Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Prohibits the use of the name, image, or voice of State executive branch constitutional officer in a commercial solicitation on radio or television or in a commercial newspaper or commercial magazine. Effective immediately.
Appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for deposit into the Illinois Equal Justice Fund. Effective July 1, 2005.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes a technical change in provisions concerning the maintenance of class actions.
Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Open Meetings Act. Redefines "meeting" to include gatherings, whether in person or by telephone call, electronic means, or other means of contemporaneous interactive communication, of a majority of a quorum of the members of a public body held for the purpose of discussing public business (now, a gathering of a majority of a quorum of the members of a public body held for the purpose of discussing public business). Provides that if a majority of a quorum of the members of a public body are physically present at a meeting, then a majority of a quorum may allow a member of that body to attend a meeting by other means, subject to certain limitations. Defines "other means" as by telephone call, electronic means, or other means of contemporaneous interactive communication. Provides that a quorum of the members must be physically present for the public body to vote on the issuance of bonds. Provides that transmissions by other means made during a meeting by a member who is in attendance shall be made available to the public contemporaneously with the transmission and in such a manner or format that the public body and the public may contemporaneously hear or observe the transmission. Allows a public body to adopt rules concerning attendance at meetings by electronic means. Requires the agenda to disclose all locations at which members of the public may attend a meeting at which one or more members are present by a means other than physical presence. Requires the physical presence of the person testifying in any contested case, as defined in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, unless all parties waive the requirement of physical presence. Requires minutes of all public bodies to reflect whether members were physically present or present by other means. Makes other changes.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that any judgment or award of non-economic damages in healing art and legal malpractice cases in excess of 100% of the economic damages shall be presumed punitive, exemplary, vindictive, or aggravated in violation of this prohibition and of public policy.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that a special government agent may be guilty of official misconduct as well as a public officer or employee. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Prohibits the use of the name, image, or voice of State executive branch constitutional officer in a commercial solicitation on radio or television or in a commercial newspaper or commercial magazine. Effective immediately.
Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that any party to an action for actual damages shall have the right to demand a trial by jury. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Finance Act. Exempts the Underground Storage Tank Fund from the Act's administrative charge-back provisions. Effective immediately.
