Creates the Mercury Reduction Act. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency may participate in the establishment and implementation of a multi-state clearinghouse to assist in carrying out the purpose of mercury reduction. Provides that beginning July 1, 2005, no mercury-added product may be offered for final sale or use or distributed for promotional purposes in the State without prior written notification to the Environmental Protection Agency by the manufacturer of the product. Sets forth the requirements for this notification. Sets forth restrictions on the purchase or sale of certain mercury-added products. Provides that beginning July 1, 2006, no person may crush, shred, flatten, or otherwise process a motor vehicle for scrap metal without first making a good faith effort to remove any mercury light switches and mercury headlights. Provides that, on or before January 1, 2006, the Pollution Control Board must modify its rules governing universal hazardous waste as appropriate to promote the recycling, recovery, and proper management of elemental mercury and mercury-added products on a statewide basis. Sets forth penalties for violations of the Act. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Adds "vehicle recycler" to the list of persons who may not knowingly shred, scrap, dismantle, recycle, incinerate, handle, store, or otherwise manage any white good that contains any white components. Provides that no owner, operator, agent, employee of a junkyard or scrap dealership, or vehicle recycler may knowingly shred, scrap, dismantle, recycle, incinerate, handle, store, or otherwise manage any end-of-life motor vehicle that contains any mercury-added component. Defines "vehicle recycler", "end-of-life motor vehicle", and "mercury-added component". Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that it is unlawful for a child sex offender to knowingly: (1) conduct or operate any type of business in which he or she photographs, videotapes, or takes a digital image of a child; (2) conduct or operate any type of business in which he or she instructs or directs another person to photograph, videotape, or take a digital image of a child; or (3) conduct or operate any type of business in which he or she offers for sale a photograph, videotape, computer disk, digital image, or visual depiction of a child. Provides that a violation is a Class 2 felony.
Supports Taiwan's admission as an observer to the World Health Organization and expresses the belief that the Republic of China (Taiwan) should be permitted to participate in a meaningful and appropriate way in the World Health Organization.
Congratulates Dr. Lynne Rauch on her retirement as Superintendent of Schools in School District 54.
Amends the Trusts and Trustees Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning a trustee's powers.
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning defaulting on a loan.
Congratulates Walter Johnson on his retirement as Great Lakes Regional Council Director of the National Recreation and Park Association.
Amends the Park District Code. Allows a park district to use competitive selection and the prequalification of responsible bidders in connection with design/build projects. Sets the procedures that must be followed when awarding design/build contracts.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961 relating to retail theft. Provides that a lessee of personal property is civilly liable to the owner of the property if the lessee fails to return the property to the owner or fails to pay the full retail value of the property to the lessor in violation of a contract provision to do so, within 10 days after written demand from the owner for the property's return. Effective immediately.
Amends the Sale of Tobacco to Minors Act to provide that the sale or distribution at no charge of cigarettes from a lunch wagon engaging in any sales activity within 1,000 feet of any public or private elementary or secondary school grounds is prohibited.