Sen. Denny Jacobs

Mourns the death in Iraq of U.S. Army National Guard Sergeant Landis Garrison of Rapids City.

Mourns the death of Marylee Carpentier of East Moline.

Amends the Forest Preserve Zoological Parks Act. Provides that the zoo must be open without charge a total number of days, to be scheduled at any time during the calendar year, equivalent to at least one day for each 7 days the zoological park is open during the calendar year (now, at least one day each week). Allows the managing authority of the zoological park to limit the number of school groups that may attend the zoo on any given day and to establish other rules and regulations that reasonably ensure public safety, accessibility, and convenience, including without limitation standards of conduct and supervision.

Amends the Recreational Trails of Illinois Act with respect to the Off-Highway Vehicle Trails Fund. Removes the prohibition of using moneys in the Fund for construction of motorized recreational trails on Department of Natural Resources owned or managed land. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Allows certain retired teachers to remain in retirement status and continue to receive their retirement annuities while engaging in employment in a designated subject shortage area. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 to provide that health insurance benefits under the State and TRIP plans are suspended while the annuitant is covered as an active teacher. Amends the School Code to require regional superintendents of schools to certify school district compliance with certain requirements of the program. Effective immediately.

Creates the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Prescription Drug Discount Program Act. Provides that the Program shall be administered by the Department of Central Management Services to enable eligible senior citizens and disabled persons to purchase prescription drugs at discounted prices and that the Department shall (i) enroll eligible seniors and disabled persons into the Program, (ii) enter into rebate agreements with drug manufacturers, either itself or through an agent, and (iii) reimburse pharmacies for the cost of providing discounts using the proceeds from the manufacturer rebate agreements. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Prescription Drug Discount Program Fund into which rebate payments and enrollment fees shall be deposited. Provides for an initial transfer from the General Revenue Fund into the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Prescription Drug Discount Program Fund of $27,000,000 to be repaid to the General Revenue Fund out of rebate payments. Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department shall establish a Prescription Drug Purchasing Policy Office to determine and implement strategies for best price purchasing practices for State agencies that pay for prescription drugs by direct purchase or by other arrangements. Effective July 1, 2003.

Amends the Simplified Municipal Telecommunications Tax Act. Provides that the Department of Revenue may not require a retailer to furnish information in its return that is not specifically required by the Act to be reported and is not required in order to ascertain the amount of taxes that are due and payable on the return. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that the county board may impose a $25 court services fee (now, the board may impose differential rates for the various types or categories of criminal and civil cases, with the maximum rate not to exceed $15). Effective December 1, 2003.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning notices of cancellation.

Amends the Adoption Act. Provides that the exception to the requirement of consents or surrenders for adoption for a person found by the court to be the father of the child as a result of criminal sexual abuse or assault applies when the sexual abuse or assault results in (i) a founded, cleared, or suspended police report, (ii) an indicated report of child sexual abuse as defined in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act that involved sexual penetration of the mother, or (iii) a sworn affidavit provided by a licensed psychologist or a licensed social worker.