Rep. William B. Black

Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2004, revenues from the tax that are transferred to the Department of Transportation for distribution shall be distributed as follows: (i) 49.10% (same now) to the municipalities of the State; (ii) 15.15% (now, 16.74%) to the counties of the State having 1,000,000 or more inhabitants; (iii) 18.27% (same now) to the counties of the State having less than 1,000,000 inhabitants; and (iv) 17.48% (now, 15.89%) to the road districts of the State. Effective January 1, 2004.

Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act. Prohibits the Department of Natural Resources from requiring or requesting the Social Security number of any individual applying for or renewing any license or permit issued by the Department.

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Community College Board for the high school equivalency testing program. Effective July 1, 2004.

Amends the School Code. Provides that after June 1, 2005 persons may not be nominated for General Assembly scholarships and that General Assembly scholarships may not be awarded after that date unless the nomination is made prior to that date. Prevents both second nominations for any lapsed General Assembly scholarship and nominating persons to the unused or unexpired parts of any vacated General Assembly scholarship after June 1, 2005. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes a technical change in the Section concerning punitive damages in healing art and legal malpractice cases.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning waivers of School Code mandates.

Amends the Election Code, the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, and the Riverboat Gambling Act. Prohibits a candidate, political committee, or public official from knowingly accepting anything of value from a licensee or applicant for licensure under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 or the Riverboat Gambling Act. Provides that an initial violation is a Class A misdemeanor and a subsequent violation is a Class 4 felony. Prohibits certain persons licensed under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 or the Riverboat Gambling Act from making certain political contributions. Provides that contributions that (i) violate those provisions or (ii) would have violated those provisions if they had been knowingly accepted must be deposited into the State treasury. Provides that an initial violation is a Class A misdemeanor and a subsequent violation is a Class 4 felony.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Appropriates $20,000,000 from the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Fund to the Department of Natural Resources for expenses connected with and to make grants to local governments as provided in the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Effective July 1, 2004.

Creates the Motor Fuel Fair Marketing Practices Act. Prohibits price gouging on the retail sale of motor fuel in response to the occurrence of a disaster. Provides that a violation of the federal Robinson-Patman Act with respect to the retail sale of motor fuel constitutes a violation of this Act. Prohibits the practice of selling motor fuel at retail prices that are below cost, where the effect is to injure or lessen competition. Provides for investigation and enforcement by the Attorney General. Provides for civil penalties for violations. Effective July 1, 2004.