Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Limits recovery in medical and healing arts malpractice cases to the amount that is covered by the physician's medical malpractice insurance or liability insurance. Provides that, in no event shall a physician be liable in an amount that would cause him or her to forfeit any of his or her personal assets.
Amends the Technology Development Act. Creates a Technology Development Fund for use by the State Treasurer in paying the expenses of investments from the Technology Development Account. Permits the State Treasurer to use any excess for grants to schools to buy computers and to upgrade technology. Permits the State Treasurer to deposit up to 10% of the earnings on Account investments into the Fund. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois State Collection Act of 1986. Provides that the debt collection and write-off provisions of this Act shall not apply to the Illinois Supreme Court or the Illinois circuit courts in the collection of unpaid court fines and fees. Amends the Collection Agency Act. Provides that, at the time a past due account is forwarded to a third-party collector, units of Illinois State or local government or the judiciary may provide for the imposition of a collection fee added to any amounts past due. Provides that the collection fee is to be collected under a contract.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning administrative regulations.
Amends the Probation and Probation Officers Act. Requires a probation officer to release information about a defendant who is serving or has served a sentence of probation or is being investigated for eligibility for probation or about the defendant's immediate family members to law enforcement agencies that are investigating the commission of a crime or crimes or conduct related to criminal activities when the safety of the public is at risk or when the probation officer or information in the records kept by the probation officer is able to assist in the apprehension of the defendant. Provides that law enforcement agencies are entitled to only specified identifying information and may only use the information for law enforcement purposes.
Repeals the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act and abolishes the Health Facilities Planning Board. Amends the Health Care Worker Self-Referral Act to transfer the Board's functions under that Act to the Department of Public Health. Amends various other Acts to eliminate references to the Board or the Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, commencing with the 2006 registration year, a person who has claimed and received a grant under the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act, or the spouse of one of those persons, shall be charged $24, instead of the usual registration fee, for a vehicle displaying the special license plates issued to amateur radio operators.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a provision regarding security after an accident.
Amend the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that if the court determines that the petitioner's failure to file his or her petition for post-conviction relief was not due to the petitioner's culpable negligence, the petitioner may file a petition seeking relief within 30 days after the court makes a determination that the delay was not due to the petitioner's culpable negligence.
Amends the IMRF Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a person who is an active participant in the Judges Retirement System and who has begun receiving a retirement annuity under the IMRF Article may cancel his or her retirement annuity by (1) filing a written election with IMRF and (2) paying to the fund an amount equal to the amount of retirement benefits he or she has received under IMRF, plus interest. Upon cancellation of a retirement annuity, IMRF shall restore the service credits that the person had on the books with IMRF at the time he or she last left service. Provides that restored credits may be used for any of the purposes of the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
