Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the definition of local authorities includes road districts. Makes corresponding changes in other provisions. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires payors to notify individual insureds or enrollees within 30 days if the chosen health care physician no longer participates in the physician network. Requires payors to notify insureds or enrollees of their right to transition services under Section 25 of the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act.
Creates the Loan Repayment Assistance for Physicians Act. Requires that the Department of Public Health establish an educational loan repayment assistance program for physicians who practice in Illinois. Provides that for each year that a qualified applicant practices full-time as a physician, the Department shall, subject to appropriation, award a grant to that person in an amount equal to the amount in educational loans that the person must repay that year. Provides that the to tal amount in grants that a person may be awarded shall not exceed $25,000. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Public Health to award grants to all practicing physicians (instead of only to physicians offering obstetrical medical services in rural areas) for the purpose of reimbursing the costs of obtaining malpractice insurance. Requires the Department to establish reasonable conditions, standards, and duties relating to the grants. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides for an increase in the rates paid to every vendor of goods or services under the Medicaid program so that those rates are equal to the rates paid to such vendors under Medicare. Provides for implementation of the rate increase over a 3-year period. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Limits attorney's fees in individual actions to $1,000,000 including expenses. Changes the standards that the court shall apply to determine if a witness qualifies as an expert witness as follows: (i) requires the court to determine whether the witness is board certified or board eligible in the same medical specialties as the defendant and is familiar with the same medical problems or the type of treatment administered in the case (instead of the same relationship of the medical specialties of the witness to the medical problem and the type of treatment in the case); (ii) requires the court to determine whether the witness has devoted 75% (instead of a substantial portion) of his or her working hours to the practice of medicine, teaching, or university-based research in relation to the medical care and type of treatment at issue; and (iii) requires the court to determine whether the witness is licensed by any state or the District of Columbia (instead of just licensed). Amends the Illinois Good Samaritan Act. Provides that the immunity for civil damages provided for services performed without compensation at free medical clinics also applies to physicians and other health care professionals that provide medical treatment, diagnosis, or advice at federally qualified health care centers without fee or compensation. Makes various other changes in other Acts concerning health care. Effective immediately.
Amends the Detection of Deception Examiners Act. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits the use of a voice stress analyzer by any fully trained personnel of a law enforcement agency in the course of its duties. Defines "law enforcement agency". Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Dangerous Animals Act. Increases the penalty for illegally possessing a dangerous animal of the feline genus from a Class C to a Class A misdemeanor. Effective July 1, 2003.
Amends the Election Code. Changes the date of the county convention from the second Monday after the general primary election to the 29th day after the general primary election. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Employee Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Makes certain sign hangers employed by the Department of Transportation eligible for the alternative (State Police) formula. Effective immediately.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Toll Highway Act. Makes a technical change in a Section regarding the powers of the Authority.
Amends the Illinois Good Samaritan Act. Provides that the immunity for civil damages provided for services performed without compensation at free medical clinics also applies to physicians and other health care professionals that provide medical treatment, diagnosis, or advice at federally qualified health care centers without fee or compensation. Makes changes in the definition of "free medical clinic".
