Rep. Terry R. Parke

Amends the State Employee Indemnification Act. Within the definition of "employee", provides that volunteer services for the State include volunteer services for State universities. Provides that "interests of the State" includes all the educational, experiential, recreational, cultural, teaching, research, service, and extension interests of the State universities. Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that "State business" includes traditional credit and non-credit programs, extension services, and institutionally-approved activities and services of the State universities.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that insurance fraud or fraud on a governmental entity is a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property obtained or attempted to be obtained is $100 (rather than $300) or less and a Class 3 felony if the value of the property obtained or attempted to be obtained is more than $100 (rather than $300) but not more than $10,000. Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that a workers' compensation insurer or self-insured employer may provide a notice to an injured worker, on or with a check for temporary disability benefits, warning the worker that acceptance of employment with a different employer that requires the performance of activities the employee has stated that he or she cannot perform because of the injury for which he or she is receiving temporary disability benefits could constitute fraud and could result in specified criminal penalties and liability for damages, and that others found to have assisted the employee in the perpetration of fraud could also be subject to criminal prosecution and civil liability. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the legislative purpose of the mine subsidence insurance Article of the Act.

Creates the Gift Certificate Act. Provides that it is unlawful for any person or entity to sell a gift certificate to a purchaser that contains an expiration date or a service fee including, but not limited to, a service fee for dormancy. Provides that any gift certificate sold after January 1, 2005, is redeemable in cash for its cash value or subject to replacement with a new gift certificate at no cost to the purchaser or holder. Provides that a gift certificate sold without an expiration date is valid until redeemed or replaced. Makes exceptions to the prohibition of the service fee for dormancy. Exempts prepaid calling cards that are issued solely to provide an access number and authorization code for the prepaid calling service from the requirements of the Act.

Amends the Attorney General Act. Requires the Attorney General to develop and promulgate an ethics pledge setting forth the legal rights, responsibilities, and duties relating to ethical conduct in government applicable to all officers, officials, appointees, and employees of the State in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Requires those persons to sign the ethics pledge annually, attesting that they have read and understand it. Signed ethics pledges must be kept as part of the person's personnel file and are subject to audit by the Auditor General. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Finance Act. In provisions authorizing the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget to (i) transfer to the General Revenue Fund from any fund held by the State Treasurer certain amounts of money to help defray the State's operating costs for the fiscal year and (ii) allocate the additional amounts generated by new and increased fees created or authorized by the General Assembly between the fund otherwise entitled to receive the fee and the General Revenue Fund according to certain parameters, provides that, if the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget directs the State Treasurer and the Comptroller to transfer moneys into the General Revenue Fund under these provisions, he or she shall notify the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission of the direction to transfer the moneys and the amount directed to be transferred. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that no compensation is payable if an injury was caused solely by the intoxication of the employee or by the influence of alcohol or any narcotic drugs, barbiturates, or other stimulants not prescribed by a physician or by the combined influence of alcohol and any other drug or drugs that affected the employee to a specified extent. Contains provisions regarding evidence, presumptions, and measurement.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that any facility (instead of a facility located in a county with a population of over 700,000) that is operated in accordance with a Section concerning the exclusive acceptance of general construction or demolition debris is not a "pollution control facility". Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates the Cancer Trial Discrimination Prohibition Law. Contains only a short title provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sale of Tobacco to Minors Act. Prohibits the sale of tobacco over the Internet.