Rep. David R. Leitch

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that if the Department of Children and Family Services contracts with a private child welfare agency to provide child welfare services or to provide the arrangement of child welfare services, then the private child welfare agency and its employees shall not, as a result of their acts or omissions, be liable for civil damages, unless the acts or omissions constitute willful and wanton misconduct.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that the Industrial Commission Operations Fund Surcharge shall not imposed on and after July 1, 2004, and that this does not affect the powers and duties of the Director of Insurance with regard to any payments due before July 1, 2004 and any delinquencies, penalties, and overpayments with respect to those payments. Effective July 1, 2004.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires Illinois Commerce Commission approval before an out-of-state company may acquire an Illinois public utility. Requires the Department of Revenue to review the Illinois taxes paid by the out-of-state company. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Allows a board of trustees to provide or contract for residential housing for students and employees. Effective immediately.

Commemorates the United Way of Illinois on the occasion of its 25th Anniversary.

Amends the Elevator Safety and Regulation Act. Exempts persons, firms, or companies who install specified equipment from the requirements for licensure as an elevator contractor. Effective June 1, 2004.

Creates the Outdoor Lighting Control Act. Provides that the installation of any new or replacement permanent outdoor lighting unit by or for a State agency shall meet specified conditions (with certain exceptions). Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the Department of Transportation and the Department of Central Management Services, shall adopt rules to implement those requirements, including a system to ensure that the use of State funds for street lighting complies with the requirements. Provides that no person may unreasonably place or operate a lighting unit in a manner that causes illumination or glare to be cast on the property of another person with the effect of reducing privacy, hindering sleep, or creating an unattractive appearance to the area without the permission of the owner, lessee, or lawful occupant of the property. Provides that a person convicted of light trespass commits a petty offense and is subject to a fine of $100 if the violation is not corrected within 10 days of the conviction. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency: may identify and designate, as dark areas, areas that are especially suitable for astronomical observations or which provide nocturnal benefits to flora and fauna due to their darkness; and shall submit a proposed plan to preserve areas designated as dark areas.

Amends the Surface-Mined Land Conservation and Reclamation Act. Provides that if a conservation and reclamation plan includes a mining operation within unincorporated territory of a county and the mining operation is within 1.5 miles of the boundaries of a municipality that has adopted a zoning ordinance, the Department of Natural Resources may not approve the permit unless the corporate authorities of the municipality approve the permit by a 2/3 vote. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Finance Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act. Provides that a person incarcerated in any federal facility may be released to the custody of the duly accredited officers or designees of those officers of a foreign state if: (1) the person has violated the terms of his or her probation, post-release supervision, parole, or has an unexpired sentence in the foreign state; (2) the foreign state has personal jurisdiction over that person; and (3) the foreign state has issued a valid warrant for the apprehension of that person or has issued a commitment order to serve a sentence in a state or local correctional facility. Provides that all legal requirements to obtain extradition of fugitives from justice are expressly waived by the State of Illinois as to those persons. Effective October 1, 2004.