Sen. Chapin Rose

Amends the Health Care Arbitration Act. Makes changes to the process by which a health care arbitration agreement may be cancelled by any signatory. Removes language requiring the re-affirmation of the health care arbitration agreement during the discharge planning process. Provides that no health care arbitration agreement shall be valid after 10 (instead of 2) years from the date of its execution.

Amends the Court of Claims Act. Provides that within 120 days after the presentation of all relevant evidence, whether by submission of documents or by court appearance, as directed by the court, the court shall make a final determination. Grants default judgment to the claimant in cases where the court does not make a final determination within the 120-day period. Provides that any final determination of the Court of Claims is reviewable by appeal as in other civil cases.

Amends the Election Code. Requires a deputy registrar to return completed voter registration materials to the proper election authority within 2 business days after receipt until the last day for accepting registrations before an election (now, within 7 days until the 35th day before an election and within 48 hours between the 35th and 28th days before an election). Prohibits the State Board of Elections and the Secretary of State from adopting rules that requires otherwise for Secretary of State employees serving as deputy registrars at driver's license facilities.

Amends the Election Code. Permits children under age 10 to accompany their parent or guardian into the voting booth if requested of the election officers and if the election officers determine that the children are not likely to disrupt or interfere with the voting process or influence the casting of a vote.

Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act. Permits a landlord to perform a criminal background check on any person seeking to lease property from the landlord or sublease property from a tenant of the landlord. Provides that the landlord may refuse to lease the property or may refuse to allow the sublease if the criminal background check of the person contains any felony convictions or indicates that the person is a registered sex offender. Preempts home rule.

Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the purpose of the Act.

Appropriates $7,000,000 for FY06 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Agriculture for grants to farmers to add additives to anhydrous ammonia to deter theft of anhydrous ammonia and prevent the product from being used to manufacture methamphetamine. Effective July 1, 2005.

Amends the Drug Court Treatment Act. Requires (rather than permits) the Chief Judge of each judicial circuit to establish a drug court program.

Amends the Department of Agriculture Law. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall conduct a public information campaign for farmers on the protocols to be followed when a farmer encounters a suspected site in which methamphetamine is being manufactured. Effective July 1, 2005.

Amends the State Finance Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that, if the accused does not appear on the date set for a required appearance in a traffic or conservation case and the court enters an order of failure to appear and an arrest warrant for the accused, the accused shall be assessed a penalty of not less than $100 and not more than $200 upon his or her admission to bail, in addition to any bail that the accused is required to deposit. Provides that the penalty may not be used for the payment of court costs or fines. Provides that the court clerk shall remit the penalty to the State Treasurer for deposit into the Failure to Appear Fund, a new special fund in the State treasury and that moneys in the Fund shall be used solely to reimburse law enforcement agencies for executing arrest warrants for failure to appear and transporting arrested persons to the county jail.