Sen. Richard J. Winkel, Jr.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Changes the name of the Illinois Incentive for Access Grant Program to the Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access Grant Program. For these grants, provides that the maximum amount paid per applicant per year is $1,000 for applicants with an expected family contribution of $0 and $500 for applicants with an expected family contribution of $500 or less but more than $0. Requires the Commission to give priority to applicants with an expected family contribution of $0. Effective July 1, 2004.

Amends the Election Code and the Counties Code. Authorizes advisory referenda concerning (i) the number of members of the county board to be elected, (ii) whether the board members should be elected from single-member districts, multi-member districts, or at-large, (iii) whether voters will have cumulative voting rights in the election of county board members, or (iv) any combination of the preceding 3 questions. Provides that the advisory referenda may be initiated by an ordinance of the county board or by a petition containing the signatures of 3% of the registered voters of the county. Removes this type of advisory referendum from the general limit of 3 public questions per ballot. Provides that voters may have cumulative voting rights in the election of county board members in multi-member districts or at-large elections. Provides that questions concerning whether the board members should be elected from single-member districts, multi-member districts, or at-large, including whether voters have cumulative voting rights, may be decided by a referendum or by ordinance (now, only by ordinance). Provides that, if the method is determined by referendum, the referendum requires the signatures of at least 3% of the registered voters and it cannot be changed by ordinance for 12 years. Provides that, if a county board determines that members shall be elected by districts, the county board shall specify whether voters will have cumulative voting. Effective immediately.

Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Denies benefits resulting from an individual's death to persons convicted of financially exploiting, abusing, or neglecting the decedent while the decedent was an elderly person.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Beginning with the 2004-2005 academic year, provides that the tuition charged an undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident shall not exceed the amount that the student was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the university as an Illinois resident if that student enrolled not more than 3 and one-half academic years before.

Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that a decedent's estate qualifies for summary administration if the gross value of the estate does not exceed $100,000 (rather than $50,000).

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code relating to coverage for subjects of abuse. Extends the restrictions on denying coverage for subjects of abuse to property and casualty insurers.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that school buses may be equipped with alternately flashing head lamps, which may be operated in conjunction with the 8-lamp flashing signal system required under the Code.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a speech and language pathologist who possesses a certificate under Article 21 of the School Code shall neither be required to have an employment or contractual relationship directly with the school district he or she serves nor be prohibited from serving in a school setting while employed by a person or entity other than a school district if the speech and language pathologist neither performs nor offers to perform any functions in the school setting that impart information in a classroom or classroom-like setting involving one or more students. Effective immediately.

Names the State of Illinois Building at 160 North La Salle Street in Chicago the Michael Bilandic Building.