Sen. Terry Link

Amends the Illinois Fairness in Lending Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the definitions.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that vehicles that are towed or relocated at the request of the owner or operator (as well as those towed or relocated because they are abandoned, lost, stolen, or unclaimed) are subject to a lien under the Labor and Storage Lien (Small Amount) Act. Provides that the provisions of that Act regarding the maximum amount of the lien do not apply to liens covered by the Vehicle Code provision. Provides that with certain enumerated exceptions, personal property in a vehicle subject to a lien under the Code provision is also subject to that lien. Limits the amounts of liens under the provision. Provides that a relocator or other towing service that accepts a properly signed credit card receipt becomes a holder in due course, and neither the holder of the credit card nor the company that issued the credit card may refuse to pay the amount charged, minus the processing charge assessed by the credit card company. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Authorizes any county or municipality to enter into agreements with the Federal Railroad Administration. Provides that the agreements may stipulate that any safety features required by the Federal Railroad Administration may be completed as part of the county's or municipality's normal road maintenance program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Savings Bank Act. Deletes a provision pertaining to temporary service booths at International Fairs in this State. Adds a provision to allow savings banks operating under the Act to make debt or equity investments in corporations or projects designed to promote the development of the community, subject to specified limitations. Effective immediately.

Provides for the ratification of the proposed equal rights amendment to the United States Constitution.

Amends the Election Code. Adds a caption to a Section that states the purpose of the Article governing the use of electronic voting systems.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that no individual or group policy of accident or health insurance or managed care plan may deny or limit coverage or contain any exception or exclusion of benefits, solely because the insured or any dependent of the insured is autistic, developmentally disabled, or diagnosed with a developmental delay.

Creates the Taxing District Tax Levy Validation (2003) Act to validate certain annual appropriation ordinances and tax levy ordinances adopted by taxing districts from 1989 through 2002 together with the taxes assessed, levied, and extended thereon. Amends the Property Tax Code. Allows (now requires) a taxing district to adopt a resolution or ordinance to reduce its tax levy if the district receives a surplus of funds under the State Revenue Sharing Act. Provides that, for the purposes of tax objections based on budget or appropriation ordinances, "municipality" means all municipal corporations in, and political subdivisions of, this State (now, excepts out from this definition a number of units of local government) and eliminates a basis on which a taxpayer may file an objection under these provisions. Applies these changes retroactively. Amends the Illinois Municipal Code to authorize the recovery of costs and attorney fees incurred by a prevailing taxpayer who brings suit on behalf of a municipality to recover certain money or property belonging to the municipality. Effective immediately.

Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. Provides that no financial institution or other person shall be held liable for programming a terminal or choosing not to program a terminal to notify the local law enforcement agency when a consumer enters his or her personal identification number in reverse order. Effective immediately.

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act in the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.