Sen. Martin A. Sandoval

Amends the Property Tax Code to create the Residential Development Tax Law. Imposes a tax of $5,000 on the privilege of constructing new residential housing in the State. Sets forth procedures for the collection of the tax. Provides that the proceeds of the tax must be deposited into the School Construction and Maintenance Fund. Provides that the tax is not imposed if any unit of local government imposes a fee or tax for the construction of the residential housing unit. Effective July 1, 2006.

Creates the School-As-Lender Contracts Prohibition Act. Prohibits a public university in Illinois that offers graduate courses from entering into a school-as-lender contract with a private lending institution, but allows the university to maintain its Direct Loan Programs. Provides that any university that violates the Act shall forfeit $8.91 of State funding for every $100 loaned to the university through a school-as-lender contract.

Creates the Opportunity Scholarship Act. Establishes the Opportunity Scholarship Program. Provides that the Executive Director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall oversee the creation, operation, effectiveness, and adjustment of the scholarship program. Provides that a student is eligible for a scholarship if he or she has graduated from high school with a cumulative average grade of a "B" or greater, has received a composite score on the ACT of at least 24 or a combined verbal and mathematics score on the SAT of at least 1070, has completed a certain number of high school courses in specified subjects, and attends a participating university, college, or technical school. Provides for other initial eligibility requirements, course load, persistence, and grade point requirements for continuing eligibility, treatment of special enrollments, transfer among participating institutions, equivalencies, grievance procedures, and institutional agreements. Effective July 1, 2005.

Amends the Energy Assistance Act. Provides that no later than August 1 of each year, the Director of Revenue shall calculate the total amount of tax paid pursuant to the Gas Revenue Tax Act by persons eligible to receive assistance from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program during the 12-month period ending the previous June 30 and the total amount of Energy Assistance Charges paid by such persons during that same period. Provides that no later than September 1 of each year, the Director of Revenue shall cause an amount equal to the amount calculated under the foregoing provision in that year to be transferred from GRF to the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund.

Creates the Hotel and Service Fee Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Uniform Commercial Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the purpose and rules of construction.

Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Provides that, if a person has been found to have committed 3 or more incidents of medical malpractice, then the Department must refuse to issue a license to the person and must revoke any license issued to the person under the Act. Effective January 1, 2006.

Creates the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact Act. Provides that this State and the other contracting states solemnly agree to the terms of the compact, whose purposes include the promotion of development and implementation of improvements to intercity passenger rail service in the Midwest. Establishes a Commission, with 4 members from each contracting state, serving without compensation from the Commission, to carry out the purposes of the compact. Provides for the election of Commission officers, for meetings and Commission administration, and for financing of the operations of the Commission by the compacting states. Provides that the compact becomes effective among the contracting states upon the agreement of 3 eligible states to participate. Provides for the admission of additional states to the compact, amendment of the compact, the withdrawal, default, or termination of contracting states, and construction and severability of the compact.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning powers transferred to the Department.

Amends the Uniform Commercial Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title of the Sales Article.