Sen. Denny Jacobs

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change to a Section concerning gender references.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning downstate firefighters.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a special use must first be established as a permitted use as of right before it may be established as a special use in one or more other zoning districts (now, a use may be permitted in one or more zoning districts and may be a special use in one or more other zoning districts). Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a person who is employed by a private business enterprise engaged in the business of providing schools with temporary substitute teachers is not a "teacher" and is neither entitled to service credit nor required to make employee contributions with respect to that employment. Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board may contract with a private business entity to train and provide qualified temporary substitute teachers, and that those qualified temporary substitute teachers may be employees of the private business entity rather than employees of the school board. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Establishes the procedure by which a payor for health care services may recoup payments made to health care professionals and providers. Requires a written explanation for any recoupment. Provides for an appeal process. Effective December 1, 2003.

Amends the River Conservancy Districts Act to require the bond entered into by each of the trustees to be held in a bank or trust company, qualified to do business in Illinois, located in the district. Deletes a provision allowing a number of trustees smaller than a quorum to adjourn from day to day.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that there is created in the Department a tourism authority to be known as the Illinois Tourism Authority. The Authority shall consist of 14 members appointed by the Governor representing the tourism industry and chosen to represent different regions of the State. Serving as ex-officio members of the Authority are the Director of the Department, the Director of the Illinois Bureau of Tourism, and the Lieutenant Governor. The members shall serve without compensation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes a technical change in a Section relating to long-term care insurance.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the territory of any high school district and fewer than all of the elementary school districts included within the high school district may be organized into a community unit school district. Provides that any such elementary school district not participating in the reorganization shall remain an elementary school district, and the territory of that elementary school district shall be designated a non-high school district. Effective July 1, 2003.