Rep. Lovana Jones

Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the definition of "33 1/3%".

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Requires a peace officer who interrogates a person suspected of committing a capital offense to videotape the interrogation of the suspect. Provides that the videotape is admissible in court in a prosecution of the suspect for a capital offense if the suspect confesses to the capital offense or otherwise makes an admission that may be used in a prosecution of the suspect for the capital offense and if the suspect recants his or her confession or contradicts any admission made to a peace officer. Provides that the failure to videotape the interrogation of the suspect of the capital offense renders any confession or admission made by the suspect inadmissible in court. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a provision concerning rental vehicles.

Amends the Illinois Public Accounting Act. Changes the name of the Board of Examiners to the Board of Accountancy. Makes changes relating to the number of members on the Board, the examination, and Board duties. Provides that the Board shall report annually on its activities. Makes other changes. Changes references to the Board of Accountancy in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 and the Illinois Pension Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Requires a peace officer who interrogates a person suspected of committing a capital offense to videotape the interrogation of the suspect. Provides that the videotape is admissible in court in a prosecution of the suspect for a capital offense if the suspect confesses to the capital offense or otherwise makes an admission that may be used in a prosecution of the suspect for the capital offense and if the suspect recants his or her confession or contradicts any admission made to a peace officer. Provides that the failure to videotape the interrogation of the suspect of the capital offense renders any confession or admission made by the suspect inadmissible in court. Effective immediately.

Creates the Epilepsy Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a provision concerning rental vehicles.

Creates the Banking Development District Act. Creates a program to encourage the establishment of banking branches in locations where there is the greatest need for banking services. Requires the State Treasurer, in consultation with the Office of Banks and Real Estate, to adopt rules that set forth criteria for the establishment of banking development districts. Provides that a municipality or a county, in conjunction with a bank, may apply to the State Treasurer to have property designated as a banking development district. Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a taxing district may abate a portion of the property taxes on a banking branch in an area designated as a banking development district. Places restrictions on granting an abatement to a bank that makes contributions to the Governor or the Treasurer. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that a defendant sentenced to death for first degree murder may request that the Supreme Court determine: (1) whether the sentence was imposed due to some arbitrary factor; (2) whether an independent weighing of the aggravating and mitigating circumstances indicate death was the proper sentence; and (3) whether the sentence of death was excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to increase TANF grant amounts by 15% effective July 1, 2003 and to increase grant amounts on July 1, 2004 and each July 1 thereafter by an amount based on employment cost statistics compiled by the United States Department of Labor. Requires the Department thereafter to report to the Governor and the General Assembly concerning the adequacy of TANF grant amounts to meet families' subsistence needs. Effective July 1, 2003.