementation of any mandate created by this Section.
16 (Source: P.A. 95-644, eff. 10-12-07.)
 
17     (35 ILCS 200/15-177)
18     Sec. 15-177. The long-time occupant homestead exemption.
19     (a) If the county has elected, under Section 15-176, to be
20 subject to the provisions of the alternative general homestead
21 exemption, then, for taxable years 2007 and thereafter,
22 regardless of whether the exemption under Section 15-176
23 applies, qualified homestead property is entitled to an annual
24 homestead exemption equal to a reduction in the property's
25 equalized assessed value calculated as provided in this

 

 

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1 Section.
2     (b) As used in this Section:
3     For taxable years 2007, 2008, and 2009, "adjusted "Adjusted
4 homestead value" means the lesser of the following values:
5         (1) The property's base homestead value increased by:
6     (i) 10% for each taxable year after the base year through
7     and including the current tax year for qualified taxpayers
8     with a household income of more than $75,000 but not
9     exceeding $100,000; or (ii) 7% for each taxable year after
10     the base year through and including the current tax year
11     for qualified taxpayers with a household income of $75,000
12     or less. The increase each year is an increase over the
13     prior year; or
14         (2) The property's equalized assessed value for the
15     current tax year minus the general homestead deduction.
16     Beginning in taxable year 2010, "adjusted homestead value"
17 means the lesser of the following values:
18         (1) The property's base homestead value increased by 7%
19     for each taxable year after the base year through and
20     including the current tax year for all qualified taxpayers.
21     The increase each year is an increase over the prior year;
22     or
23         (2) The property's equalized assessed value for the
24     current tax year minus the general homestead deduction.
25     "Base homestead value" means:
26         (1) if the property did not have an adjusted homestead

 

 

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1     value under Section 15-176 for the base year, then an
2     amount equal to the equalized assessed value of the
3     property for the base year prior to exemptions, minus the
4     general homestead deduction, provided that the property's
5     assessment was not based on a reduced assessed value
6     resulting from a temporary irregularity in the property for
7     that year; or
8         (2) if the property had an adjusted homestead value
9     under Section 15-176 for the base year, then an amount
10     equal to the adjusted homestead value of the property under
11     Section 15-176 for the base year.
12     "Base year" means the taxable year prior to the taxable
13 year in which the taxpayer first qualifies for the exemption
14 under this Section.
15     "Current taxable year" means the taxable year for which the
16 exemption under this Section is being applied.
17     "Equalized assessed value" means the property's assessed
18 value as equalized by the Department.
19     "Homestead" or "homestead property" means residential
20 property that as of January 1 of the tax year is occupied by a
21 qualified taxpayer as his or her principal dwelling place, or
22 that is a leasehold interest on which a single family residence
23 is situated, that is occupied as a residence by a qualified
24 taxpayer who has a legal or equitable interest therein
25 evidenced by a written instrument, as an owner or as a lessee,
26 and on which the person is liable for the payment of property

 

 

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1 taxes. Residential units in an apartment building owned and
2 operated as a cooperative, or as a life care facility, which
3 are occupied by persons who hold a legal or equitable interest
4 in the cooperative apartment building or life care facility as
5 owners or lessees, and who are liable by contract for the
6 payment of property taxes, are included within this definition
7 of homestead property. A homestead includes the dwelling place,
8 appurtenant structures, and so much of the surrounding land
9 constituting the parcel on which the dwelling place is situated
10 as is used for residential purposes. If the assessor has
11 established a specific legal description for a portion of
12 property constituting the homestead, then the homestead is
13 limited to the property within that description.
14     "Household income" has the meaning set forth under Section
15 15-172 of this Code.
16     "General homestead deduction" means the amount of the
17 general homestead exemption under Section 15-175.
18     "Life care facility" means a facility defined in Section 2
19 of the Life Care Facilities Act.
20     "Qualified homestead property" means homestead property
21 owned by a qualified taxpayer.
22     "Qualified taxpayer" means any individual:
23         (1) who, for at least 10 continuous years as of January
24     1 of the taxable year, has occupied the same homestead
25     property as a principal residence and domicile or who, for
26     at least 5 continuous years as of January 1 of the taxable

 

 

