Sen. Martin A. Sandoval

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code and the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Provides that continuation of and notice concerning group hospital, surgical, and major medical coverage and group HMO coverage, with respect to an employee or member who is involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and the end of the period set forth in the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (instead of December 31, 2009), shall be available if the employee or member was insured under the group policy or group contract on the day prior to the termination. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Illinois and Midwest High-Speed Rail Commission. Requires that the Commission prepare and issue a report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the public by December 31, 2010, recommending the best governmental structure for a public-private partnership to design, build, operate, maintain, and finance a high-speed rail system for Illinois and the Midwest.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning resident bidders.

Amends a provision of the Illinois Vehicle Code providing that no vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with pneumatic tires may be operated on non-designated highways when the total weight transmitted to the road surface exceeds 20,000 pounds on a single axle or 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle with no axle within the tandem exceeding 20,000 pounds unless an exemption applies. Adds a truck, not in combination and used exclusively for the collection of non-hazardous waste, with a maximum weight of 22,000 pounds on a single axle and 44,000 pounds on a tandem axle to the list of vehicles that are exempted from the above provision. Provides that a 3-axle truck registered as a Special Hauling Vehicle, used exclusively for the transportation of non-hazardous solid waste, manufactured before or in the model year of 2014, first registered in Illinois before January 1, 2015, and not operated on a highway that is part of the National System of Interstate Highways, is allowed a maximum weight of 22,000 pounds on any single axle and 44,000 pounds on a series of axles greater than 72 inches but not more than 96 inches and is exempted from the federal bridge formula codified by a provision of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Cable and Video Competition Law of 2007 in the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title of the Article.

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning administrative adjudication of parking violations.

Amends the State Finance Act to create the Higher Education Revolving Loan Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that all repayments of loans under the amendatory provisions shall be deposited into the Fund. Provides that all money in the Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the Commission for making loans under the amendatory provisions. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, subject to appropriation, to implement and administer a higher education revolving loan program to provide loans to eligible students for the costs of attending an institution of higher learning in this State. Provides that the loans must be offered at a low interest rate to be determined by the Commission. Provides that an individual may not receive loans in excess of $5,000 or the student's tuition and mandatory fees, whichever is less, per academic year. Provides that loan funds must be paid directly to the institution of higher learning. Provides that the repayment period for a loan may not exceed 15 years. Contains other provisions concerning repayment.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning statutory summary suspensions.