Sen. Chapin Rose

Amends the IMRF and State Employees Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a person who is eligible for the alternative (State Police) retirement annuity under the State Employees Article by virtue of employment as an investigator for the Department of Revenue may transfer certain service credit as a state's attorney or assistant state's attorney and as a sheriff's law enforcement employee from the IMRF Article to the State Employees Article. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Open Land Trust Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the legislative policy of the Act.

Amends the Downstate Police and IMRF Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Authorizes a member of a downstate police fund who has up to 8 years of creditable service under IMRF to transfer his or her service credit under IMRF to that downstate police fund. Authorizes a member of IMRF who has up to 8 years of creditable service in a fund under the Downstate Police Article to transfer his or her service credit under that downstate police fund to IMRF. Provides that if the amount transferred under this amendatory Act is less than the true cost to the receiving pension fund of allowing that creditable service to be established, then the amount of creditable service the person may establish under this amendatory Act shall be reduced by a corresponding amount. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Defines "economic loss" or "economic damages", "non-economic loss" or "non-economic damages", and "compensatory damages" or "actual damages". Distinguishes between economic and non-economic damages in verdicts.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that Monetary Award Program grants also apply to the summer term (now, summer term assistance is made separately on an individual basis according to Illinois Student Assistance Commission policy). Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning state's attorney salaries.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Requires that the report from the reviewing health professional for a pro se plaintiff in a medical malpractice action contain the name and address of the reviewing health professional and documentation of compliance with the qualifying requirements for being a reviewing health professional. Provides that a reviewing health professional that provides frivolous or improper review of a case shall be liable to each of the parties for the reasonable costs and attorneys' fees expended in resolving the case. Provides that a review shall be found frivolous if it is substantially lacking in factual support, is based upon a standard of care or practice that lacks substantial use in the relevant specialty or field of practice, or is made for an improper purpose, such as to harass or cause needless increase in the cost of litigation. Limits the extension to one 90-day extension for a pro se plaintiff who was unable to obtain a reviewing physician's reports and who has not previously voluntarily dismissed an action based upon the same or substantially the same acts, omissions, or occurrences.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to establish and maintain a program devoted to encouraging the rapid establishment of businesses and employers in business parks by developing standards for the development, location, and maintenance of business parks in the State and by certifying business parks that meet or exceed those standards. Requires the Department to advertise the business park certification program. Effective on January 1, 2005.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that the provisions of any ordinance or resolution of a unit of local government that impose restrictions or limitations on the acquisition, possession, transportation, storage, purchase, sale, or other dealing in rifles and shotguns, and ammunition, components, accessories, and accoutrements of rifles and shotguns other than those imposed by the statute concerning the unlawful possession of firearms and firearm ammunition are void. Preempts home rule. Effective immediately.