Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Provides that self-employed persons and small businesses may be provided group health coverage under the Act. Limits small businesses to those with 25 or fewer employees. Amends the State Finance Act to provide for payments made on behalf of the small business employees to be deposited into the Small Employers Health Insurance Reserve Fund. Effective January 1, 2004.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes a technical change to a Section concerning regulations.
Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Community College Board for its FY05 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2004.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the granting of quick-take eminent domain powers to rail carriers.
Amends the State Aid Continuing Appropriation Law. Makes the Law applicable to fiscal year 2004 and each fiscal year thereafter. Provides that if the General Assembly fails to make Common School Fund appropriations to the State Board of Education in fiscal year 2004 and in each fiscal year thereafter sufficient to fund the general State aid, supplemental general State aid, and supplementary grants in aid provisions of the State aid formula, the Law shall constitute an irrevocable and continuing appropriation from the Common School Fund of all amounts necessary for those purposes. Removes a provision that provides for the Law's repeal on June 30, 2003. Effective immediately.
Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for its FY05 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2004.
Amends the Simplified Municipal Telecommunications Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning legislative intent.
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Makes a technical change in the Section relating to preservation of physical evidence by law enforcement agencies and State's Attorney's offices.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Changes the standards that the court shall apply to determine if a witness qualifies as an expert witness as follows: (i) whether the witness is board certified or board eligible in the same medical specialties as the defendant and is familiar with the same medical problems or the type of treatment administered in the case (instead of the same relationship of the medical specialties of the witness to the medical problem and the type of treatment in the case); (ii) whether the witness has devoted 75% (instead of a substantial portion) of his or her time to the practice of medicine, teaching, or university-based research in relation to the medical care and type of treatment at issue; and (iii) whether the witness is licensed by any state or the District of Columbia (instead of just licensed). Provides that an expert witness shall provide proof of active practice, teaching, or engagement in university-based research. Provides that, if retired, an expert must provide proof of attendance and completion of continuing education courses for the 3 years previous to giving testimony. Provides that an expert who has not actively practiced, taught, or been engaged in university based research within the 10 years previous to giving testimony may not be qualified as an expert witness.
Amends the Truth in Taxation Law of the Property Tax Code. Provides that the required notice of the public hearing on a proposed tax levy must state the dollar amount of the final aggregate levy as extended, plus the amount abated by the taxing district prior to the extension (now, dollar amount) of the property taxes extended for debt service and public building commission leases for the preceding year.
Amends the Illinois Private Activity Bond Allocation Act. Requires that, for any private activity bonds issued from bond volume cap designed for the State Agency Pool or the Local Government Pool, the issuer of the bonds must file an annual report to the Governor and to the General Assembly. Sets forth information to be contained in the report.
Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Makes a technical change in a provision concerning establishment.
