Sen. Jil Tracy

Amends the Fire Protection and Rescue Services Article of the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act. For purposes of the Article, defines "local public entity" to include, but not be limited to, a private person, organization, or corporation that provides support or assistance to a fire department, fire protection district, or rescue squad district during an emergency at the specific request of the fire chief or the chief's designee of a fire department, fire protection district, or rescue squad district pursuant to a formal mutual aid system such as the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Removes language restricting the applicability of fines for exceeding vehicle weight limits. Effective immediately.

Amends provisions of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act concerning fees and costs for representation of a child. Provides that: an appointed attorney, guardian ad litem, or child representative's failure to submit a detailed invoice for each 90-day period precludes the collection of costs, fees, and disbursements for services rendered in that period; an appointed attorney, guardian ad litem, or child representative may not bill the parties any fees for the preparation and presentation of an invoice; the court may not award lump sum fees to an appointed attorney, guardian ad litem, or child representative; the court may not authorize payment of bills that are not properly itemized; compensation for an appointed attorney, guardian ad litem, or child representative may be paid at a reasonable rate not to exceed $150 per hour; and that this rate shall be adjusted each year in accordance with the consumer price index. Deletes language providing that: the court may not order payment by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services if the Department is providing child support enforcement services under the Illinois Public Aid Code; and fees and costs payable to an appointed attorney, guardian ad litem, or child representative are by implication deemed to be in the nature of support of the child and are within the exceptions to discharge in bankruptcy unless the court orders otherwise. Makes other changes.

Urges the Illinois Senate and the Illinois House of Representatives to create a joint legislative cancer caucus, to be known as the Illinois Legislative Cancer Caucus, to provide a forum for discussing and evaluating public policies affecting cancer research, treatment, education, and prevention efforts.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that an inmate is ineligible for the award of meritorious good conduct credit if the inmate was convicted of: (1) a violent crime as defined in the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act committed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act or (2) a second or subsequent violation of driving under the influence or aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol or any other drug or drugs, or intoxicating compound or compounds, or any combination thereof committed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, if the taxpayer requests and is owed a refund as a result of an overpayment of any tax due under this Act, and if the refund is not paid within 180 days after the return is filed, then the taxpayer may request that the amount of the unpaid refund be applied to the taxpayer's liability in any future tax year. The taxpayer shall not be required to pay penalties or interest on the portion of the future tax liability paid with the refunded amounts. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. In a Section concerning estimated taxes, provides that, if a taxpayer is entitled to a refund after the payment of the fourth installment, then he or she may apply the amount of the refund to the first installment due in the next taxable year.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Increases minimum liability coverage requirements to $100,000 for bodily injury or death of any one person in any one motor vehicle accident (rather than $20,000), $300,000 for bodily injury or death of 2 or more persons in any one motor vehicle accident (rather than $40,000), and $100,000 for injury to or destruction of property (rather than $15,000).

Amends the Illinois Fertilizer Act of 1961. Makes changes to the definitions. Provides for labeling requirements for fertilizers or custom blends. Provides that it shall be unlawful for misbranding or for the adulteration of a fertilizer within the State. Provides that the Director of the Department of Agriculture may refuse to register a fertilizer or cancel or suspend a fertilizer registration, custom blend, or fertilizer if certain specified claims are made. Permits the Director to issue and serve a written stop sale, stop use, or regulate removal upon an owner, operator, manager, or agent in charge of fertilizer. Creates the Nutrient Research and Education Council (NREC) for the purpose of pursuing nutrient research and providing educational programs to ensure the adoption and implementation of practices that optimize nutrient use efficiency, ensure soil fertility, and address environmental concerns with regard to fertilizer use. Provides that the Department has the authority issue subpoenas, temporary restraining orders, preliminary or permanent injunctions against any person from violating or continuing to violate any provision of the Act. Provides for penalties based on type of violation. Makes other corresponding changes. Effective January 1, 2012.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code, the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Code of Civil Procedure, and the Good Samaritan Act to reenact certain provisions of Public Act 94-677, which was declared to be unconstitutional. Includes explanatory and validation provisions. Makes changes relating to the reenactment, including revisory changes. Also makes these substantive changes: Amends the Code of Civil Procedure to lower the rate of interest payable on judgments; to provide for annual indexing of those rates; and to delay the accrual of interest in certain cases where a federal Medicare lien may exist against the judgment. Includes an inseverability provision. Effective immediately.