Rep. Timothy L. Schmitz

Amends the Shaken Baby Prevention Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that if a defendant is accused of child pornography or aggravated child pornography or the defendant is accused of first degree murder or second degree murder when the commission of the offense involves sexual penetration or sexual conduct, evidence of the defendant's commission of another such offense or evidence to rebut that proof or an inference from that proof, may be admissible (if that evidence is otherwise admissible under the rules of evidence) and may be considered for its bearing on any matter to which it is relevant. Provides that (1) testimony by the victim of an out of court statement made by the victim that he or she complained of such act to another; and (2) testimony of an out of court statement made by the victim describing any complaint of such act or matter or detail pertaining to any act which is an element of an offense which is the subject of a prosecution for a sexual or physical act against that victim are admissible as exceptions to the hearsay rule in prosecutions for any sex offense as defined in the Sex Offender Registration Act.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning financial exploitation of an elderly person.

Amends the Burn Injury Reporting Act. Repeals a Section of the Act that would have repealed the Act on January 1, 2009. Effective immediately.

Amends the Podiatric Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Professional Service Corporation Act, and the Limited Liability Company Act. Replaces certain references to the practice of medicine in all of its branches with references to practice under the Medical Practice Act of 1987.

Amends the Department of Labor Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that an Illinois employer may request a written, legally binding private letter ruling from the Department of Labor regarding any law under the jurisdiction of the Department, that private letter rulings are issued by the Department in response to specific employer inquiries concerning the application of a statute or rule to a particular fact situation, and that private letter rulings are binding on the Department only as to the employer who is the subject of the request for ruling. Contains provision regarding: submission of requests; contents of requests; parties entitled to make requests; issuance of private letter rulings; effect of private letter rulings; uses of private letter rulings; and other matters.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that in all cases to be tried by jury in which the defendant is charged with first degree murder, the court shall inform the jury venire as to whether the State is seeking the death penalty on any first degree murder count.

Amends the Local Government Prompt Payment Act. Provides that it is unlawful to withhold more than 5% retainage from payments earned by contractors and subcontractors for goods and services. Prohibits retainage if a payment bond has been furnished. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that accountability principles apply when a statute defining an offense or the term of imprisonment for an offense creates an increased penalty if the defendant was armed with a specific type of weapon. Provides that accountability principles do not apply when a statute defining an offense or the term of imprisonment creates an increased penalty if the defendant personally discharged a firearm or personally discharged a firearm that proximately caused great bodily harm, permanent disability, permanent disfigurement, or death to another person. Provides that being armed with a firearm is a lesser included finding of personally discharging a firearm; and both are lesser included findings of personally discharging a firearm that proximately caused great bodily harm, permanent disability, permanent disfigurement, or death to another person.

Creates the Consumer Access to Health Care Information Act. Provides that the Division of Insurance shall make available on the Division's Internet website a consumer guide to health care. Sets forth the specific information that must be included in the Division's consumer guide, including specific links to different agency websites. Provides that each health care facility shall develop, implement, and enforce written policies for the billing of facility health care services and supplies. Provides that a facility shall establish and implement a procedure for handling consumer complaints and must make a good faith effort to resolve the complaint in an informal manner based on its complaint procedures. Provides the provisions of the Act may not be waived, voided, or nullified by a contract or an agreement between a facility and a consumer. Effective immediately.