Rep. Sidney H. Mathias

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a municipality may enact a local retail theft ordinance for the retail theft of property with a value of $150 or less. Provides that the ordinance may not apply to individuals previously convicted of theft, robbery, armed robbery, burglary, residential burglary, possession of burglary tools, or home invasion. Requires the municipality to keep a record of all individuals convicted under the local retail theft ordinance. Requires the municipality to furnish a copy of all retail theft convictions to the State's Attorney.

Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that no transfers may be made, in order to help defray the State's operating costs for the fiscal year, from the Road Fund or the State Construction Account Fund on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Effective July 1, 2004.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that the Department must train all staff who conduct child protective service investigations regarding how and when to use the injunction process to remove a perpetrator of domestic violence from the home in order to protect a child. Effective immediately.

Creates the Ice Skating Rink Safety Act. Sets forth an ice skating rink operator's duties regarding posting of signs, maintenance of facilities, safety, and other matters. Provides that ice skaters have responsibilities concerning maintaining reasonable control and speed, heeding all posted signs and warnings, and other matters. Provides that ice skaters are deemed to have knowledge of and assume the risk of injuries caused by falls or collisions that are not attributable to a violation of a rink operator's duties set forth in the Act. Makes the assumption of risk set forth in the Act a complete bar and a complete defense to any lawsuit concerning injuries to ice skater or spectator unless the rink operator has violated his or her duties and responsibilities under the Act.

Amends the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act. Provides that actions for damages for injury or death against any public physician, dentist, registered nurse, or hospital (instead of local public entity or employee) be brought within 2 years after the claimant knew or should have known of the injury or death. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that the Department of State Police must report the name and address of a person to the local law enforcement agency where the person resides if the person attempting to purchase a firearm is disqualified from purchasing a firearm because of information obtained during the dial-up telephone communication with the Department of State Police.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a deduction for individual taxpayers who are 62 years of age or older in an amount equal to the amount the individual pays for Medicare Part B benefits during the taxable year. Provides that the deduction is available in taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2004. Exempts the deduction from the sunset provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services, in consultation with its Child Care and Development Advisory Council, to develop a comprehensive plan to revise the State's rates for the various types of child care provided for TANF recipients. Requires completion of the plan by September 30, 2004. 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.

Creates the Comprehensive Housing, Health, and Supportive Services for Older Adults Act and amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act, the State Finance Act, and the Nursing Home Care Act. Requires the Director of Public Health, in coordination with the Director of Aging and the Director of Public Aid, to monitor and analyze the distribution of housing and services for older adults in the different geographic areas of the State and implement corrective action plans by July 1, 2005. Provides for a program for conversion of nursing homes to assisted living or shared housing establishments; makes such conversions exempt from the requirements of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act, and provides for transition planning grants to nursing homes making such conversions. Creates special funds in the State treasury for use in implementing the Comprehensive Housing, Health, and Supportive Services for Older Adults Act. Provides for transfers from the Long Term Care Monitor/Receiver Fund to the new Nursing Home Conversion Fund and the new Nursing Home Transition Planning Grant Fund. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.