Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Exempts from an eavesdropping violation, electronic recordings made of a custodial interrogation of an individual by a law enforcement officer at a police station or other place of detention in investigations for homicide and certain sex offenses. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 and the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that statements made by a suspect at a custodial interrogation at a police station or other place of detention in investigations for homicide and certain sex offenses are presumed inadmissible unless electronically recorded. Provides that the presumption may be overcome by a preponderance of the evidence that the statements were voluntary and reliable based upon the totality of the circumstances. Provides exceptions. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board must conduct a training program for police officers on the methods and technical aspects of electronic recording of interrogations. Amends the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act. Provides that the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, from appropriations made to it for that purpose, shall make grants to local law enforcement agencies for the purpose of purchasing equipment for electronic recording of interrogations. Amends the State Mandates Act. Exempts provisions of the bill from the reimbursement requirements of the State Mandates Act. Some provisions take effect immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the senior citizens homestead exemption provisions in the Property Tax Code. Provides that beginning with assessment year 2003, for taxes payable in 2004, property that is first occupied as a residence after January 1 of any assessment year by a person who is eligible for the senior citizens homestead exemption must be granted a pro-rata exemption for the assessment year. The amount of the pro-rata exemption is the senior citizens homestead exemption allowed in the county divided by 365 and multiplied by the number of days during the year the property is occupied as a residence by a person eligible for the exemption. The chief county assessment officer must adopt reasonable procedures to establish eligibility for the pro-rata exemption. Amends the State Mandates Act to restate that the senior citizens homestead exemption is exempt from the requirements of the State Mandates Act and further amends the Property Tax Code to state that the senior citizens homestead exemption is exempt from the requirements of the State Mandates Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act by making it an unlawful practice to knowingly mail or send or cause to be mailed or sent a postcard or letter to a recipient in this State if the postcard or letter contains a request that the recipient call a telephone number, the postcard or letter is sent to induce the recipient to call the telephone number so that merchandise may be offered for sale to the recipient, and the postcard or letter does not disclose that merchandise may be offered for sale if the recipient calls the telephone number.
Amends the Historic Preservation Agency Act. Creates the Freedom Trail Commission. Contains provisions concerning the membership and duties of the commission. Provides that the commission must prepare a master plan to promote and preserve the history of the freedom trail and underground railroad in the State; work in conjunction with State and federal authorities to sponsor commemorations, linkages, seminars, and public forums on the freedom trail and underground railroad in the State and in neighboring states; assist and promote the making of applications for inclusion in the national and State register of historic places for significant historic places related to the freedom trail and the underground railroad in the State; assist and develop partnerships to seek public and private funds to carry out activities to protect, preserve, and promote the legacy of the freedom trail and underground railroad in the State; and work with the Illinois State Board of Education to evaluate, conduct research concerning, and develop a curriculum for use in Illinois public schools regarding the underground railroad, with emphasis on the activities of the underground railroad within this State. Provides that the commission must report its activities and findings to the General Assembly by February 1, 2004. Effective immediately.
Amends the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act and the Hypodermic Syringes and Needles Act. Authorizes a person who is at least 18 years of age to purchase up to 20 sterile hypodermic syringes or needles at a pharmacy without a prescription. Authorizes a pharmacist to sell up to 20 sterile hypodermic syringes or needles to a person who is at least 18 years of age. Provides that the Illinois Department of Public Health must develop educational materials regarding safer injection, HIV prevention, syringe disposal, and drug treatment and make copies of those materials available to pharmacists. Provides that pharmacists must make those educational materials available to persons who purchase syringes. Repeals the Section in the Hypodermic Syringes and Needles Act requiring a person who sells a syringe, needle, or instrument to keep a record of the sale. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code to require the State Board of Education to provide after-school program grants to qualifying school districts for the purpose of providing academic assistance at the end of the regular day of instruction or on non-school days for students and their families at school sites. Provides that a school district qualifies and may apply for a grant if the district contains one or more schools in which at least two-fifths of the students at the school fail to meet State academic standards. Establishes requirements for the grants. Effective immediately.
Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Allows certain retired teachers to remain in retirement status and continue to receive their retirement annuities while engaging in employment in a designated subject shortage area. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 to provide that health insurance benefits under the State and TRIP plans are suspended while the annuitant is covered as an active teacher. Amends the School Code to require regional superintendents of schools to certify school district compliance with certain requirements of the program. Effective immediately.
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a public utility may not disconnect for nonpayment service during the period from December 1 through March 31 to a residential customer who is eligible for assistance under the Energy Assistance Act of 1989. Effective immediately.
Amends the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois; also amends the Illinois Police Training Act, the State Mandates Act, and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires the Department of State Police to provide training to State Police officers concerning sensitivity toward racial and ethnic differences. Requires the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to provide for similar training for probationary police officers. Provides for a 4-year traffic stop statistical study based on information that must be recorded on the face of a uniform traffic citation, warning citation, or uniform stop card by State and local law enforcement officers. Provides that no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this amendatory Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning legislative findings.