Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates the Cancer Trial Discrimination Prohibition Law. Contains only a short title provision. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that no identification card, Disabled Person Identification Card, or driver's license shall be issued to any person who holds a valid foreign state identification card, license, or permit unless the person first surrenders to the Secretary of State the valid foreign state identification card, license, or permit. Changes references to "name" and "address" to references to "legal name" and "residence address". Authorizes the Secretary of State to deny an application for an identification card or driver's permit and refuse to issue, renew, or allow the retention of any driver's license if he or she cannot verify the accuracy of information or documentation submitted by the applicant and to cancel or revoke an identification card issued if the holder fails to appear for the reissuance of a card issued in error. Requires any person whose legal name has changed to apply for a corrected identification card, driver's license or permit, or Commercial Driver's License within 30 days after the change. Provides that a person who has changed his or her residence address must notify the Secretary of State of the change in writing within 10 days after the change before he or she may obtain a corrected identification card. Provides that it is a violation of the Acts to possess, use, or allow to be used any materials, hardware, or software specifically designed for or primarily used in the manufacture, assembly, issuance, or authentication of an official Illinois Identification Card, Illinois Disabled Person Identification Card, driver's license, or permit issued by the Secretary of State. Sets forth restrictions on the release of personal information by the Secretary of State. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2005.
Amends the Nursing Education Scholarship Law. Authorizes scholarships for registered nurses pursuing graduate degrees in nursing and to students in areas identified as designated shortage areas. Provides that 20% of scholarships shall be for recipients pursuing graduate degrees and reduces percentages for other recipients. Removes provisions concerning scholarships for pursuing a hospital-based diploma in nursing.
Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that no person or business found by a court or the Pollution Control Board to have committed a willful or knowing violation of the Environmental Protection Act (instead of a certain Section of the Act) shall do business with the State of Illinois or any State agency from the date of the order containing the finding of violation until 5 years after that date. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Creates a K-3 class size reduction grant program to be implemented and administered by the State Board of Education. Provides that only those schools that are on the early academic warning list or academic watch list and that maintain grades K-3 are grant eligible. Limits use of the grant funds to operating and maintaining classes in grades K-3 with a class size of no more than 20 pupils. 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.
Creates the Accessible Electronic Information Act. Requires the Secretary of State, as the State Librarian, to develop and implement a program of grants to qualified entities to make newspapers and other time-sensitive printed material available to the blind and disabled in accessible formats produced on a multi-state basis through computer and telecommunication technology. Funds the grants through a surcharge established by the Illinois Commerce Commission on local exchange telecommunications company subscribers. Amends the State Finance Act to create the necessary special fund. Effective immediately.
Amends the Office of Banks and Real Estate Act. Requires the Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate to work in cooperation with the Director of Aging to ensure that all financial institutions regulated by the Office of Banks and Real Estate participate fully in the Department on Aging's financial exploitation of the elderly intervention program. Effective immediately.
Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a person or entity may not print an individual's social security number on an insurance card that is used to establish the eligibility of an individual or his or her dependents to receive health, dental, optical, or accident insurance benefits, prescription drug benefits, or benefits under a managed care plan or a plan provided by a health maintenance organization, a health services plan corporation, or a similar entity. Provides that existing insurance cards with an individual's social security number must be replaced with insurance cards without the individual's social security number. Provides that a violation constitutes an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act. Effective January 1, 2005.
Amends the Women's Business Ownership Act. Provides that the Act is repealed on September 1, 2008 (now September 1, 2004). Effective immediately.
