Rep. Lou Lang

Creates the State Appointee Contract Prohibition Act and amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Prohibits an appointed member of a board, commission, authority, or task force authorized or created by State law, and entities in which the appointee has majority ownership or managerial responsibility, from having contracts with the State, units of local government, and school districts that relate to the entity to which he or she is appointed. Applies to the spouse and immediate family members of an appointee. Applies during and for one year after the person's term of office. Makes violation a business offense punishable by a $1,000 minimum and $5,000 maximum fine.

Amends the Toll Highway Act. Prohibits directors of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and their employees and agents from receiving financial benefit from the letting of Authority contracts during their terms of service and for a period of one year following termination of their positions or employment with the Authority. Extends this prohibition to the immediate family or household members of the directors, employees, and agents of the Authority. Prohibits those persons from using material non-public information obtained as a result of their positions with the Authority or their family or household members' positions for their personal financial benefit and prohibits them from disclosing that information to others.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to allow individual taxpayers, 65 years of age or older, a deduction for unreimbursed amounts spent on home health care services. Applicable to tax years ending on or after December 31, 2003. Sunsets the deduction after 10 years. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the State Finance Act. Provides that any school bus operating in the State must display a toll free number that may be contacted to report improper operation of a school bus. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Secretary of State shall adopt rules establishing the toll free number, procedures for responding to the reports, and procedures for forwarding the reports to school and law enforcement officials. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Secretary of State shall establish a division exclusively dedicated to receiving, investigating, and pursuing school bus complaints and conducting administrative hearings relative to these complaints. Establishes the School Bus Toll Free Hotline Fund as a special fund in the State treasury and provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used to implement the new provisions.

Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department, with respect to the positions that are devoted to establishing, collecting, or prosecuting overdue taxes, (i) to fill all positions authorized by appropriation for fiscal year 2004 and (ii) by January 1, 2005, to fill an additional 200 positions. Effectively immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a person who is employed by a municipality that (i) has at least 35 employees on its effective date of participation, (ii) is located within a county with at least 2,000,000 inhabitants; and (iii) maintains an independent defined benefit pension plan for the benefit of its employees shall not be considered a participating employee under the Fund, unless he or she files an irrevocable election to participate within 90 days after the municipality's effective date of participation. Provides that a municipality that (i) has at least 35 employees on its effective date of participation, (ii) is located within a county with at least 2,000,000 inhabitants; and (iii) maintains an independent defined benefit pension plan for the benefit of its employees may restrict creditable service for an employee's periods of prior service if the municipality adopts an irrevocable resolution and files that resolution with the board. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to provide that a law enforcement officer has the power to issue citations for violations of the provisions concerning the approaching, overtaking, and passing of a school bus. Provides that a law enforcement officer may demand a statement from the owner of a vehicle alleged to have been involved in this type of violation if the owner was not driving the vehicle at the time of the violation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning legal disability.

Amends the Election Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning office hours for filing nomination petitions.

Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Decreases the wagering tax that is set to take effect beginning on the earliest of (i) July 1, 2005; (ii) the first date after June 20, 2003 that riverboat gambling operations are conducted pursuant to a dormant owners license, or (iii) the first date that riverboat gambling operations are conducted under the authority of an owners license that is in addition to the 10 owners licenses initially authorized under the Act. Authorizes the issuance of 2 owners licenses that are in addition to the 10 licenses currently authorized under the Act. Provides that one of the new licenses shall authorize riverboat gambling from a home dock in a municipality with a population of at least 500,000 inhabitants and shall be issued to the governing body of that municipality. Provides that the municipality shall conduct an auction and grant the authority to operate riverboat gambling operations to the highest bidder. Provides that the other new licensee shall operate from a home dock in a specified portion of suburban Cook County. Provides for a special distribution of a portion of the tax moneys generated by the 2 new owners licenses. Increases the number of participants a licensee may admit from 1,200 to 2,000. Provides that the Gaming Board shall determine the number of persons that may be admitted into the facilities of the licensee authorized to operate from a home dock located in a municipality with at least 500,000 inhabitants, up to a limit of 4,000. Provides for a specialized revenue distribution for the riverboats that dock in suburban Cook County. Deletes provisions requiring the payment of moneys from the State Gaming Fund to the Horse Racing Equity Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the South Suburban Assistance Fund. Effective immediately.