Rep. Kevin A. McCarthy

Amends the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the University Credit and Retail Sales Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Higher Education Institution Credit and Retail Sales Act. Defines "State institution of higher learning" to mean a university, college, community college, or junior college in this State that is publicly supported by taxes levied and collected within the State on income, sales, or property. Provides that "State institution of higher learning" does not include a private institution of higher education as that term is defined in the Illinois Educational Facilities Authority Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Teachers Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides a program of early retirement incentives for certain employees. Allows purchase of up to 5 years of age enhancement and creditable service. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning State grants.

Amends the State Aid Continuing Appropriation Law. Makes the Law applicable to fiscal year 2004 and each fiscal year thereafter. Provides that if the General Assembly fails to make Common School Fund appropriations to the State Board of Education in fiscal year 2004 and in each fiscal year thereafter sufficient to fund the general State aid, supplemental general State aid, and supplementary grants in aid provisions of the State aid formula, the Law shall constitute an irrevocable and continuing appropriation from the Common School Fund of all amounts necessary for those purposes. Removes a provision that provides for the Law's repeal on June 30, 2003. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes technical changes in Sections concerning community antenna television systems.

Creates the Supreme Court Campaign Reform Act. Provides that candidates for the Supreme Court may apply for a public financing benefit in connection with their campaign. Sets the amount of the private financing benefit at $750,000 for the primary general election cycle. Sets requirements for qualifying for the public financing benefits. Limits the amount of private contributions qualified candidates may accept. Limits the amounts that non-participating candidates may accept from private sources during campaign periods to $1,000 in the aggregate. Provides that qualified candidates must be distributed a line of credit from the Illinois Supreme Court Democracy Trust Fund to be used for lawful political expenditures. Provides for the increase of the line of credit if non-complying candidates make certain expenditures. Sets penalties for violations of the Act. Provides that the Illinois Supreme Court may require attorneys to contribute money to the Fund not to exceed $25 annually. Contains other provisions. Amends the Election Code. Provides that a payment for electioneering communications is an "expenditure". Provides that a group that "accepts contributions or makes expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $3,000 for the purpose of electioneering communications" is a political committee. Allows the Board of Elections to impose a fine against a committee that fails to report expenditures that could trigger matching funds under the Supreme Court Campaign Reform Act. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois Supreme Court Democracy Trust Fund. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Requires the Department of Revenue to print on its standard individual income tax form a provision by which the taxpayer may make a contribution (not less than $1) to the Illinois Supreme Court Democracy Trust Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning classes for adults and youths whose schooling has been interrupted.

Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Directs the Fund to conduct a divided medicare coverage referendum, open to teachers continuously employed by the same employer since March 31, 1986. Allows eligible teachers to irrevocably elect to participate in the federal medicare program. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Makes changes concerning the Monetary Award Program. Removes a provision that provides that a grant is applicable to tuition and fees for 2 semesters or 3 quarters in an academic year. Removes provisions concerning part-time and summer term enrollment. Provides that the maximum grant amount shall be $4,968 during an academic year (instead of for 2 semesters or 3 quarter of full-time enrollment). Provides that an applicant is ineligible for assistance after the equivalent of 135 semester credit hours (instead of 10 semesters or 15 quarters) of award payments. Effective July 1, 2004.