Rep. Jay Hoffman

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that vehicles properly registered in another state and displaying a valid registration plate are required to undergo safety inspection if they are vehicles of a contract carrier transporting employees in the course of their employment on a highway of this State in a vehicle designed to carry 15 or fewer passengers.

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title of the Act.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Authorizes the Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District to use "quick-take" eminent domain proceedings from September 1, 2003 through September 1, 2004 for station area development, transit oriented development and economic development initiatives in support of the MetroLink Light Rail System, beginning in East St. Louis, Illinois, and terminating at MidAmerica Airport, St. Clair County, Illinois. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Authorizes an attachment against the property of a debtor who has been referred by the Department of Corrections to the Attorney General (instead of who is a defendant in a suit brought by the Attorney General) in connection with the reimbursement of the Department for the expenses of the debtor's incarceration.

Amends the Bi-State Development Agency Act. Provides that upon the expiration of a term or of a vacancy in the office of commissioner, the County Board Chairman of either Madison County or St. Clair County (instead of the Governor) shall appoint a replacement. Provides procedures for appointments.

Amends the Illinois Aeronautics Act. Makes a technical change in a Section regarding airports.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961 and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that if a defendant commits reckless homicide in a construction or maintenance zone and kills a person working in the zone, the defendant is guilty of a Class 2 felony and, if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, shall be sentenced to not less than 6 years and not more than 28 years. Provides that speeding in a construction or maintenance zone when workers were present shall be presumed to be evidence of a reckless act unless disproved by evidence to the contrary. Creates the offense of aggravated reckless driving in a construction or maintenance zone, a Class 3 felony. Provides that a person commits the offense if he or she drives in a construction zone with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property and as a result causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to a person working in the zone. Provides that speeding in a construction or maintenance zone when workers were present and causing serious injury to a worker shall be presumed to be evidence that the person was driving with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property unless disproved by evidence to the contrary.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Extends the partial exemption from the taxes imposed by these Acts on gasohol to December 31, 2013 (now ends on July 1, 2003), gradually reducing the partial exemption to zero after December 31, 2013. Partially exempts E85 blend fuel and bio-diesel blend fuel in the same amount and according to the same schedule as gasohol. Provides that if, at any time, the tax under these Acts on gasohol, E85 blend fuel, and bio-diesel blend fuel is imposed at 1.25%, then the partial exemption of the tax on those items does not apply during that time. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning commencement of actions and forms of process.

Urges the U.S. Congress to institute programs to develop passenger rail transportation in the United States.