Requests the Department of Human Services to report to the General Assembly certain information relating to developmentally disabled persons.
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that, whenever any former customer is entitled to reconnection or whenever any former residential customer whose gas or electric service was used to provide or control the primary source of space heating in the dwelling is entitled to reconnection because the former customer's account has been paid in full, the gas or electric utility shall complete the reconnection within 48 hours of the time that the former customer first becomes eligible for reconnection. Effective immediately.
Amends the Collection Agency Act. Provides that a collection agency may not impose a fee or charge for any child support payments collected through the efforts of a State or local governmental agency. Provides that a collection agency may not impose a fee or charge for the collection of child support payments that exceeds 25% of the amount of child support actually collected by the collection agency.
Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that the arrest, conviction, and court records of a person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor shall be expunged and sealed automatically after completion of his or her sentence, if certain conditions apply. Provides that the arrest, conviction, and court records of a person convicted of a Class 4 felony, other than a sex crime or crime of violence, shall be automatically expunged after completion of the person's sentence, if certain conditions apply. Requires the State Appellate Defender to establish an expungement information program. Provides that upon the entry of an expungement order, the person, for purposes of the law, shall be considered not to have been previously convicted. Provides that the past conviction of a person who has been pardoned with respect to the conviction and the records relative to the arrest and underlying conduct cannot be considered by any private or public entity in employment matters, certification, licensing, revocation, registration, in determining good character, or any other matter, whether obtained through the official records of the arrest or obtained from other sources. Divulging an expunged record is a Class B misdemeanor.
Amends the State Comptroller Act. Requires State agencies, except for certain situations or when a waiver is granted, to make payments by electronic funds transfer. Requires the Comptroller to adopt rules. Effective January 1, 2004.
Amends the Use Tax Act and the Service Use Tax Act. Provides that Department of Revenue is authorized to contract with credit card issuers to collect the tax imposed by these Acts on Internet sales, phone order sales, and direct-mail sales. If a credit card issuer enters into such a contract with the Department, the issuer must state as a separate item on the monthly bill to customers the tax charged under these Acts. A credit card issuer is entitled to reduce the amount of the tax collected under these Acts that it remits to the Department by the amount of costs incurred by the company to collect the tax or 4% of the revenue generated from the sale on which the tax is collected, whichever is greater. Effective immediately.
Appropriates $3,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for HIV/AIDS prevention and education services in communities of color. Effective July 1, 2004.
Amends the Illinois Notary Public Act. Requires notaries to maintain a chronological journal of notarial acts. Exempts military veterans and public safety personnel from fees for notarizations of documents relating to benefits resulting from their employment. Imposes certain requirements for establishing the identity or persons seeking notarization and witnesses to notarizations.
Amends the School Code. Creates the Professional Teacher Standards Board consisting of 11 members appointed by the Governor to administer the Article of the School Code governing the certification of teachers and other certificated school personnel and the approval of teacher and administrator preparation programs. Gives the Professional Teacher Standards Board all powers and duties currently exercised by the State Board of Education and the State Teacher Certification Board with respect to administration of the certification and program approval process, and abolishes the State Teacher Certification Board. Authorizes the Professional Teacher Standards Board to employ an Executive Director and such other staff members as are necessary to exercise its powers and duties and carry out its functions. Provides that a Standard Certificate may be renewed based on proof of professional development (instead of on proof of continuing education or professional development). Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2003.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that an offender who has not been convicted more than once for a felony may apply to the court or the Prisoner Review Board to seek a certificate of relief from disabilities as relates to bars to employment or licensure or forfeiture of property imposed as a result of the offender's conviction. Exempts certain sex offenses, weapons offenses, crimes of violence, DUI, and certain crimes against children. Establishes procedures and criteria for seeking and obtaining that relief. Also permits the Prisoner Review Board to issue certificates of good conduct to relieve an offender of a disability or bar to employment imposed by law by reason of the offender's conviction. Effective immediately.
