Rep. Frank J. Mautino

Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Riverboat and Casino Gambling Act. Provides that the Board may issue an owners license authorizing the conduct of gambling operations in a casino located in a municipality with a population of more than 500,000 inhabitants pursuant to a process of competitive bidding. Provides that the casino shall be limited to 4,000 gaming positions. Provides for distribution of the proceeds from the casino to the 5 State-funded pension funds and certain pension funds established for the City of Chicago. Makes other changes. Amends various other Acts to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Accounting Act. Provides a definition of "Peer Review Administrator". Requires firms and sole practitioners providing accounting services under the Act to undergo a peer review as a condition of renewing a license unless an exemption applies. Allows the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to adopt rules. Provides penalties for failure to comply with remedial actions determined appropriate by the Peer Review Administrator. Requires the firm or sole practitioner to pay for the costs of the peer review. Provides that the peer review proceedings, records, reports, and other documents are privileged and provides exceptions to the privilege. Provides for the peer review year of combined or divided firms or sole practitioners. Grants civil immunity except for reckless or willful misconduct. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $4,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Comptroller for the State share of compensation for public defenders. Effective July 1, 2006.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning retail sales on Sundays.

Creates the Illinois Consumer Choice of Benefits Health Insurance Plan Act. Provides that insurers may offer policies of accident and health insurance that do not provide state-mandated health benefits. Requires applications and policies to contain notice that the policy may not cover some or all of the state-mandated health benefits. Requires insurers to provide a disclaimer at the time the policy is issued that must be signed by the applicant or subscriber. Grants the Secretary the power to adopt rules necessary to implement the Act. Requires insurers to maintain a description of its rating practices and renewal underwriting practices. Provides for the applicability of certain Illinois Insurance Code Provisions.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning enforcement actions.

Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Riverboat and Casino Gambling Act. Provides that the Board may issue an owners license authorizing the conduct of gambling operations in a casino located in a municipality with a population of more than 500,000 inhabitants pursuant to a process of competitive bidding. Provides that the casino shall be limited to 4,000 gaming positions. Provides for distribution of the proceeds from the casino to the 5 State-funded pension funds and certain pension funds established for the City of Chicago. Makes other changes. Amends various other Acts to make conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the proceeds from the casino do not reduce and do not constitute payment of any portion of the minimum State contribution required for any of the State-funded pension funds in that fiscal year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Repeals a Section authorizing a municipality to recover from a property owner certain costs associated with certain ordinance violations as a special assessment on a property. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that school counselors who, before January 1, 2003, earned the National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) credential through the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. shall be issued a Master School Service Personnel Certificate. Effective July 1, 2006.

Amends the Animal Control Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning rabies inoculations.