Sen. Martin A. Sandoval

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that the Attorney General may promulgate rules establishing the maximum fees that may be charged for other immigration assistance services that the Attorney General determines by rule may be appropriately performed. Provides that the maximum fee must be reasonable in light of the costs of providing those services and the degree of professional skill required to provide the services. Deletes a provision requiring the Attorney General to issue rules related to immigration services by January 1, 1995. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title Section.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. For the purposes of property offenses, defines "governmental property" as funds or other property owned by the State, a unit of local government, or a school district. Provides for enhanced penalties for theft of governmental property. Establishes the same penalties for this offense as the penalties for theft committed in a school or place of worship.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the rules and regulations for the early release of a prisoner on account of good conduct shall also provide that an additional 60 days of good conduct credit shall be awarded to any prisoner who earns a high school diploma or passes the high school level Test of General Educational Development (GED) and receives a GED certificate while the prisoner is incarcerated. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall develop and establish a program designed to increase the number of committed persons enrolled in programs to obtain a high school diploma or to pass the high school level Test of General Educational Development (GED) and receive GED certificates by at least 100% over the 4-year period following the effective date of this amendatory Act. Provides that pursuant to the program, each institution and facility shall report annually to the Director of Corrections on the number of committed persons enrolled in high school education programs and those who pass the high school level Test of General Educational Development (GED) and receive GED certificates, and the number of committed persons who are on waiting lists for those educational programs. Effective immediately.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a consumer who has been the victim of identity theft may place a security freeze on his or her credit report by making a request in writing by certified mail to a consumer credit reporting agency with a valid copy of a police report, investigative report, or complaint that the consumer has filed with a law enforcement agency about unlawful use of his or her personal information by another person. Requires a credit reporting agency to place a security freeze on a consumer's credit report no later than 5 business days after receiving a written request from the consumer. Provides that if the consumer wishes to allow his or her credit report to be accessed for a specific party, parties, or period of time while a freeze is in place, he or she shall contact the consumer credit reporting agency, request that the freeze be temporarily lifted, and provide certain information. Provides that if a security freeze is in place, a credit reporting agency shall not change any of the following official information in a credit report without sending a written confirmation of the change to the consumer within 30 days of the change being posted to the consumer's file: (i) name, (ii) date of birth, (iii) Social Security number, and (iv) address. Provides that certain entities are not required to place a security freeze in a credit report provided certain conditions are met. Defines "proper identification".

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961 and the Unified Code of Corrections. Requires a mandatory sentence of imprisonment for certain violations of the statutes concerning unlawful use of weapons, the unlawful use or possession of weapons by felons, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Provides that a period of probation, periodic imprisonment, or conditional discharge may not be imposed for these violations.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to end the tax credit for donations to certain affordable housing projects with the taxable year ending on December 31, 2011 (now, 2006). Effective immediately.

Repeals the Board and Care Home Registration Act.

Creates the Payday Loan Reform Act. Provides that the Division of Financial Institutions of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall license and regulate entities that offer payday loans (loans under which a lender accepts a post-dated check, authorization to debit a consumer's bank account, or an interest in a consumer's wages as security for the loan). Establishes requirements and restrictions applicable to license applications and licensing. Contains provisions regarding: limitations, requirements, and disclosures applicable to loan agreements, terms of loans, finance charges, and renewal of loans; revocation, suspension, and surrender of licenses; information to be available to the public; complaint handling; hearings; books and records; reports; advertising; prohibited acts; bonding; administrative rules; and other matters. Amends the Financial Institutions Code to provide for the administration of the Payday Loan Reform Act. Amends the Consumer Installment Loan Act to provide that the Act does not apply to payday loans. Provides that a violation of the Payday Loan Reform Act constitutes a violation of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Effective immediately.

Resolves that as the General Assembly grapples with solving the crisis in OB/GYN service, the roles of midwives be included in the discussion.