Amends the Illinois Health Care Finance Reform Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to require all ambulatory surgical treatment centers licensed to operate in the State (now, the requirement applies only to hospitals licensed to operate in the State) to adopt a uniform system for submitting patient charges for payment from public and private payors and to electronically submit certain patient billing data to the Department for public disclosure. Makes corresponding changes in provisions concerning the process for review, adjustment, and validation of the publicly disclosed information. Requires the Department to collect and compile certain billing data from ambulatory surgical treatment centers according to certain standards by January 1, 2006 (or by January 1, 2007 for centers or physicians with fewer than 25 employees). Effective January 1, 2005.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the State Finance Act. Provides that the Secretary of State shall issue a driver's license to an applicant who is an immigrant and ineligible for a social security number if the applicant has met specified requirements. Provides that the applicant must pay a higher fee for original issuance of a drivers license. Creates the Secretary of State Immigrant License Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that $50 of the applicant's fee for original issuance of a driver's license shall be deposited into the fund. Provides that the Secretary of State shall, subject to appropriation, use the moneys deposited into the fund to pay for the additional costs of processing the applications of these applicants. Provides that the provision does not affect the issuance of commercial driver's licenses or school bus driver permits under the Vehicle Code or of State identification cards under the Illinois Identification Card Act. Provides that the Secretary of State shall provide that there shall be a clear and distinct visual difference between driver's licenses issued to individuals without social security numbers and driver's licenses issued to individuals with social security numbers. Provides that the Secretary of State shall, in conjunction with the Illinois State Police, establish administrative procedures for determining and identifying ineligible Firearm Owner's Identification Card applicants through information provided to the Secretary of State, through the driver's license application process, to ensure compliance with the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2005.
Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that the court may find that appointing a person convicted of a felony to act as the guardian of a minor or disabled person may be in the best interest of the minor or disabled person. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Clean Indoor Air Act. Repeals a Section providing that a home rule or non-home rule unit of local government in this State shall not have the power and authority to regulate smoking in public places.
Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act of 1987. Provides for the registration of foreign mail-order pharmacies as nonresident pharmacies if specified disclosures and certifications are provided and the pharmacies are located in a foreign country, state, or province whose pharmacy laws and regulations have been determined by the Department of Professional Regulation to be substantially similar to those of the State of Illinois and whose regulatory scheme for approval and quality control of prescription drugs has been found by the Department to be substantially equivalent to that of the State of Illinois and the federal government. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the clerk of the circuit court shall notify the Secretary of State if any resident of this State makes only a partial payment of any traffic, fine, penalty, and cost imposed for a violation of the Code. Deletes language providing that a partial payment is not a sufficient basis for notification of the Secretary.
Amends the School Code. Prohibits a public school from selling, offering for sale, or otherwise offering or providing soft drinks to pupils at school at any time, with exceptions. Prohibits a public school from maintaining or allowing to be maintained a vending machine that is located at a school or on school grounds, that sells soft drinks, and that is accessible to pupils, with exceptions. Provides for a penalty.
Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Authorizes the Department of Human Rights to charge fees to private companies for training offered by the Department's Institute for Training and Development. Provides that the fees shall be paid into the Department of Human Rights Training and Development Fund, a new special fund in the State treasury (and amends the State Finance Act to list the new fund as a special fund). Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used to enhance the quality of the Department's training services, make training available at no cost to agency employees, other State agencies and instrumentalities of the State, community organizations, colleges and universities, and other groups and organizations in Illinois, and make training available to private companies for a fee. Effective January 1, 2005.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person who holds an instruction permit, or a person who has held a driver's license for less than one year, may not use a wireless telephone while driving a vehicle. Provides that a person who is not subject to those prohibitions may use a wireless telephone while driving if he or she obeys all traffic laws. Provides that if a person permitted to use a wireless telephone commits a traffic violation while using a wireless telephone, he or she is guilty of an additional violation and subject to an additional fine. Provides that a violation is a petty offense punishable by a fine of not more than $79. Provides that a violation of the provision or a similar provision of a local ordinance is an offense against laws or ordinances regulating the movement of traffic. Provides that the provision does not apply to the use of a wireless telephone for emergency purposes.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the definition of "conviction".
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes a technical change in a Section relating to the applicability of the common law.
Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
