Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that Illinois Identification Cards and Illinois Disabled Person Identification Cards (beginning January 1, 2004, instead of January 1, 2003) and Illinois driver's licenses issued to a person under the age of 21 must display the date upon which the person becomes 19 (instead of 18) years of age. Amends the Sale of Tobacco to Minors Act, the Smokeless Tobacco Limitation Act, and the Tobacco Accessories and Smoking Herbs Act. Changes the short title of the Sale of Tobacco to Minors Act to the Sale of Tobacco to Underage Persons Act, and changes the full titles of all 3 Acts. Changes references to "minors" to "persons under 19 years of age". Increases from 18 to 19 the age at which a person may lawfully buy cigarettes or other tobacco products, tobacco accessories, or smoking herbs. Effective January 1, 2004.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes confessions, admissions, or communications to a clergyman or practitioner of any religious denomination privileged if: (1) the confession, admission, or communication is intended to be confidential, (2) is made directly to a member of the clergy, and (3) is such that the clergyman is bound to maintain that confidentiality pursuant to a duty under the canon law, church doctrine, practices, discipline, tenet, custom, or practice of his or her denomination. Provides that the provisions concerning clergy privilege are subject to specified reporting requirements of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Makes technical changes in the Section relating to grounds for denying an application for and for revoking and seizing a Firearm Owner's Identification Card.
Amends the Uniform Commercial Code. Makes a technical change to a Section concerning construction against implicit repeal.
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 Regional Transportation Authority Act. Makes a technical change in a Section regarding the general powers of the Authority.
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 Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that a State's Attorney may create within his or her office a bad check diversion program for offenders who agree to voluntarily participate in the program instead of undergoing prosecution. Provides that the program may be conducted by the State's Attorney or by a private entity under contract with the State's Attorney. Provides that the bad check diversion program may require an offender to: (1) pay for, at his or her own expense, and successfully complete an educational class held by the State's Attorney or a private entity under contract with the State's Attorney; (2) make full restitution for the offense; (3) pay a per-check administrative fee. Provides that the State's Attorney, or private entity under contract with the State's Attorney, may recover, in addition to the face amount of the dishonored check or draft, a transaction fee to defray the costs and expenses incurred by a victim who received a dishonored check that was made or delivered by the offender. Provides that the transaction fee shall be paid to the victim as restitution for the offense.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the State Finance Act. Creates the Choose Life Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides for the issuance of special Choose Life license plates. Provides that the Secretary of State shall confer with Illinois Choose Life, Inc. of Illinois regarding the design, color, and format of the plates. Provides that, in addition to normal original issuance and renewal fees, a $25 fee shall be charged for the special plates. Provides that $10 of the additional initial fee and $23 of the additional renewal fee shall be deposited into the Choose Life Fund, and $15 of the additional original fee and $2 of the additional renewal fee shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Provides that, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly and approval by the Secretary of State, all moneys in the Choose Life Fund shall be distributed on a pro-rated basis at the beginning of each fiscal year to all non-governmental, not-for-profit agencies whose services include counseling and meeting the physical needs of pregnant women who are committed to placing their children for adoption. Establishes additional requirements for use of the moneys in the Fund. Effective immediately.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Defines "economic loss" or "economic damages", "non-economic loss" or "non-economic damages", and "compensatory damages" or "actual damages". Distinguishes between economic and non-economic damages in verdicts.