Creates the Customer Proprietary Network Information Protection Act. Prohibits a person from selling or disclosing or offering to sell or disclose any customer proprietary network information relating to the wireless telephone service account of any resident of this State, with these exceptions: disclosure that is authorized by law or regulation, an order of any agency having regulatory authority over a wireless telephone service provider, or the wireless telephone service accountholder; and disclosure in accordance with a subpoena, warrant, or other lawful process. Provides that a person who knowingly violates the Act commits a Class 4 felony and also commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act accordingly. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
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.
Amends the Tobacco Product Manufacturer's Escrow Act. Provides that a holding of unconstitutionality or the repeal of subdivision (2)(B) of the escrow provisions provided under Section 15 of the Act will not affect, impair, or invalidate any other portion of that Section (now, this severability provision only applies to subdivision (2)(B)(ii)). Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides for issuance of special registration plates for a retired mayor of a city or president of a village or incorporated town at an additional initial charge of $15 and an additional renewal charge of $2. Provides that the additional charges shall go to the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund.
Creates the Full and Fair Noneconomic Damages Act. Provides that, in determining noneconomic damages, the fact finder may not consider: (i) evidence of a defendant's alleged wrongdoing, misconduct, or guilt; (ii) evidence of the defendant's wealth or financial resources; or (iii) any other evidence that is offered for the purpose of punishing the defendant, rather than offered for a compensatory purpose. Provides for bifurcated trials before the same jury in cases involving punitive damages, if requested by any defendant. Outlines the procedure for the bifurcated trials. Provides for court review of noneconomic damage awards. Effective immediately.
Amends the Uniform Commercial Code. Makes changes to Article 7, which deals with documents of title, in conformance with recommendations of the National Conference of Commissioners of Uniform State Laws. Makes conforming changes in other parts of the Uniform Commercial Code.
Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Provides that the Gaming Board shall be increased from 5 to 7 members. Provides that one of the new members shall be a recovering compulsive gambler or a person with specialized knowledge in the field of pathological gambling. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Prohibits a State executive branch employee from being required to distribute information about a State program unless (i) the program is part of the mission of the employee's State agency; (ii) distribution is during the employee's normal course of his or her duties; and (iii) a State agency is the primary identifiable source of the information. Prohibits disciplining a State employee for refusing to perform a prohibited distribution or for refusing to attend program related events that are not part of or directly related to the employee's normal course of duties. Makes violation a Class A misdemeanor. Exempts State employees performing certain research or academic functions. Effective immediately.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that proper venue shall be: (1) in the county of residence of all defendants (instead of the county of residence of any defendant who is joined in the action); (2) in the county of residence of all plaintiffs at the time of the most significant act or omission or the most significant event or transaction occurred out of which the cause of action arose; (3) in the county in which the most significant act or omission or the most significant event or transaction occurred (instead of the county in which the transaction or some part of the transaction occurred) out of which the cause of action arose; (4) in the county in which the most significant act or omission or the most significant event or transaction occurred out of which the cause of action arose, where there is more than one defendant and the defendants reside in different counties or outside the State; or (5) in the county in which the most significant act or omission or the most significant event or transaction occurred out of which the cause of action arose, where there is more than one plaintiff and the plaintiffs resided in different counties or outside the State at the time of the most significant act or omission or the most significant event or transaction occurred out of which the cause of action arose. Removes language allowing the cause of action to be commenced in any county when all of the defendants are nonresidents of the State. Provides that when venue is based on the defendant's or defendants' residence, and additional defendants or third party defendants are added to the claim or cause of action, venue remains proper only if all defendants and third party defendants are residents of the county where the claim or cause of action is filed. Requires that, if the additional defendants or third party defendants are not residents of the same county, upon motion of any party, the claim or cause of action shall be transferred to the county where the most significant act or omission or the most significant event or transaction occurred out of which the cause of action arose. Provides that, if there is no proper venue in this State for any reason, the claim or cause of action shall be dismissed without prejudice. Lists factors that the court shall consider when determining whether to dismiss a cause of action or transfer the cause of action to another venue. Provides that where more than one plaintiff is joined, each plaintiff shall independently establish proper venue. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Counties Code. Creates the Lengthy Trial Fund. Provides that the Fund shall be used to provide full or partial wage replacement or wage supplementation to jurors who serve as petit jurors for more than 10 days. Provides that a fee of $10, which shall be paid to the clerk of the court for deposit into the Fund, shall be charged to each attorney who files a civil case or a pleading in response to a complaint. Amends the Jury Act. Provides that jurors shall not be required or requested to use annual, vacation, or sick leave for time spent responding to a summons for jury duty, time spent participating in the jury selection process, or time spent actually serving on a jury. Provides that an employer may not subject an employee to any adverse employment action by reason of the employee's jury service. Provides that a court shall automatically postpone and reschedule the service of a summoned juror who is employed by an employer with 5 or fewer full-time employees, or the equivalent, if another employee of that employer is summoned to appear during the same period. Provides that an individual may be excused from jury service for a period of up to 24 months, instead of seeking postponement, under the listed circumstances. Raises the fees for failure to attend when summoned to appear as a grand or petit juror to any sum not more than $500 (instead of $100). Amends the State Finance Act to create the Lengthy Trial Fund. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2005.