Sen. Edward D. Maloney

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.

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act and the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that an assisted living or shared housing establishment that does not provide medication as an optional service must advise a prospective resident to consult a physician about whether to obtain a flu shot. Provides that an establishment that provides medication administration as an optional service shall annually administer a flu shot to each resident and shall administer or arrange for the administration of a pneumonia shot to each resident who is age 65 or older. Requires hospitals to administer annual flu shots to all patients and to provide or arrange for the administration of pneumonia shots to patients age 65 or over. Effective immediately.

Creates the Arsonist Registration Act. Requires a person who has committed or attempted to commit arson, aggravated arson, residential arson, place of worship arson, or possession of explosives or explosive or incendiary devices to register with the Department of State Police for a 10-year period. Establishes procedures for registration and penalties for violation. Amends the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of State Police to enter arsonist registration information into the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS). Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Arsonist Registration Fund in the State treasury. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that law enforcement records and juvenile court records of a minor may be disclosed to a fire or arson investigator of the Office of the State Fire Marshal or of a local fire department or fire protection district or to a person classified as a peace officer under the Peace Officer Fire Investigation Act during the investigation or prosecution of an arson.

Amends the School Code and the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. In provisions requiring an applicant for employment with a school district to undergo a criminal background investigation, requires that the Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history records database be searched (now requires only the Illinois criminal history records database to be searched). Makes related changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Creates the Suicide Prevention, Education, and Treatment Act. Provides that all programs established under the Act must be at least 3 years in duration. Creates the Suicide Prevention Strategic Planning Committee and sets forth requirements for its membership and operation. Requires the Committee to create the Illinois Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan. Requires the Department of Public Health to establish, no later than September 2005, 5 pilot programs concerning suicide prevention. Sets forth the requirements for those programs. Requires the Committee and the Department to make annual reports to the Governor and the General Assembly. Effective July 1, 2004.

Amends the Public Utilities Act and the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Illinois Commerce Commission and its staff shall work cooperatively with law enforcement authorities, including the Attorney General and State's Attorneys, in their enforcement of consumer protection laws, including the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, provide any materials or documents requested by the Attorney General or a State's Attorney pertaining to the enforcement of consumer protection laws, and, upon written request, forward any complaints regarding alleged violations of any consumer protection law to the Attorney General and the appropriate State's Attorney. Provides that all remedies and authority granted to the Attorney General or the State's Attorneys by the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act shall be available even though the matter is also subject to the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the Public Utilities Act and the Illinois Commerce Commission's rules do not preclude any action that may be available by law, and that the remedies for violations of the Public Utilities Act and its rules are not intended to replace other remedies that may be imposed by the courts for violation of other consumer protection laws and are in addition to, and not in substitution for, other available remedies.

Amends the Illinois Banking Act and the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985. Provides for a civil penalty of $50,000 for violations of law in connection with reverse mortgage loans made to elderly persons. Requires the penalty to be paid into the Community Senior Services and Resources Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. In a provision concerning MIA/POW scholarships, defines "eligible veteran or serviceperson" to include an Illinois National Guard member who is on active duty or is active on a training assignment and who has been declared to be a prisoner of war or missing in action, has died as the result of a service-connected disability, or is permanently disabled from service-connected causes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that upon the filing of a written request demonstrating reasonable cause, the State's Attorney may request a source of bail hearing either before or after the posting of any funds. Provides that if the hearing is granted, before the posting of any bail, the accused must file a written notice requesting that the court conduct a source of bail hearing. Establishes factors that the court must consider at the hearing. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the court shall sentence the defendant to a consecutive sentence when one of the offenses that the defendant was convicted of was concealment of homicidal death or dismembering a human body. Effective immediately.