Sen. Denny Jacobs

Creates the Hypnotist Consumer Protection Act. Contains a short title only.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Emergency Telephone System Act. Provides that the term "sophisticated system" may also include a computerized warning system that utilizes automatic out-going call devices or other telecommunications or information service equipment and services to provide warnings of impending or threatened emergencies. Provides that no telecommunications carrier or supplier of any portion of a basic or sophisticated system shall be liable for any civil damages as a result of any act or omission, except willful or wanton misconduct, in connection with designing, developing, adopting, installing, operating, implementing, or maintaining (now, developing, adopting, operating, or implementing) any plan or system required or permitted (now, required) by the Emergency Telephone System Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Prohibits health care providers from seeking payment from insureds until a final determination of the Association's liability has been made. Excludes from coverage certain variable rate instruments. Excludes from coverage certain self-funded employer and employee benefit plans. Removes authority of the Association to loan money to an impaired insurer. Sets forth conditions under which coverage is provided to residents and nonresidents. Makes changes with respect to the manner assessments are made upon insurers. Limits the liability of the Association and the Director of Insurance with respect to the operation of the Association. Effective January 1, 2005.

Amends the Citizens Utility Board Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning qualifications of the executive director.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. In the provisions concerning health benefits for benefit recipients under the Downstate Teachers Article of the Illinois Pension Code (TRIP); makes the following changes: Deletes the provisions that repeal the Sections concerning the TRIP provisions on July 1, 2004. Makes the benefits under the TRIP provisions equivalent to the benefits for State employees. Increases the contribution for active teachers and school districts. Increases the minimum coverage for retired teachers and their dependents. Requires the Economic and Fiscal Commission to deliver an annual report to the General Assembly concerning the liabilities and projected liabilities of the TRIP program. Amends the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2004, an amount equal to the amount by which required employer and employee contributions were insufficient to pay for the costs of the benefits provided under the TRIP provisions in the preceding fiscal year shall be annually appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the State Comptroller for deposit into the Teacher Health Insurance Security Fund. Effective immediately.

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

Amends the Downstate Teachers Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Extends the deadline for application for early retirement without discount from June 30, 2005 to June 30, 2010; also reduces the required contribution for some members. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. 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 July 1, 2003.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the executive committee of domestic mutual companies.