Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that if a defendant is accused of child pornography or aggravated child pornography or the defendant is accused of first degree murder or second degree murder when the commission of the offense involves sexual penetration or sexual conduct, evidence of the defendant's commission of another such offense or evidence to rebut that proof or an inference from that proof, may be admissible (if that evidence is otherwise admissible under the rules of evidence) and may be considered for its bearing on any matter to which it is relevant. Provides that (1) testimony by the victim of an out of court statement made by the victim that he or she complained of such act to another; and (2) testimony of an out of court statement made by the victim describing any complaint of such act or matter or detail pertaining to any act which is an element of an offense which is the subject of a prosecution for a sexual or physical act against that victim are admissible as exceptions to the hearsay rule in prosecutions for any sex offense as defined in the Sex Offender Registration Act.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning presumption of innocence and proof of guilt.
Creates the Internet Dating Disclosure and Safety Awareness Act. Requires an online dating service provider offering services to residents of this State to disclose clearly and conspicuously, to any member who provides a billing address or a zip code in this State when registering with the provider, that the online dating provider either initiates a background check of felony and sex offense convictions on each member prior to permitting any member to communicate with a member in this State or that the online dating service provider does not initiate such a background check. Provides language concerning the disclosures. Requires an online dating service provider that conducts criminal background checks to post a safety awareness notification and provides required language for that notification. Provides that failure to comply with the disclosure requirements of the Act shall constitute an unlawful business practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that each failure to provide the required disclosure constitutes a separate violation. Provides for civil penalties. Creates the Internet Dating Disclosure and Safety Awareness Act Fund as a special fund in the State treasury, to be used by the Office of the Attorney General for enforcement of the Act. Amends the State Finance Act and the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make conforming changes. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Adds, to the list of activities that are exempt from the offense of gambling, an offer of prizes, awards, or compensation to contestants in a bona fide contest between 2 or more individuals participating in (1) an electronic video game simulating a contest requiring skill, experience, dexterity, and precision in which the element of chance does not predominate or (2) an electronic video game requiring speed and accuracy of response to factual questions in which the element of chance does not predominate; but not including card games and simulated card games and not including any gambling game or activity of the type conducted under the Bingo Licensing Act, the Illinois Lottery Law, the Raffles Act, the Charitable Games Act, the Illinois Pull Tabs and Jar Games Act, or the Riverboat Gambling Act.
Congratulates Dennis Myers on the occasion of his retirement as Vice President and General Counsel for the Midwest Area at Verizon Wireless.
Amends the Title Insurance Act. Creates a definition of "residential real property". Provides that no provider of title insurance shall, as a condition of making a loan, providing services of any kind, including, but not limited to, services as a broker, agent or lender, or otherwise, require a party to a contract for the sale of residential real property who is obligated by that contract to pay for title insurance to procure such insurance from a title insurance company or agent other than a title insurance company or title insurance agent that is chosen by the party paying for such insurance. Provides that unless otherwise agreed by the parties to a contract for the sale of residential real property, in any transaction concerning the sale and purchase of residential real property where the purchaser has obtained purchase money financing that is contemplated to be secured by a lien or liens in the nature of a purchase money mortgage or mortgages, the owner's title insurance policy and the lender's title insurance policy shall be provided by the same title insurance company or title insurance agent. Provides that in any transaction concerning the sale and purchase of residential real property the title insurance company, title insurance agent, escrow agent, and independent escrowee shall disclose in writing to the parties, to their attorneys, or within the contract, all costs and charges that are made by such title insurance company, title insurance agent, escrow agent, or independent escrowee and that are related to settlement services, title insurance, or lender endorsement requirements, not less than 10 days prior to the date of settlement. Provides that any such cost or charge that is not disclosed as provided herein shall not be required to be paid by any party to the transaction. Effective immediately.
Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Adds members of a school board, the Chicago Board of Education, or the governing body of a private school as mandated reporters. Provides that any person who knowingly and willfully violates any mandated-reporter provision of the Act other than a second or subsequent violation of transmitting a false report is guilty of a Class 4 felony (instead of a Class A misdemeanor) for a first violation and a Class 3 (instead of Class 4) felony for a second or subsequent violation. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Provides that a non-public elementary or secondary school may not obtain "Non-public School Recognition" status unless (i) the school requires all applicants for employment with the school, after July 1, 2007, to authorize a fingerprint-based criminal history records check as a condition of employment to determine if such applicants have been convicted of specified criminal or drug offenses and (ii) the school performs a check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database for each applicant for employment, after July 1, 2007, to determine whether the applicant has been adjudicated a sex offender. Provides that no non-public school may obtain recognition status that knowingly employs a person, hired after July 1, 2007, for whom a Department of State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint-based criminal history records check and a Statewide Sex Offender Database check has not been initiated or who has been convicted of certain criminal or drug offenses. Contains provisions concerning a fee for the criminal history records check and reimbursement, confidentiality, and checks of employees of persons or firms holding contracts with the school. Effective July 1, 2007.
Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions concerning service for employment in public schools and other public employment, replaces references to service in the military forces with references to service in a capacity essentially similar or equivalent to that of a teacher. Deletes a provision requiring the Board of Trustees of the State Universities Retirement System to have the System's actuary prepare a report showing the actual rate of participation in the self-managed plan and the extent to which employee optional retirement plan participation has reduced the State's required contributions to the System. Provides that, in addition to warrants and checks, the State Comptroller and payroll officers may use an electronic funds transfer to pay employees. Repeals a provision encouraging the System to use emerging investment managers, minority-owned businesses, female-owned businesses, and business owned by persons with disabilities in managing the system's assets. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Congratulates Steve O'Neal and Dawn Huckelbridge as they marry on August 11, 2007.