Rep. Lou Lang

Provides for the ratification of the proposed equal rights amendment to the United States Constitution.

Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the State Loan Act and amends the Uncollected State Claims Act and the Illinois State Collections Act of 1986. Provides that before any State loan may be made or renewed to any person the name of the person must be made public. Provides that the person must personally guarantee repayment of the loan. Prohibits certain contracts with a person who is in default on any State loan. Provides that all contributions made by the person in the past 5 years must be disclosed. Provides that the Attorney General shall investigate any default on a State loan. Provides that the provisions of the Uncollected State Claims Act and the Illinois State Collection Act of 1986 must be met before any renegotiation or forgiveness of a State loan. Provides that the Attorney General shall report to the General Assembly certain information regarding State loans. Effective immediately.

Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Requires a comprehensive health education program to include instruction in secondary schools on clinical depression and suicide prevention.

Creates the State Loan Act to provide that the name of the person loaned State money must be made public. Amends the Illinois Department of Revenue Sunshine Act. Authorizes the Department to disclose information about delinquent taxpayers after giving at least 90 days notice of intent to disclose the information. Amends the State Finance Act and the Illinois State Collection Act of 1986. Requires that the Auditor General establish a Debt Collection Unit for the collection of overdue debts owed to the State. Beginning July 1, 2004, requires State agencies other than universities to determine the uncollectibility of debts using rules adopted by the Auditor General and to turn over to the Debt Collection Unit debts more than 90 days overdue. Authorizes the Auditor General to contract with private collection entities to pursue debts determined to be uncollectible. Requires the Auditor General to report semi-annually to the General Assembly and State Comptroller upon debts owed to the State and upon collection efforts. Abolishes in 2004 the Debt Collection Board, the Comptroller's use of special account receivable funds, and the use of private collection services by individual State agencies. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, the Non-Support Punishment Act, and the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984. Provides that for the purposes of enforcement of a child support order a transfer made by a child support obligor is fraudulent as to an obligee if the obligor made the transfer with the intent to defraud the obligee or without receiving equivalent value for the transfer. Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act to provide that a person who willfully defaults on an order for child support may be subject to summary criminal contempt proceedings. Amends the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act. Provides that, upon request by a tribunal of another state, a tribunal of this State shall issue or cause to be issued a subpoena or a subpoena duces tecum requiring a person in this State to appear at a deposition or before a tribunal and answer questions or produce documents or other tangible things for the purpose of obtaining information regarding the person's assets, income, and ability to pay a support order or judgment entered in the other state. Effective immediately.

Amends the Toll Highway Act. Requires the Toll Highway Authority to appoint an Inspector General to investigate waste, fraud, or financial mismanagement in Authority operations involving Authority employees or contractors. Provides for the Inspector General's powers and duties. Makes failure to cooperate in specified ways with the investigation a Class A misdemeanor. Requires the Authority to use all surplus revenues to fund construction or repairs before issuing bonds to finance those activities. Requires the Authority to structure financing of new tollways and refinancing of debt to facilitate conversion of tollways into free State highways. Requires the Authority to report a schedule of that conversion to the Governor and General Assembly every 2 years. Effective immediately.

Amends the Bingo License and Tax Act. Eliminates the tax on bingo games imposed pursuant to the Act. Effective July 1, 2003.

Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Increases by a multiple of 5 the liability insurance coverage that a driver must carry in order to be exempt from the requirement of posting security after an accident involving death, bodily injury, or more than $500 in damage to the property of any one person. Requires the following minimum coverage amounts: (i) $100,000 for a motor vehicle accident resulting in the bodily injury to or death of one person, (ii) $200,000 for a motor vehicle accident resulting in the bodily injury to or death of 2 or more persons, and (iii) $75,000 for a motor vehicle accident resulting in injury to or destruction of property of others. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning customer information centers.