Creates the Agriculture Producer Protection Act. Requires agriculture production contracts to contain certain disclosures, meet readability guidelines, and include a summary sheet. Provides that the Director of Agriculture may review an agriculture production contract for compliance with the contract form and content requirements of the Act. Provides that provisions stating that information contained within an agricultural contract is confidential shall not prevent a producer from discussing all contract terms and details with specified persons. Places restrictions on a contractor's unilateral termination of certain contracts. Provides that it is unlawful for any contractor to interfere with the exercise of certain rights granted under the Act and establishes other unfair practices under the Act. Provides that any provision requiring the application of the law of any state other than Illinois, requiring any action to be filed in a state other than Illinois, or waiving a right or obligation under the Act, is void. Provides that the Attorney General shall enforce the Act by actions in the circuit court for equitable and monetary relief, including injunctive relief and criminal and civil fines and penalties. Provides a private cause of action to any producer aggrieved by a violation of the Act and includes as remedies contract reformation and other equitable relief for the purpose of avoiding unjust enrichment. Amends the Freedom of Information Act to exempt production contracts submitted for review to the Director of Agriculture under the Agriculture Producer Protection Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture must adopt rules implementing the Agriculture Producer Protection Act not later than January 1, 2004 and gives this and the effective date provision an immediate effective date. Provides that the remainder of the Act takes effect on January 1, 2004.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Open Meetings Act. Requires public bodies to make and maintain audio or video recordings of their closed meetings. Provides procedures for (i) protecting privileged communication during a meeting between the public body and its attorney and (ii) summarizing and destroying the recordings. Extends the statute of limitations on meetings in violation of the Act to 180 days. Effective immediately.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Authorizes an attachment against the property of a debtor who has been referred by the Department of Corrections to the Attorney General (instead of who is a defendant in a suit brought by the Attorney General) in connection with the reimbursement of the Department for the expenses of the debtor's incarceration.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code and the Health Maintenance Organization Act in relation to continuation of benefits. Limits the continuation privilege for spouses and children of retired employees to spouses and children of retired employees who have attained the age of 65. Provides for notice of death or entry of a judgment of dissolution to be given to the employer or insurer rather than both. Requires an employer to give notice of death or dissolution to the insurer. Provides for coverage for certain dependents. Requires group policies to provide a continuation privilege for covered dependents of a deceased employee. Authorizes a continuation privilege for employees whose work hours have been reduced.
Creates the Illinois Early Learning Council Act. Establishes the Illinois Early Learning Council to coordinate existing State programs and services for children from birth to 5 years of age in order to better meet the early learning needs of children and their families. Provides for the appointment of members to the Council who represent both public and private organizations and who shall serve on a voluntary, unpaid basis.
Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department shall increase by at least 80 beds the capacity of the Illinois Veterans Home at LaSalle and shall request and expend federal grants for this Veterans Home addition. Effective immediately.
Amends the Clerks of Courts Act. Provides for a combined fee schedule for circuit clerks' fees in counties having a population of not more than 500,000 inhabitants. Repeals fee schedule for counties having a population of 180,000 inhabitants or less. Effective July 1, 2003.
Amends the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning portability of coverage.
Amends the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning portability of coverage.
Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Extends the partial exemption from the taxes imposed by these Acts on gasohol to December 31, 2013 (now ends on July 1, 2003), gradually reducing the partial exemption to zero after December 31, 2013. Partially exempts E85 blend fuel and bio-diesel blend fuel in the same amount and according to the same schedule as gasohol. Provides that if, at any time, the tax under these Acts on gasohol, E85 blend fuel, and bio-diesel blend fuel is imposed at 1.25%, then the partial exemption of the tax on those items does not apply during that time. Effective immediately.