Rep. Daniel J. Burke

Amends the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act. Provides that the Act applies to gift certificates and gift cards that contain any type of charge or fee including but not limited to service charges, dormancy fees, account maintenance fees, cash-out fees, replacement card fees, and activation or reactivation charges, unless specified exceptions apply.

Amends the Counties Code. Contains provisions regarding the fees that a recorder in a third class county may charge for recording instruments securing an indebtedness in the nature of a mortgage. Provides that there shall be no additional charge if the document being released was recorded after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly. Effective immediately.

Creates the Childhood Hunger Relief Act and amends the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act. Requires the board of education for certain school districts to utilize available federal funding to establish a school breakfast program and a summer food service program. Provides that applications for participation in the school food programs shall be filed with the State Board of Education and information about the child's status shall be provided by the Department of Human Services upon written request. Makes changes concerning the breakfast incentive program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act to require coverage for services rendered by assistants in surgery. Effective immediately.

Creates the Physical Fitness Facility Medical Emergency Preparedness Act. Requires various physical fitness facilities, including (i) facilities owned or operated by a unit of local government or by a school, college, or university, (ii) golf courses, and (iii) health or fitness clubs, to develop and implement a plan for responding to medical emergencies and to file a copy of the plan with the Department of Public Health. Requires each such facility to have on its premises at least one automated external defibrillator (AED) and a trained AED user. Authorizes the Department of Public Health to inspect physical fitness facilities to investigate complaints and to ensure compliance with the Act. Authorizes the Department to impose monetary penalties for violations of the Act. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act to provide a tax exemption for private physical fitness facilities in connection with the purchase of AEDs.

Amends the Mortgage Act. Raises the penalty for failure to release property that was secured by a mortgage within one month of the payment of the debt to $500 (from $200). Provides for a $2,000 penalty against a mortgagee or trustee for the failure to release property that was secured by a mortgage within one month of the payment of the debt and for which the mortgagee or trustee charged or collected a fee for recording the release. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Reduces the eligibility requirement for occupational disease disability benefits, from 10 years of service to 5. Adds benefits for HIV infection and hepatitis. Removes the limitation that the occupational disease result solely from service as a fireman. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Creates the Certified Surgical First Assistant and Certified Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Restricted Call Registry Act. Makes changes in the definitions of "established business relationship" and "telephone solicitation". Deletes the definition of "existing customer". Effective immediately.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Makes it an unlawful practice to sell a gift certificate or gift card that contains an expiration date, with specified exceptions. Provides that gift certificates and gift cards are redeemable in cash or subject to replacement at no cost. Applies to gift certificates and gift cards sold on or after July 1, 2004.