Amends the School Code. Creates a pilot class size reduction grant program, to be implemented and administered by the State Board of Education. Provides that grants shall be awarded to schools to defray the costs and expenses of operating and maintaining classes of no more than 15 pupils per teacher per class. Effective July 1, 2006.
Amends the Secretary of State Act. Makes a technical change in a Section regarding the oath of office.
Amends the Illinois Health Care Finance Reform Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to require all ambulatory surgical treatment centers licensed to operate in the State (now, the requirement applies only to hospitals licensed to operate in the State) to adopt a uniform system for submitting patient claims and encounter data (now, patient billing data) for payment from public and private payors. Requires hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to submit billing data to the Department of Public Health no later than 60 days after the end of each calendar quarter. Requires the Department to include certain information in its "Consumer Guide to Health Care" on its website. Authorizes the Department to disclose certain information on its website. Authorizes the Department to promulgate rules concerning the provisions of the Illinois Health Care Finance Reform Act. Requires that ambulatory surgical treatment centers, organizations representing ambulatory surgical treatment centers, purchasers, consumer groups, and health plans be meaningfully involved in the development of all aspects of the Department's methodology for collecting, analyzing, and disclosing the information collected under this Act. Requires the Department to evaluate additional methods for comparing the performance of hospitals and ambulatory surgical treatment centers and report its findings and recommendations on its Internet website and to the Governor and General Assembly no later than January 1, 2006. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Use Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that any person who uses a consumer credit report in connection with the approval of credit based on the application for an extension of credit, and who has received notification of a police report filed with a consumer credit reporting agency that the applicant has been a victim of aggravated identity theft, may not lend money or extend credit without taking reasonable steps to verify the consumer's identity and confirm that the application for an extension of credit is not the result of financial identity theft or aggravated identity theft. Adds that a consumer may place a security freeze on his or her credit report by making a request directly to the consumer credit reporting agency through a secure electronic mail connection, if an electronic mail connection is provided by the consumer credit reporting agency. Provides that a consumer credit reporting agency shall not charge a fee for placing, removing, or removing for a specific party or period of time a security freeze on a credit report, if the consumer submits to the credit reporting agency a valid copy of a police report, investigative report, or complaint that the consumer has filed with a law enforcement agency about the unlawful use of his or her personal information by another person. Allows the credit reporting agency to charge a fee of not more than $10 to a consumer for each security freeze or temporary lift of a security freeze for a specific party and a fee of not more than $8 for removal of a security freeze or temporary lift of a security freeze for a period of time. Provides that the consumer credit reporting agency shall send a written confirmation of the security freeze to the consumer within 5 (instead of 10) business days of placing the freeze on the account. Requires the Director of the Division of Financial Institutions in the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to promulgate rules necessary to allow the use of electronic media to receive and process a request from a consumer to temporarily lift a security freeze as quickly as possible, with the goal of processing a request within 15 minutes of that request. Defines "consumer", "consumer credit reporting agency", "credit report", "Director", and "security freeze". Changes references from "credit reporting agency" to "consumer credit reporting agency". Effective January 1, 2007.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission and the Illinois Department of Transportation, in cooperation with a local law enforcement agency, may establish in any county or municipality a system for automated enforcement of railroad crossing violations. Provides for automated recording of vehicles that enter a railroad crossing against the signal or that obstruct traffic at a railroad crossing. Provides for the issuance of a Uniform Traffic Citation to the owner of the recorded vehicle. Establishes procedures for contesting the violation. Provides that violation of the provision is a petty offense for which a fine of $250, or 25 hours of community service, shall be imposed. Provides that a fine of $500 shall be imposed for a second or subsequent violation. Provides that the Secretary of State may suspend for not less than 6 months the registration of a vehicle involved in a second or subsequent violation. Provides that photographs from a system established under the new provision, or under the provision establishing a similar pilot program, can be made available to governmental agencies for safety analysis of the railroad crossing.
Amends the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act. Defines "sexually violent offense" to include the offense of indecent solicitation of a child. Effective immediately.
Creates the Court Grandparent Awareness Training Act. Provides that the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts shall create an awareness training course that addresses and sensitizes judges and judicial personnel to the unique problems and issues faced by grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. Requires that all judges and judicial personnel attend initial training within 90 days after the effective date of the Act or within 90 days after their appointment or transfer or date of hire, as appropriate, as well as an annual in-service training. Establishes minimum guidelines for the training course content.
Amends the Ticket Scalping Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning service charges.
Amends the County Jail Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the sheriff as warden of the jail.
