Sen. Pamela J. Althoff

Mourns the death of Lance Cpl. Jonathan W. Collins.

Amends the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. In a provision stating that all information received by the Department of Revenue from returns filed under the Act, or from any investigation conducted under the Act, shall be confidential, except for official purposes, includes as an official purpose the furnishing of financial information to a non-home rule unit that has imposed a tax similar to that imposed by this Act pursuant to the successful passage of a public referendum by a majority of the registered voters of the community if (i) the chief executive of the unit requests the information and (ii) the non-home rule unit with referendum approval agrees in writing to the requirements of the confidentiality provisions of the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Provides for grandparent, great-grandparent, and sibling visitation. Establishes who may file a petition for visitation. Creates a rebuttable presumption that a fit parent's actions and decisions regarding grandparent, great-grandparent, or sibling visitation are not harmful to the child's mental, physical, or emotional health. Provides that a higher standard of proof shall be required to rebut the presumption concerning a fit parent's actions and decisions if both of the parents of the child agree that the grandparent, great-grandparent, or sibling should not be granted visitation rights. Provides that the grandparent, great-grandparent, or sibling of a parent whose parental rights have been terminated through an adoption proceeding may not petition for visitation rights. Lists factors that may be considered in determining whether to grant visitation.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that a prosecution for unlawful sale of firearms, unlawful purchase of a firearm, gunrunning, or defacing identification marks of firearms may be commenced within 10 years after the commission of the offense. Enhances the penalties for various offenses committed while armed with a firearm while wearing or in possession of body armor. Enhances the penalties for gunrunning based upon the the number of firearms illegally transferred. Provides that the offense of unlawful sale of firearms applies to the sale or gift of a firearm to a person who does not possess a valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card and who is required to possess the Card before the person may purchase or receive a firearm. Provides for the forfeiture of property used to commit the offense of gunrunning and for the forfeiture of any moneys, profits, or proceeds a person acquired in whole or in part as a result of committing the offense of gunrunning. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Banking Act and the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985. Provides for a civil penalty of $50,000 for violations of law in connection with reverse mortgage loans made to elderly persons. Requires the penalty to be paid into the Community Senior Services and Resources Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Establishes various conditions of parole and mandatory supervised release required of registered sex offenders. Effective January 1, 2005.

Amends the Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Provides that if a prescription drug benefit is added to the federal Medicare program, State-operated senior prescription drug programs shall be realigned to ensure that Illinois residents qualify for at least the same level of benefits available to them prior to implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Requires a Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Review Committee report on the matter within 60 days after the Medicare prescription drug benefit becomes law. Effective immediately.

Amends the Boat Registration and Safety Act. Provides that, in cases involving death or personal injury, the failure of the operator of a watercraft involved in an accident to remain at the scene as required by the Act is a Class A misdemeanor. Provides that a person who has failed to remain at the scene of an accident involving death or personal injury as required by the Act must, within a specified time, report specified information concerning the accident at a police station or sheriff's office near the location where the accident occurred. Provides that failure to comply with this reporting requirement is a Class 4 felony in a case not involving the death of a person and a Class 2 felony in a case involving the death of a person. Provides that, if the defendant is sentenced to a term of imprisonment in a case involving the death of a person, the term shall be not less than 3 years and not more than 14 years. Provides for mandatory suspension of watercraft operation privileges under specified circumstances. Increases penalties for reckless operation of a watercraft. Provides that penalties for operating a watercraft under the influence also apply if a person is in actual physical control of a watercraft. Provides that a second or subsequent violation of operating a watercraft while watercraft operating privileges are suspended is a Class 4 felony. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a person may not receive court supervision more than once for operating a watercraft under the influence. Makes other changes.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Creates the offense of cross burning, defined as burning or causing to be burned a cross with the intent to intimidate another person or group of persons. Provides that the penalty for the offense is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense.

Amends the Township Code and the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that a township or a road district may borrow money from a bank or financial institution if the money is to be repaid within 10 years (instead of one year). Provides that a township road district, with the approval of the town board of trustees, may borrow money from the town fund, if the money is to be repaid within 10 years (now, one year). Provides that a township may construct a township hall under contracts providing for payment over a period of time of not more than 10 years (instead of 5 years). Provides that a referendum is required for a township to lease, for a period of longer than 10 years (instead of 5 years), a township hall, a multi-purpose senior center, or a combination. Makes a technical change to a cross-reference. Effective immediately.