Rep. Karen May

Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Adds a caption to a Section concerning definitions.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Includes in the offense of unauthorized videotaping, electronically recording or electronically surveilling another person without that person's consent in a private place. Provides that it is unlawful for any person to place or cause to be placed an electronic video surveillance device in a restroom, tanning bed, tanning salon, locker room, changing room, hotel bedroom, or any other private place, with the intent to electronically record, electronically surveil, videotape, photograph, or film another person without that person's consent. Provides that it is unlawful for any person to place or cause to be placed an electronic video surveillance device in another person's residence without that person's consent, with the intent to secretly electronically record, electronically surveil, videotape, photograph, or film another person without that person's consent. Increases the penalties for the offense from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class 4 felony and if the images are disseminated from a Class 4 felony to a Class 3 felony. Provides that if the person electronically recorded, electronically surveilled, videotaped, photographed, or filmed is under 18 years of age, the penalty is a Class 2 felony. Effective January 1, 2005.

Amends the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that the manufacturing and assembling machinery and equipment exemption also includes production related tangible personal property. Defines "production related tangible personal property" as all tangible personal property used or consumed by the purchaser in a manufacturing facility in which a manufacturing process takes place, including tangible personal property purchased for incorporation into real estate within a manufacturing facility and including, but not limited to, tangible personal property used or consumed in activities such as preproduction material handling, receiving, quality control, inventory control, storage, staging, and packaging for shipping and transportation purposes. Provides that "production related tangible personal property" does not include (i) tangible personal property used, within or without a manufacturing facility, in sales, purchasing, accounting, fiscal management, marketing, personnel recruitment or selection, or landscaping or (ii) tangible personal property required to be titled or registered with a department, agency, or unit of federal, state, or local government. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Public Health Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Public Health to create an education and outreach program and a professional education program concerning Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome. Authorizes the Director to accept and expend grants, awards, and other funds or appropriations for the required programs. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Makes technical changes to the short title Section.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Removes a provision that requires a taxpayer to add to federal adjusted gross income, to arrive at base income for Illinois income tax purposes, distributions from a qualified tuition program under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code other than distributions from the College Savings Pool or the Illinois Prepaid Tuition Program to the extent those distributions were excluded from income in arriving at federal adjusted gross income. Amends the State Treasurer Act and further amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to allow an income tax deduction for moneys contributed in the taxable year to the College Savings Pool, the Illinois Prepaid Tuition Program, or to any other qualified tuition program under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code (now, deduction limited to College Savings Pool contributions). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Makes the provisions in the Act governing court actions arising out of civil rights violations applicable to those actions that arise out of civil rights violations in employment. Provides that no civil action based on a civil rights violation in connection with employment shall commence prior to 180 days after the filing of a charge with the Department of Human Rights. Provides that an action arising out of a civil rights violation in a real estate transaction may be filed irrespective of the filing of a charge with the Department. Prohibits the aggrieved party from filing an action based on a civil rights violation in employment or a real estate transaction when the hearing officer commences a hearing with respect to a complaint issued by the Department that forms the basis of the alleged civil rights violation. Prohibits the aggrieved party from filing an action arising out of a civil rights violation in employment or a real estate transaction when the Department or local agency obtains a conciliation or settlement agreement with the aggrieved party's consent. Upon the finding of a civil rights violation, authorizes the court or jury (now the court) to award actual and punitive damages to the plaintiff. Prohibits any punitive damage awards against the State. Authorizes the court to grant such injunctive relief as it deems appropriate; including, in the case of actions arising out of civil rights violations in employment, reinstatement or hiring of employees, with or without backpay, or any other equitable relief.

Creates the Mercury-Free Vehicle Act. Provides that every manufacturer of vehicles sold within the State shall, individually or as part of a group, submit a plan to remove, collect, and recover mercury switches to the Environmental Protection Agency for review and approval. Sets forth procedures for the removal, replacement, collection, and recovery of vehicle mercury switches and for obtaining Agency approval. Provides that the total cost of the removal, replacement, collection, and recovery system for mercury switches shall be borne by the manufacturer. Provides that no mercury-added component shall be included as part of a new vehicle offered for sale in the State.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Adds a caption to a Section relating to local exchange telecommunications service.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes a technical change in the short title Section of the Small Employer Group Health Insurance Law Article.