Rep. Frank J. Mautino

Amends the Fire Protection District Act. Allows the board of trustees of a fire protection district to fix, charge, and collect fees, not exceeding the reasonable cost of the service, from the State arising from the district's response to emergency calls at State highway and Interstate highway rest areas that are not located on a toll highway within the State. Provides that claims shall be filed with the Court of Claims.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that a person who illegally manufactures or delivers or possesses with the intent to manufacture or deliver less than one gram of a substance containing heroin or an analog of heroin is guilty of a Class 1 felony with a maximum fine of $250,000 (rather than a Class 2 felony with a maximum fine of $200,000). Provides that the illegal possession of a substance containing less than 15 grams of heroin is a Class 1 felony (rather than a Class 4 felony). Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a person convicted of the manufacture or delivery or possession with the intent to manufacture or deliver of any amount of a substance containing heroin may not receive a period of probation, a term of periodic imprisonment, or conditional discharge.

Creates the Illinois Transmission Authority Act. Creates the Illinois Transmission Authority as a political subdivision, body politic, and municipal corporation, the governing and administrative powers of which shall be vested in its Board of Directors. Provides that the Board of Directors shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Grants the Authority the continuing power to issue revenue bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000,000 for the purpose of developing, constructing, acquiring, improving, or maintaining transmission projects and for acquiring, improving, and maintaining any property in connection therewith. Provides that the revenue bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness shall be payable solely from the revenues or income to be derived from the lease or sale of rights by the Authority to third persons to maintain, operate, and use the electric transmission provided by the transmission projects pursuant to transmission agreements or from any lease, sale, or other disposition of the transmission projects. Provides that the Authority may acquire in its own name, by gift, purchase, eminent domain, immediate vesting of title, or otherwise real or personal property that is necessary or convenient to carry out its corporate purposes. Provides that the Authority shall annually submit a report of its finances to the Auditor General and a report of its activities to the Governor and General Assembly. Provides that all property owned by the Authority that is located in the State of Illinois is exempt from taxation under the laws of the State of Illinois to the extent such property is used for the public purpose of developing transmission projects.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code in relation to medicare supplements. Provides that an issuer of Medicare supplement policies shall not deny coverage to a person under the age of 65 who becomes eligible by reason of a disability if the person applies for a Medicare supplement coverage policy within 6 months of the day on which the person enrolls for Medicare Part B coverage. Limits certain rates. Requires that all types of Medicare supplement policies available to persons over 65 years of age be made available to persons who become eligible for Medicare by reason of a disability.

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

Amends the Property Tax Code. Awards a homestead exemption in the amount of $5,000 to disabled persons who meet certain requirements, including having an adjusted gross income of less than $16,000. Makes corresponding changes to cross-references in the provisions concerning certification, certificate of errors, and delinquency notices. Amends the Economic Development Area Tax Increment Allocation Act, the County Economic Development Project Area Property Tax Allocation Act, the County Economic Development Project Area Tax Increment Allocation Act of 1991, the Economic Development Project Area Tax Increment Allocation Act of 1995, and the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act and the Industrial Jobs Recovery Law of the Illinois Municipal Code. Deducts the exemption from assessed value calculations for entities that have adopted tax increment allocation financing under these provisions. Amends the Criminal Code of 1961 to provide that an individual under a deportation order is ineligible for the disabled persons homestead exemption. Preempts home rule. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the organization of the Department of Corrections.

Amends the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act. Removes a provision making a person ineligible for coverage under the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan if (i) the person's prior health insurance coverage, provided or arranged by an employer of more than 10 employees, was discontinued without the entire plan being discontinued and not replaced, and (ii) the person remains an employee of the same employer. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $32,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Corrections for the operation of the Sheridan Correctional Center. Effective July 1, 2003.

Creates the Vehicle Protection Product Act. Provides for the regulation by the Department of Insurance of the sale of vehicle protection products that are sold to be installed upon a vehicle, are designed to protect against theft or other damage, and include a written warranty. Establishes minimum financial requirements for sellers of vehicle protection products. Establishes requirements for reimbursement policies. Requires registration of vehicle product warrantors. Effective January 1, 2004.