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.
Creates the Corporate Location Efficiency Task Force to study and report on the issues of jobsite locations and the commute time and cost of housing issues for employees across the State.
Amends the Wholesale Drug Distribution Licensing Act. Makes technical changes to a Section concerning social security numbers on license applications.
Amends the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, and Locksmith Act of 1993. Makes a technical change to a Section concerning home rule preemption.
Appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Transportation for grants to the Village of Washington Park for street repair and construction. Effective July 1, 2003.
Appropriates $5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for fast growth grants. Effective July 1, 2004.
Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in the State aid formula provisions concerning the computation of general State aid.
Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Counties Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning boundaries.
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Prohibits a victim of domestic violence from furnishing any part of any security for bail in a criminal case or proceeding for any alleged repeat offender alleged to have caused the abuse against the victim and from acting as surety for the alleged repeat offender admitted to bail. Provides that the provision is applicable even if an order of protection has not been issued against the alleged repeat offender.
Amends the Workers' Compensation Act and the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act. Provides that, for purposes of those Acts, "...an injury (or disease) arises out of the employment if the injury (or disease) would not have occurred but for the fact that the conditions or obligations of the employment placed the employee in the position where the employee was injured (or exposed to the disease) by a neutral force. A neutral force is a force that is neither personal to the employee nor distinctly associated with the employment." Effective immediately.
Amends the Clerks of Courts Act. Makes technical changes in a Section regarding the office hours of the clerks of courts.
