Rep. Rich Brauer

Amends the Weights and Measures Act. Provides that, in the case of the testing of gasoline pumps used in the retail or wholesale sale of gasoline, the Director of Agriculture must accomplish the required annual testing by assigning the task to Department of Agriculture-certified private technicians or contractors, who must perform the annual inspection, comply with all required inspection procedures, and make any necessary repairs. Provides that the Director must perform all non-annual random spot-testing.

Amends the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act. In provisions concerning persons authorized to administer anesthesia services, provides that a registered nurse may administer conscious sedation under the following conditions: (1) the registered nurse has privileges granted by the medical staff and ambulatory surgical treatment center (ASTC) to administer conscious sedation; (2) the registered nurse is under the direct supervision of the operating physician or dentist during the delivery conscious sedation; (3) the registered nurse maintains current Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification; and (4) the operating physician has training and experience in the delivery of anesthesia services to patients by either possessing clinical privileges at the ASTC to administer anesthesia or completing a minimum of 8 hours of continuing education in the delivery of anesthesia, including the administration of conscious sedation within each 3-year license period. Also requires that a physician or dentist with authority to administer anesthesia maintain current Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification. Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Provides that any physician may order and administer anesthesia services in accordance with his or her training or experience. Sets forth the conditions under which anesthesia services shall be administered in a hospital, in an ambulatory surgical treatment center, and in a physician's office. Defines "conscious sedation". Effective immediately.

Amends the Motor Vehicle Franchise Act. Provides that it is not a violation of the Act to relocate an existing dealership or franchise in a county having a population of less than 300,000 persons when the new location is within the dealer's current relevant market area, provided the new location is more than 10 (rather than 12) miles from the nearest dealer of the same line make. Provides that it shall be a violation for a manufacturer, a distributor, a wholesaler, a distributor branch or division or officer, agent or other representative to prevent or refuse to grant a franchise to a person because such person owns, has investment in or participates in the management of or holds a franchise for the sale of another make or line of motor vehicles within 7 miles of the proposed franchise location in a county having a population of more than 300,000 persons, or within 10 (rather than 12) miles of the proposed franchise location in a county having a population of less than 300,000 persons.

Amends the Personnel Code. Grants a State employee subject to the Code who is a veteran 4 days of leave per year (in addition to any currently available sick leave) to visit a veterans hospital for examination of a military service-connected disability (now, 2 days per year).

Amends the State Fire Marshal Act and the Peace Officer Fire Investigation Act to allow arson investigators of the State Fire Marshal designated State Fire Marshal Special Agents to exercise peace officer powers and carry weapons at all times, rather than only in the course of arson investigations. Sets forth that these Special Agents may exercise these powers and carry weapons at all times, but only if they have satisfactorily completed (1) a training course approved by the Department of State Police that substantially conforms to the standards promulgated pursuant to the Peace Officer Firearm Training Act and (2) a course in fire and arson investigation approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal pursuant to the Illinois Fire Protection Training Act. Provides that this authorization applies only to State Fire Marshal Special Agents excluding any fire investigator, fireman, police officer, or other employee of the Federal government; any fire investigator, fireman, police officer, or other employee of any unit of local government; or any fire investigator, fireman, police officer, or other employee of the State of Illinois other than an employee of the Office of the State Fire Marshal assigned to investigate arson. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, must establish and administer a test program to place at rest areas along highways computer kiosks that provide information on tourism activities in the State. Sets forth the requirements of the test program.

Amends the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. Provides the health benefits of that Act to a person who is employed as a security guard by the State on a full-time, part-time, temporary, or contractual-payroll basis and whose death or catastrophic injury in the line of duty occurs on or after September 1, 2004. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $15,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Agriculture for the purposes of the Food and Agriculture Research Act. Effective July 1, 2005.

Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.

Amends the Illinois AgriFIRST Program Act of 2001. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning certification.