Rep. Bob Rita

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that, if a seller, manufacturer, distributor, or other person offers a rebate on the retail purchase of a product in this State, the rebate must be given to the consumer by the seller at the time the consumer purchases the product, in the form of a reduction of the selling price. Provides that a seller, manufacturer, distributor, or other person that offers a rebate on the retail purchase of a product in this State may not impose, as a condition of receiving the rebate, a requirement that the consumer submit, by mail or any other means, any proof of purchase, receipt, form, documentation, or other information or tangible thing after purchasing the product. Provides that a violation is an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Exempts from an eavesdropping violation, recordings made simultaneously with a security video recording by a fixed, publicly visible camera in vehicles used by authorized public mass transit districts in the normal course of public transportation; provided, the audio recordings are confined to the passenger boarding or driver areas of the vehicle, or both, and a sign is posted in clear view of the boarding passengers indicating that both audio and video are being recorded.

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to implement and administer a student achievement improvement grant program to provide 2-year grants to school districts on the academic watch list and other school districts that have the lowest achieving students. Requires a school district to establish an accountability program in order to receive a grant. Requires a grant to be automatically renewed when achievement goals are met. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Makes a technical change to a Section concerning zoning requirements for a telecommunications carrier facility.

Amends the Illinois Loan Brokers Act of 1995. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights Act. Allows a taxpayer to sue the Department of Revenue if the Department negligently (now intentionally or recklessly) disregards tax laws or regulations in collecting taxes. Creates a certified public accountant-client or public accountant-client privilege for non-criminal proceedings before the Department. Provides that in the case of a taxpayer receiving a protestable notice, a bill, a claim denial, or a reduction of a refund regarding any tax, the taxpayer's position shall be presumed to be the correct position and the burden of proof shall be on the Department to prove otherwise. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act, the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, the Cigarette Tax Act, the Cigarette Use Tax Act, the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act, the Motor Fuel Tax Law, the Coin-Operated Amusement Device and Redemption Machine Tax Act, the Cannabis and Controlled Substances Tax Act, the Messages Tax Act, the Gas Revenue Tax Act, the Public Utilities Revenue Act, the Water Company Invested Capital Tax Act, the Telecommunications Excise Tax Act, and the Uniform Penalty and Interest Act to make corresponding changes. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to create a civil action against the Department for the knowing or negligent disclosure of confidential information. Provides penalties. Amends the Illinois Public Accounting Act to make changes regarding confidentiality. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Public Aid may not establish any formulary limits on, or restrict by any prior authorization requirement, any insulin prescription drug as prescribed and determined to be medically necessary for the treatment of diabetes. Effective July 1, 2004.

Amends the Counties Code and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act. Requires counties located within the area served by the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission and having a population over 400,000 to enter into intergovernmental agreements setting standards to control stormwater runoff so as not to cause flood damage in adjacent counties. Directs the Department of Transportation, upon petition, to adopt the standards if an agreement is not created. Provides for the adoption and implementation of a Cook County stormwater management plan by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Authorizes the District to implement the plan throughout the county. Authorizes the District to impose fees on areas outside the District but within the County. Authorizes a special tax levy for stormwater management purposes and reduces the District's authorized tax levy for general corporate purposes by a corresponding amount. Preempts some home rule powers. Amends the Property Tax Code to exclude the stormwater management tax from the tax caps imposed under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law. Effective immediately.

Creates the Public Service Accountability Act. Sets out the requirements for privatization contracts between contractors and State agencies. Provides for the monitoring and enforcement of privatization contracts. Establishes fines and prison sentences for a violation of certain Sections of the Act. Effective immediately.