Amends the Employee Benefit Contribution Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the failure to make payments to an employee health insurance plan.
Mourns the passing of Thomas Allen Hawkins of Waukegan, Illinois.
Honors Audrey H. Nixon for her service to the Lake County Board and for 40 years of service to her community.
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act and the Hospital Licensing Act; provides that a nursing home or hospital that orders transportation of a resident or patient by ambulance must maintain a written record showing the name of the person who placed the order for that transportation and the medical reason for that transportation. Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act; authorizes the Department of Public Health to suspend, for a period not exceeding 30 days, the license of any vehicle service provider, after an opportunity for a hearing, when findings show that the provider has directly or indirectly given, offered, or promised anything of value to a facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act or the Hospital Licensing Act for the purpose of influencing the facility to use the provider's services for the transportation of residents or patients of the facility. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Sets forth statements that must be included in an agreement for emergency or non-emergency transportation of a patient by an ambulance service provider, and requires that such an agreement contain certain other information and be printed in type of a certain size. Requires that the agreement be signed by the patient or the patient's authorized representative and by the ambulance service provider's authorized agent. Requires that the patient or the patient's authorized representative be provided with an executed copy of the agreement. Provides that it is an unlawful practice under the Act for an ambulance service provider to enter into an agreement with a patient, or a person acting on the patient's behalf, that does not comply with these requirements. Provides that if the court finds that an ambulance service provider has violated any of the requirements concerning an agreement with a patient, the court may order that the ambulance service provider pay to the patient an amount equal to 3 times the maximum amount stated in the agreement that will be due from the patient or, if no such maximum amount is stated in the agreement, 3 times the amount claimed due by the ambulance service provider, including any interest, collection costs, and attorney's fees claimed by the provider.
Creates the Southern Illinois Economic Development Authority Act. Establishes the Southern Illinois Economic Development Authority in Franklin, Perry, Randolph, Jackson, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Alexander, Pulaski, and Massac counties in order to promote economic development within those counties. Contains provisions concerning the powers and duties of the Authority. Allows the Authority to acquire, own, sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of interests in real property and to issue bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness for certain purposes in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000,000. Provides that the Authority shall be governed by a 21-member board. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the ongoing traffic stop statistical study shall continue without an ending date (rather than terminating on December 31, 2007).
Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Requires inventories of certain skilled or intermediate care facilities to be conducted annually by July 1, to list services provided, and to differentiate between active and inactive beds. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Clean Indoor Air Act. Allows all counties and municipalities (now, home rule counties and all municipalities), to regulate smoking in public places in a manner no less restrictive than regulation under the Act. Allows all municipalities and counties to regulate smoking in any enclosed indoor area used by the public or serving as a place of work if the area does not fall within the definition of a "public place" under the Act. Provides for the applicability of county ordinances. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that no later than July 1, 2007, subject to federal approval of a State Medicaid Plan amendment, which shall be sought by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services or its successor agency, persons who fail to qualify for basic maintenance under the Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD) program on the basis of need because of excess income or assets, or both, may establish prospective eligibility for that basic maintenance by paying their monthly Medicaid spend-down amount to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services or by having a third party pay that amount to the Department.
Amends the Line of Duty Compensation Act. Provides that, if no beneficiary is designated or surviving at the death of an Armed Forces member killed in the line of duty, compensation under the Act shall be paid in the following priority: to the surviving beneficiaries designated in the Armed Forces member's Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Election and Certificate; in accordance with the Armed Forces member's legally binding will; or in accordance with the provisions of the Act that apply to other line-of-duty deaths. Applies if compensation was not paid before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the Illinois National Guardsman's Compensation Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
