Amends the Illinois Pension Code to allow certain current and former Department of Revenue investigators to transfer service credits from downstate police pension funds to the State Employees' Retirement System. Effective immediately.
Creates the Pistol and Revolver Ballistic Identification Databank Act. Provides that beginning April 1, 2005, any manufacturer that ships, transports, or delivers a pistol or revolver to any person in this State must, in accordance with rules adopted by the Department of State Police, include in the container with the pistol or revolver a separate sealed container that encloses: (1) a shell casing of a bullet or projectile discharged from the pistol or revolver; and (2) any additional information that identifies the pistol or revolver and shell casing as required by the rules adopted by the Department of State Police. Provides that beginning April 1, 2005, a gunsmith or federally licensed firearm dealer must, within 10 days after delivering to any person a pistol or revolver received by the gunsmith or dealer on or after that date, forward to the Department of State Police, along with a description of the firearm, including its make, model, caliber, and serial number, the sealed container enclosing the shell casing from the pistol or revolver either (1) received from the manufacturer or (2) obtained through participation in the program operated by the Department of State Police. Provides that a person who knowingly violates the Act is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class A misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense.
Thanks the members of the Theta Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. for their extensive philanthropic work.
Congratulates Park Forest Chief of Police, Francis DioGuardi, on the occasion of his retirement from the Park Forest Police Department.
Creates the Comprehensive Housing, Health, and Supportive Services for Older Adults Act and amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act, the State Finance Act, and the Nursing Home Care Act. Requires the Director of Public Health, in coordination with the Director of Aging and the Director of Public Aid, to monitor and analyze the distribution of housing and services for older adults in the different geographic areas of the State and implement corrective action plans by July 1, 2005. Provides for a program for conversion of nursing homes to assisted living or shared housing establishments; makes such conversions exempt from the requirements of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act, and provides for transition planning grants to nursing homes making such conversions. Creates special funds in the State treasury for use in implementing the Comprehensive Housing, Health, and Supportive Services for Older Adults Act. Provides for transfers from the Long Term Care Monitor/Receiver Fund to the new Nursing Home Conversion Fund and the new Nursing Home Transition Planning Grant Fund. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that no person shall sell or issue a gift certificate that is subject to an expiration date. Provides that no gift certificate or any agreement with respect to the gift certificate may contain language suggesting that an expiration date may apply. Provides that fees and penalties shall not be imposed for inactivity with respect to a gift certificate. Provides that any person who sells a gift certificate subject to an expiration date shall be fined not more than $500 per occurrence. Defines gift certificate.
Amends the School Code and the State Finance Act. Requires the State Board of Education to establish a 3-year technology immersion pilot project to provide a wireless laptop computer to each student, teacher, and relevant administrator in a participating school and implement the use of software, on-line courses, and other appropriate learning technologies that have been shown to improve academic achievement and specified progress measures. Creates the Technology Immersion Pilot Project Fund as a special fund in the State treasury, with moneys being used by the State Board for the pilot project. Requires participating school districts to send an annual progress report to the State Board. Effective immediately.
Amends the Public Utilities Act and the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Illinois Commerce Commission and its staff shall work cooperatively with law enforcement authorities, including the Attorney General and State's Attorneys, in their enforcement of consumer protection laws, including the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, provide any materials or documents requested by the Attorney General or a State's Attorney pertaining to the enforcement of consumer protection laws, and, upon written request, forward any complaints regarding alleged violations of any consumer protection law to the Attorney General and the appropriate State's Attorney. Provides that all remedies and authority granted to the Attorney General or the State's Attorneys by the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act shall be available even though the matter is also subject to the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the Public Utilities Act and the Illinois Commerce Commission's rules do not preclude any action that may be available by law, and that the remedies for violations of the Public Utilities Act and its rules are not intended to replace other remedies that may be imposed by the courts for violation of other consumer protection laws and are in addition to, and not in substitution for, other available remedies.
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that upon the filing of a written request demonstrating reasonable cause, the State's Attorney may request a source of bail hearing either before or after the posting of any funds. Provides that if the hearing is granted, before the posting of any bail, the accused must file a written notice requesting that the court conduct a source of bail hearing. Establishes factors that the court must consider at the hearing. Effective immediately.
Amends the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act. Increases the amount of moneys in the Nursing Dedicated and Professional Fund to be appropriated to the Department of Public Health for nursing scholarships awarded pursuant to the Nursing Education Scholarship Law from $750,000 to $1,500,000 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2004 and each fiscal year thereafter. Effective immediately.
