Rep. Kurt M. Granberg

Amends the State Finance Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that federal funds received by the Illinois Department of Human Services under Title IV for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families as reimbursement for expenditures made from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) appropriations for costs of providing services in behalf of DCFS clients shall be deposited quarterly into the DCFS Children's Services Fund in amounts specified by interagency agreement between both agencies and the Governor's Office of Management and Budget. (Under current law, 80% of those federal funds shall be deposited into the DCFS Children's Services Fund.) Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Changes, from 21 years of age or over to 18 years of age or over, the age at which a person may apply for and be issued a Firearm Owner's Identification Card without the consent of a parent or legal guardian. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning railroad safety.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act and the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act. Makes various changes and additions regarding: determination of charges for health care services provided to injured workers; processing of payments to health care providers; resolution of disputes concerning charges for health care services; submission of reports by the Industrial Commission concerning health care services; attorney's fees; reimbursement for expenses; nondisputed health care payments; disputed health care payments; reports; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the definition of "week".

Encourages facilities which collect blood and plasma for the fractionation into plasma therapeutic proteins to become certified under the IQPP program and processors to become certified under QSEAL.

Amends the Small Employer Health Insurance Rating Act. Provides that rates established under the Act shall be established on the basis of community-based rates rather than on the basis of experience-based rates.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Adds masonry to the list of work that requires that separate specifications be prepared for all equipment, labor, and materials for building construction contracts in excess of $250,000.

Amends the IMRF Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Increases the regular retirement formula to 2.15% of final earnings per year of service, for service earned on or after July 1, 2003. For service before that date, authorizes augmentation of the old retirement formula by payment of a specified contribution. Increases the normal employee contribution rate by 0.5% of earnings. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.