Rep. Eileen Lyons

Amends the Election Code. With respect to the general election, provides that a candidate selected by a political party to fill a vacancy in nomination for an office for which another political party's nominee was unopposed at the primary must circulate and file a nominating petition for that office. Requires the State Board of Elections to adopt implementing rules, including circulating periods and objection procedures.

Provides that a person arrested for certain violations involving driving on a revoked or suspended license must have a distinctive sticker attached to his or her license plate. Provides that a law enforcement officer may stop a vehicle with one of these stickers on its license plate simply to determine whether the vehicle is being driven by a person with a revoked or suspended license. Provides that a person with one of these stickers may have his or her vehicle registration cancelled under specified conditions. Provides for hearings and appeals with regard to these cancellations. Provides that removal of the special stickers is a petty offense. Provides that when stickers must be replaced, the vehicle owner must pay the cost. Provides that the Secretary shall adopt the necessary rules.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Public Aid may not establish any formulary limits on, or restrict by any prior authorization requirement, any insulin prescription drug as prescribed and determined to be medically necessary for the treatment of diabetes. Effective July 1, 2004.

Pledges the General Assembly's support for the Argonne National Laboratory and urges the United States Department of Energy, President Bush, the Illinois Congressional Delegation, and others to consider this Dupage County facility as the location for a federal grant project, the Rare Isotope Accelerator.

Congratulations to David Doty on his retirement from AT&T.

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 Unified Code of Corrections. Makes a technical change in a Section requiring the Department of Corrections to designate those institutions and facilities that are maintained for persons assigned as adults and as juveniles.

Creates the Mercury Reduction Act. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency may participate in the establishment and implementation of a multi-state clearinghouse to assist in carrying out the purpose of mercury reduction. Provides that beginning July 1, 2005, no mercury-added product may be offered for final sale or use or distributed for promotional purposes in the State without prior written notification to the Environmental Protection Agency by the manufacturer of the product. Sets forth the requirements for this notification. Sets forth restrictions on the purchase or sale of certain mercury-added products. Provides that beginning July 1, 2006, no person may crush, shred, flatten, or otherwise process a motor vehicle for scrap metal without first making a good faith effort to remove any mercury light switches and mercury headlights. Provides that, on or before January 1, 2006, the Pollution Control Board must modify its rules governing universal hazardous waste as appropriate to promote the recycling, recovery, and proper management of elemental mercury and mercury-added products on a statewide basis. Sets forth penalties for violations of the Act. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Adds "vehicle recycler" to the list of persons who may not knowingly shred, scrap, dismantle, recycle, incinerate, handle, store, or otherwise manage any white good that contains any white components. Provides that no owner, operator, agent, employee of a junkyard or scrap dealership, or vehicle recycler may knowingly shred, scrap, dismantle, recycle, incinerate, handle, store, or otherwise manage any end-of-life motor vehicle that contains any mercury-added component. Defines "vehicle recycler", "end-of-life motor vehicle", and "mercury-added component". Effective immediately.

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Makes a technical change to the penalty Section.

Amends the Real Estate License Act of 2000. Provides that any person licensed as a broker shall be entitled at any renewal date to change his or her license status from broker to salesperson. Makes changes in provisions concerning continuing education requirements for brokers and salespersons.