Amends the Home Repair Fraud Act. In provisions relating to a victim who is 60 years of age or older or a disabled person, increases criminal penalties and lowers the monetary thresholds for enhanced penalties. In addition, provides that the offender's licenses and permits may be suspended or revoked.
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 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 School Code and the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act. Requires the State Board of Education, regional superintendents of schools, school boards (and their schools), and nonpublic schools that receive funds for free or reduced-price lunches under the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act to agree in writing with the Department of Public Aid to share with the Department information on applicants for free or reduced-price lunches. Provides that the sharing of information shall be for the sole purpose of helping the Department identify and enroll children in the State Medical Assistance Program or the State Children's Health Insurance Program or both as allowed and under the restrictions set forth in federal law. Provides that before an entity shares with the Department of Public Aid information on an applicant, that entity must obtain the consent of the applicant's parent or legal guardian. Effective July 1, 2003.
Amends the Illinois Antitrust Act. Provides that it is a violation of the Act to make a contract with or engage in any combination or conspiracy with, any purchaser from a person who purchases for resale, for the purpose of fixing, controlling, or maintaining the minimum price or rate charged for any commodity sold by the purchaser upon resale. Provides that it is a violation of the Act to contract with a person to unreasonably restrain trade or commerce by (i) participating in any act of boycott, coercion, intimidation or refusal to deal; (ii) participating in any allocation of customer or geographic markets as between a seller and a purchaser who purchases commodities from the seller for resale; (iii) entering into any arrangement as between a seller and a purchaser regarding the maximum price at which commodities are resold by the purchaser; or (iv) entering into any arrangement as between a seller and purchaser that the seller will sell a commodity or service only on condition that the buyer also purchase a different commodity or service where the restraint of trade occurs or is likely to occur in the market. Suspends the statute of limitations during the pendency of any complaint, information, or indictment filed by the United States and for one year thereafter. Raises the penalty to $1,000,000 (instead of $100,000) for a violation of the Act by a corporation and $100,000 (instead of $50,000) for a violation of the Act by every other person. Requires answers to interrogatories to be accompanied by a statement under oath attesting to the accuracy of the answers. Provides that the obligation to pay fees and mileage to witnesses does not apply to any officer, director, or person in the employ of any person, partnership, company, corporation, trust, or association whose conduct or practices are being investigated. Entitles any party brought to trial for violation of the Act, where criminal sanctions can be imposed or civil penalties or damages can be recovered, to a trial by jury. Makes other changes.
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 Electronic Fund Transfer Act. Provides that terminals must be designed and programmed so that the entry of a consumer's personal identification in reverse order causes an alarm to be sent to the local law enforcement agency.
Amends the School Code. Repeals provisions concerning the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program. Provides instead that the State Board of Education shall make reading improvement grants to school districts in order to improve the reading and study skills of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade (from a separate appropriation made for these purposes). Provides that the State Board may use up to 2% of the appropriation for the purpose of providing teacher training and retraining. Provides that of the remaining funds (i) up to the first $5,000,000 in new funds in the 2003-2004 school year shall be distributed to districts serving grades 7 through 12 and (ii) the remainder of the appropriation shall be distributed to districts serving kindergarten through grade 6. Includes provisions concerning application requirements, reporting assessment results, eligibility in the third or subsequent years, requirements for the use of grants, and reporting results to the General Assembly. Effective July 1, 2003.
Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Provides that the parties to a prospective marriage shall execute a pre-marital education affidavit after they complete a pre-marital education program conducted by a behavioral health professional or a designated representative of a religious institution. Sets forth various program requirements. Provides that, if both of the parties to a prospective marriage are under 18 years of age and unemancipated, one parent or legal guardian of each party shall also execute the pre-marital education affidavit. Provides that, if one of the parties to a prospective marriage is under 18 years of age and unemancipated, one parent or legal guardian of the party who is under 18 years of age shall also execute the pre-marital education affidavit. Provides that, if the parties to a prospective marriage submit the affidavit to the county clerk and they have complied with other applicable requirements, the county clerk shall issue a license to marry without delay. Provides that, if the parties have complied with other applicable requirements but do not submit a pre-marital education affidavit, the county clerk shall issue a license to marry 60 days after the date an application for a marriage license is submitted; however, if the parties submit a pre-marital education affidavit during the 60-day period, the county clerk shall then issue a license to marry without further delay. Sets forth exceptions to the pre-marital education requirement for parties with a catastrophic illness or a late-stage pregnancy. Exempts parties from the pre-marital education requirement if they are both at least 55 years of age.
