Rep. Jack D. Franks

Creates the Design-Build Procurement Act. Authorizes the Capital Development Board to award construction contracts using a design-build method that accepts and evaluates proposals from entities that encompasses the designing and building of the project. Establishes criteria and proceedings for the use of the design-build method. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Creates the offense of being an armed habitual criminal. Provides that a person commits the offense of being an armed habitual criminal if he or she receives, sells, possesses, or transfers any firearm after having been convicted a total of 3 or more times of any of the following offenses: first degree murder; aggravated battery; aggravated battery with a firearm; unlawful use of a weapon by a felon; robbery; armed robbery; residential burglary; home invasion; vehicular hijacking; gunrunning; intimidation; armed violence; criminal sexual assault; aggravated criminal sexual assault; predatory criminal sexual assault of a child; aggravated domestic battery; or any violation of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act or the Cannabis Control Act that is punishable as a Class 3 felony or higher. Provides that a violation is a Class X felony. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a prisoner serving a sentence for being an armed habitual criminal shall receive no more than 4.5 days of good conduct credit for each month of his or her sentence of imprisonment. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Increases the retirement formula for sheriff's law enforcement employees (SLEPs) to 2.5% of the final rate of earnings for each year of SLEP service. Increases the maximum pension payable to a SLEP from 75% to 80% of the final rate of earnings. Removes the 2-year service requirement for earning new benefits after a return to service as a SLEP. Makes these changes apply to persons in service on or after July 1, 2004. Also increases the additional employee contribution paid by SLEPs to 2.5% of salary. Eliminates the reduction in benefit imposed on a surviving spouse who is more than 5 years younger than the deceased member, for the surviving spouse of any member who dies on or after the effective date. Allows a SLEP to convert up to 10 years of non-SLEP service credit into SLEP credit by paying the difference in employee and employer contributions, plus interest. Makes the additional unfunded liability for all changes subject to a full 30-year amortization period. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Ticket Scalping Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning service charges.

Amends the Ticket Scalping Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning service charges.

Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. With respect to savings realized from the implementation of State agency business processing efficiency initiatives, provides that savings realized by the Department of Transportation shall be deposited into the Construction Fund, rather than the Efficiency Initiatives Revolving Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Alternate Fuels Act. Provides that beginning July 1, 2005, owners of vehicles using domestic renewable fuel are eligible to apply for a fuel cost differential rebate. Provides that biodiesel blended fuel facilities may be included in the Alternate Fuel Infrastructure Program administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Provides that "alternate fuel" includes, among other fuels, "80% bio-based methanol" (instead of "bio-based methanol"), fuels that are 80% (instead of 70%) derived from biomass, and hydrogen fuel. Provides that "domestic renewable fuel" includes, among other fuels, "80% bio-based methanol" (instead of "bio-based methanol") and 20% biodiesel fuel (instead of "fuels derived from bio mass"). Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Family Caregiver Act. Makes the Act applicable to family caregivers for adults over age 18 who are disabled. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a tax checkoff for the Illinois Brain Tumor Research Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Fund. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, from appropriations to the Department from the Fund, the Department shall make grants to the American Brain Tumor Association for the purpose of research dedicated to the elimination of brain tumors. Effective immediately.

Provides that the bill may be referred to as the Illinois Patriot Plan. Creates the Military Personnel Cellular Phone Contract Termination Act; provides that any member of the armed services or reserve forces of the United States or member of the Illinois National Guard (a "service member") who is deployed on active duty, or the spouse of that service member, may terminate, without penalty, a cellular phone contract that meets specified requirements. Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois; provides that the Department may enter into a contract to purchase bulk long distance telephone services and make them available at cost, or may make bulk long distance telephone services available at cost under any existing contract the Department has entered into, to members of the immediate family of service members deployed on active duty so that those family members can communicate with the person so deployed. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code; provides that an individual life insurance policy insuring the life of a service member shall not lapse or be forfeited for the nonpayment of premiums during the service member's period of military service or during the 2-year period subsequent to the end of the service member's period of military service. Amends the Illinois Municipal Code and the Public Utilities Act; provides that no municipal or public utility company or electric cooperative shall stop gas or electricity from entering the residential premises of any residential consumer who is a service member deployed on active duty for nonpayment for gas or electricity supplied to the residential premises. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure; provides that in an action for possession of residential premises of a tenant or mobile home park resident who is a service member deployed on active duty or of any member of the tenant's or resident's immediate family, the court may stay the proceedings for a period of 90 days or adjust the rental obligation to preserve the parties' interests. Amends the Interest Act; provides that no creditor in connection with an obligation entered into on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act shall charge or collect from a service member who is deployed on active duty, or the spouse of that service member, interest or finance charges exceeding 6% per annum during the period that the member is deployed on active duty. Amends the Motor Vehicle Leasing Act; provides that any service member who is deployed on active duty for a period of not less than 180 days, or the spouse of that service member, may terminate any motor vehicle lease that meets certain specified requirements. Effective immediately.