Sen. Chapin Rose

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2004, moneys contributed during the taxable year by the taxpayer for the purchase of an Illinois prepaid tuition contract, excluding moneys rolled over from another qualified tuition program account, may be deducted from the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income in arriving at base income for Illinois income tax purposes. Exempts the deduction from the sunset provisions of the Act. Amends the Illinois Prepaid Tuition Act to include a reference to the deduction. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Requires the court to determine whether counseling is appropriate for a child who is involved in a custody proceeding. Authorizes the court to order counseling and apportion the cost between the parties.

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 Illinois Public Aid Code in relation to Medicaid. Requires the Department of Public Aid to reimburse advance practice nurses for mental health services they provide, as authorized by Illinois law, to Medicaid recipients. Requires the Department of Public Aid to develop a method to reimburse providers for mental health services provided by telemedicine. Effective immediately.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that a minor who has been adjudicated delinquent and made a ward of the court may be placed in a juvenile detention home for a period not to exceed 30 days if the minor is at least 10 years of age and under 21 years of age. Provides that the court may sentence a delinquent minor who has attained 17 years of age to confinement in a county jail. Provides that the court may sentence a minor who is at least 17 years of age and who has violated the terms of his or her probation to a county jail for a period of time not to exceed 6 months.

Amends the State Finance Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the State Aid Continuing Appropriation Law. Makes the Law applicable to fiscal year 2004 and each fiscal year thereafter. Provides that if the General Assembly fails to make Common School Fund appropriations to the State Board of Education in fiscal year 2004 and in each fiscal year thereafter sufficient to fund the general State aid, supplemental general State aid, and supplementary grants in aid provisions of the State aid formula, the Law shall constitute an irrevocable and continuing appropriation from the Common School Fund of all amounts necessary for those purposes. Removes a provision that provides for the Law's repeal on June 30, 2003. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that if the receipt of a firearm does not violate federal or State law, the Department of State Police shall (1) assign a unique identification number to the transfer; (2) provide the licensee with the number; and (3) destroy all records of the system with respect to the call, other than the identifying number and the date the number was assigned, and all records of the system relating to the person or the transfer within 24 hours. Provides that if the transfer of a firearm is denied by the Department of State Police, the Department of State Police may keep the records of a denial until the denial is appealed and overturned, or as long as necessary for a criminal prosecution. Provides that approvals issued by the Department of State Police for the purchase of a firearm are valid for 30 days from the date of issue. Provides that the Department of State Police may not retain, copy, or distribute any information previously collected under the dial up system.

Amends the University of Illinois Trustees Act, Southern Illinois University Management Act, Chicago State University Law, Eastern Illinois University Law, Governors State University Law, Illinois State University Law, Northeastern Illinois University Law, Northern Illinois University Law, and Western Illinois University Law. Provides that the Governor must appoint trustees from a list of nominees submitted by the university's alumni association. Each list must contain the name of at least 3 qualified individuals who are affiliated with each political party that is eligible for appointment. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that no transfers may be made, in order to help defray the State's operating costs for the fiscal year, from the Road Fund or the State Construction Account Fund on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Effective July 1, 2004.