Sen. Kirk W. Dillard

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall, by January 1, 2012, establish uniform procedures by which interested parties, including victims, law enforcement, prosecutors, and the Prisoner Review Board, may be notified of, and comment upon, the projected early release of an inmate because of an award of good conduct credit for meritorious service. Provides that these rules and regulations must provide that comments be submitted in writing or electronically. Provides that upon promulgation of these rules and regulations, the Department of Corrections may consider and shall include in the inmate's record any comments submitted by interested parties. Effective immediately.

Re-enacts and repeals various statutory provisions to eliminate changes that were made by Public Act 89-7, which was held to be void in its entirety by the Illinois Supreme Court in Best v. Taylor Machine Works. Repeals a provision of the Code of Civil Procedure concerning standards for economic and non-economic damages that was added by Public Act 94-677 and was specifically declared unconstitutional by the Illinois Supreme Court in Lebron v. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital and the Sorry Works! Pilot Program Act, which was declared unconstitutional because of the inseverability clause contained in Public Act 94-677. Effective immediately.

Creates the Office of the Repealer Act. Establishes the Office of the Repealer within the Office of the Governor. Requires the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint an individual to serve as the State Repealer. Sets forth the duties of the State Repealer. Amends the Legislative Reference Bureau Act. Directs the Legislative Reference Bureau to cooperate with the Office of the Repealer to the extent necessary to complete the duties assigned to the Office of the Repealer. Effective January 1, 2013.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that the Regional Transportation Authority shall monthly provide the Department of Public Health with a list of riders that receive free or reduced fares under the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that the list shall include an individual's name, address, and date of birth. Provides that within 2 weeks after receipt of the list the Department shall report back to the Authority any discrepancies that indicate that a rider receiving free or reduced fare services is deceased and that the Authority, upon receipt of the report from the Department, shall take appropriate steps to remove any deceased individual's name from the list of individuals eligible under the free or reduced fare programs.

Amends the Trust and Trustees Act. Defines terms. Provides that an "unascertainable beneficiary" may be represented by and bound by another beneficiary having a substantially similar (instead of a substantially identical) interest on a particular question or dispute. Provides that if a trust beneficiary is an unrepresented minor or a disabled person, a parent of the beneficiary may represent and bind the beneficiary, provided that there is no material conflict of interest between the minor or disabled person and either of that person's parents on that particular question or dispute. Further provides that this representative may on a particular question or dispute represent and bind an unborn beneficiary or an unascertainable beneficiary who has an interest that is substantially similar to the interest of the minor or disabled person, but only if there is no material conflict of interest between the minor or the disabled person and the unborn or the unascertainable person. Makes other corresponding changes. Provides that conversion of a trust to a total return trust may be made with a trustee and all primary beneficiaries (instead of with a trustee and all beneficiaries and presumptive remaindermen beneficiaries) in accordance with other provisions of the Act. Provides that changes made apply to all trusts in existence on the effective date and to all trusts created after that date. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Defines "meritorious service" in regards to the Director of Corrections' authority to award additional good conduct credit for meritorious service in specific instances. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure and the Good Samaritan Act to reenact certain provisions of Public Act 94-677, which was declared to be unconstitutional. Includes explanatory and validation provisions. Makes changes relating to the reenactment. Also makes these substantive changes: Amends the Code of Civil Procedure to lower the rate of interest payable on judgments; and to delay the accrual of interest in certain cases where a federal Medicare lien may exist against the judgment. Includes an inseverability provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961 relating to computer tampering. In addition to other elements of the offense, provides that a person commits the offense when he or she knowingly and without the authorization of an account holder or in excess of the authority granted to him or to her accesses or causes to be accessed by any means an e-mail, instant messaging, or social networking website account. Defines "account holder". Establishes penalties. Amends the Harassing and Obscene Communications Act. Includes in the offense of harassment through electronic communications, knowingly and by any means making repeated, unwanted, and harassing communication to another person.

Creates the Precious Metal Purchasing Act. Provides that a person who is in the business of purchasing precious metal shall obtain a proof of ownership, create a record of the sale, and verify the identity of the seller. Provides that a person who is in the business of purchasing precious metal shall not pay for the precious metal in cash and shall record the method of payment. Requires the purchaser to keep a record of the sale for one year or, if the purchase amount is over $500, for 5 years. Provides that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a petty offense and subject to a fine not exceeding $500. Provides that the Attorney General may inspect records, investigate an alleged violation, and take action to collect civil penalties.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Requires all persons who must file a statement of economic interests to disclose the name of any immediate family member who is a registered lobbyist. Defines "immediate family member" as a spouse, parent, child, stepchild, adopted child, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, grandparent, or grandchild.