Amends the IMRF Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a person who is an active participant in the Judges Retirement System and who has begun receiving a retirement annuity under the IMRF Article may cancel his or her retirement annuity by (1) filing a written election with IMRF and (2) paying to the fund an amount equal to the amount of retirement benefits he or she has received under IMRF, plus interest. Upon cancellation of a retirement annuity, IMRF shall restore the service credits that the person had on the books with IMRF at the time he or she last left service. Provides that restored credits may be used for any of the purposes of the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that for Lincoln Land Community College the election of board of trustee members shall be by trustee district rather than at large beginning with the consolidated election in 2005. Provides that the term of each trustee elected before the effective date of the amendatory Act shall end on the date that the trustees elected in 2005 are officially determined. Provides for 4-year and 2-year terms (rather than 6). Makes related changes.
Creates the Commercial Agricultural Production Contract Improvement Code. Contains only a short title provision.
Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a municipality with a population of 2,000,000 or more is prohibited from enforcing judgments for ordinance violations by imposing or enforcing liens or by obtaining or enforcing garnishments or wage deductions. Preempts home rule powers.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning construction of the Code.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a tax checkoff for the American Diabetes Foundation Research Fund. Further amends the State Finance Act to create the Fund. Amends the Department of Human Services Act to provide that the Department shall provide grants to the American Diabetes Foundation for diabetes research from appropriations to the Department from the American Diabetes Foundation Research Fund. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that Illinois Identification Cards and Illinois Disabled Person Identification Cards (beginning January 1, 2004, instead of January 1, 2003) and Illinois driver's licenses issued to a person under the age of 21 must display the date upon which the person becomes 19 (instead of 18) years of age. Amends the Sale of Tobacco to Minors Act, the Smokeless Tobacco Limitation Act, and the Tobacco Accessories and Smoking Herbs Act. Changes the short title of the Sale of Tobacco to Minors Act to the Sale of Tobacco to Underage Persons Act, and changes the full titles of all 3 Acts. Changes references to "minors" to "persons under 19 years of age". Increases from 18 to 19 the age at which a person may lawfully buy cigarettes or other tobacco products, tobacco accessories, or smoking herbs. Effective January 1, 2004.
Amends the Election Code. Permits election authorities to prepare and provide special consolidated primary election absentee ballots that permit instant run-off voting for absentee voters in the United States military or outside the United States on the consolidated primary and consolidated election days. Requires the State Board of Elections to adopt implementing rules.
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning investments in rate base.
Amends the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Illinois AgriFIRST Program Act of 2001. Adds a definition for "research".
Creates the Medical Malpractice Reform Study Act and the Blue Ribbon Commission on Medical Malpractice Reform. Provides for composition of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall study the advisability of implementing an alternative system for the resolution of medical malpractice disputes that incorporates elements of the workers' compensation system, including but not limited to the administrative adjudication of disputes by qualified arbitrators, and shall also consider funding mechanisms, constitutional and other legal issues, economic issues, and other matters. Provides that the Commission shall report its findings and specific recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than March 1, 2005. Effective July 1, 2004.
