Sen. Kirk W. Dillard

Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that, for purposes of fuel and energy risk management, the Authority's or a Service Board's board of directors may enter into option contracts and other types of agreements for fuel and energy. Requires a determination by the Authority's or the Service Board's board of directors that the option agreement is in the best interests of the Authority or the Service Board. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that a non-expert's opinion or inference testimony is limited to opinions or inferences that are rationally based on his or her perception, helpful to a clear understanding of his or her testimony or the determination of a fact in issue, and not based on scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge. Sets forth requirements regarding: qualifications, testimony, disclosure, and compensation of expert witnesses; bases of expert opinion testimony; limitations on expert testimony; pre-trial hearings and disclosures concerning expert witnesses; precedents to be followed in interpreting the new provisions; interlocutory appeals of rulings on the admissibility of expert evidence; standards to be followed by reviewing courts in determining the admissibility of expert testimony; severability; and other matters. Applies to actions commenced on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act and pending actions in which a trial has not been scheduled or in which a trial has been scheduled more than 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that in any case in which the plaintiff makes a claim based upon exposure to asbestos, the following issues are relevant to the determination of liability and damages, the court shall allow the parties to present evidence concerning those issues, and the trier of fact shall determine liability and damages based on these issues, together with any other relevant issues: (1) whether the plaintiff had exposure to any asbestos manufactured by, processed by, or otherwise associated with any entity other than the defendant; (2) whether the plaintiff's exposure to asbestos was to asbestos exclusively manufactured by, processed by, or otherwise associated with the defendant; and (3) whether there is a causal relationship between the plaintiff's alleged injuries and the asbestos manufactured by, processed by, or otherwise associated with the defendant. Effective immediately.

Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Sets forth prohibitions and restrictions relating to the activities of a person required to register under the Act with respect to the person's clients and former clients and conflicts of interest with respect to clients.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure in relation to class actions. Adds additional requirements concerning: prerequisites to the maintenance of a class action (including provisions that a class action may be certified only if: the plurality of the class members are residents of Illinois or if the plurality of the class members were physically in Illinois when the cause of action arose; and a class action is superior to other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy); where a class action may be brought; preliminary determinations to be made by the court; notice to the class; coupon and other noncash settlements; loss by class members under a proposed settlement; and attorney's fees.

Amends the Mosquito Abatement District Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning a petition for a referendum on the question of organizing a mosquito abatement district.

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 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; or (3) 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. 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 venue for a corporation, railroad or bridge company, foreign corporation, partnership, or voluntary unincorporated association shall be in the county in which the corporation, company, partnership, or association has its principal place of business. Provides that venue of a cause of action brought against a public, municipal, governmental, or quasi-municipal corporation shall be in the county in which its principal office is located or the county in which the most significant act or omission or the most significant event or transaction occurred. 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 Trusts and Trustees Act. Permits a trustee to terminate a trust if it has a market value of less than $100,000 and the costs of continuing the trust will substantially impair the purpose of the trust. Outlines how distribution shall be made. Provides that a trustee who is an income beneficiary may not participate as a trustee in the exercise of termination power. Provides that the trustee shall give notice to the persons entitled to distribution at least 30 days prior to the effective date of the termination of the trust. Provides that the provisions of the Section concerning small trust termination shall not apply to trusts for domestic or pet animals. Effective immediately.

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 the prohibition against the award of punitive damages in healing art and legal malpractice cases and of public policy.

Mourns the death of William Geoffrey "Bill" Huskisson of Downers Grove, Illinois.