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1     year, has occupied the same homestead property as a
2     principal residence and domicile if that person received
3     assistance in the acquisition of the property as part of a
4     government or nonprofit housing program; and
5         (2) who has a household income of $100,000 or less if
6     the taxpayer is applying for an exemption under this
7     Section for taxable year 2007, 2008, or 2009.
8     (c) The base homestead value must remain constant, except
9 that the assessor may revise it under any of the following
10 circumstances:
11         (1) If the equalized assessed value of a homestead
12     property for the current tax year is less than the previous
13     base homestead value for that property, then the current
14     equalized assessed value (provided it is not based on a
15     reduced assessed value resulting from a temporary
16     irregularity in the property) becomes the base homestead
17     value in subsequent tax years.
18         (2) For any year in which new buildings, structures, or
19     other improvements are constructed on the homestead
20     property that would increase its assessed value, the
21     assessor shall adjust the base homestead value with due
22     regard to the value added by the new improvements.
23     (d) The amount of the exemption under this Section is the
24 greater of: (i) the equalized assessed value of the homestead
25 property for the current tax year minus the adjusted homestead
26 value; or (ii) the general homestead deduction.

 

 

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1     (e) In the case of an apartment building owned and operated
2 as a cooperative, or as a life care facility, that contains
3 residential units that qualify as homestead property of a
4 qualified taxpayer under this Section, the maximum cumulative
5 exemption amount attributed to the entire building or facility
6 shall not exceed the sum of the exemptions calculated for each
7 unit that is a qualified homestead property. The cooperative
8 association, management firm, or other person or entity that
9 manages or controls the cooperative apartment building or life
10 care facility shall credit the exemption attributable to each
11 residential unit only to the apportioned tax liability of the
12 qualified taxpayer as to that unit. Any person who willfully
13 refuses to so credit the exemption is guilty of a Class B
14 misdemeanor.
15     (f) When married persons maintain separate residences, the
16 exemption provided under this Section may be claimed by only
17 one such person and for only one residence. No person who
18 receives an exemption under Section 15-172 of this Code may
19 receive an exemption under this Section. No person who receives
20 an exemption under this Section may receive an exemption under
21 Section 15-175 or 15-176 of this Code.
22     (g) In the event of a sale or other transfer in ownership
23 of the homestead property between spouses or between a parent
24 and a child, the exemption under this Section remains in effect
25 if the new owner meets the income requirements set forth under
26 this Section for that taxable year has a household income of

 

 

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1 $100,000 or less.
2     (h) In the event of a sale or other transfer in ownership
3 of the homestead property other than subsection (g) of this
4 Section, the exemption under this Section shall remain in
5 effect for the remainder of the tax year and be calculated
6 using the same base homestead value in which the sale or
7 transfer occurs.
8     (i) To receive the exemption, a person must submit an
9 application to the county assessor during the period specified
10 by the county assessor.
11     The county assessor shall annually give notice of the
12 application period by mail or by publication.
13     The taxpayer must submit, with the application, an
14 affidavit of the taxpayer's total household income (if applying
15 in taxable year 2007, 2008, or 2009), marital status (and if
16 married the name and address of the applicant's spouse, if
17 known), and principal dwelling place of members of the
18 household on January 1 of the taxable year. The Department
19 shall establish, by rule, a method for verifying the accuracy
20 of affidavits filed by applicants under this Section, and the
21 Chief County Assessment Officer may conduct audits of any
22 taxpayer claiming an exemption under this Section to verify
23 that the taxpayer is eligible to receive the exemption. Each
24 application shall contain or be verified by a written
25 declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury. A
26 taxpayer's signing a fraudulent application under this Act is

 

 

HB4932 - 19 - LRB096 15669 HLH 30905 b

1 perjury, as defined in Section 32-2 of the Criminal Code of
2 1961. The applications shall be clearly marked as applications
3 for the Long-time Occupant Homestead Exemption and must contain
4 a notice that any taxpayer who receives the exemption is
5 subject to an audit by the Chief County Assessment Officer.
6     (j) Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of the State Mandates
7 Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the
8 implementation of any mandate created by this Section.
9 (Source: P.A. 95-644, eff. 10-12-07.)
 
10     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
11 becoming law.