Sen. Richard J. Winkel, Jr.

Makes appropriations to the University of Illinois for its FY05 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2004.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Care Purchasing Group Act, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Serve Organization Act, and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act. Provides that upon the written request of a sponsor of a group health plan, the health insurance issuer providing health insurance coverage under the plan must report to the sponsor information from the 12 months preceding the date of the report regarding: (1) the total amount of charges submitted to the health insurance issuer for persons covered under the plan; (2) the total amount of payments made by the health insurance issuer to health care providers for persons covered under the plan; and (3) to the extent available, information on claims paid by type of health care provider.

Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Removes the prohibition against contingent fees based on the passage or defeat of legislation or on the approval or veto of legislation. Prohibits contingent fees based on the outcome of legislative, executive, or administrative action.

Amends the Real Estate License Act of 2000. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning child care for TANF recipients, provides that beginning July 1, 2004, the rates paid by the Department of Human Services to all providers of child care services who are licensed under the Child Care Act of 1969 shall be increased by an amount equal to 2% of the rates in effect on June 30, 2004. Effective July 1, 2004.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging by providing that, beginning July 1, 2004, vendors of homemaker, chore, and housekeeping services shall receive a rate increase of $1.16 per hour if at least $0.86 of that increase is used to increase the wages of homemakers and chore housekeepers. Provides that vendors receiving this increase must submit proof to the Department, either (i) by a an audited supplemental to the Direct Service Workers cost report or (ii) by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, that they have increased homemakers' and chore housekeepers' wages by $0.86 per hour. Effective on July 1, 2004.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Requires the Director of Aging, in coordination with the Director of Public Aid and the Director of Public Health, to analyze the distribution of housing, health services, and supportive services for seniors in each geographic area of the State and to identify and designate critical access service areas. Provides that, at the end of each State fiscal year, any unspent and unencumbered General Revenue Fund appropriations for long-term care for seniors shall be deposited into the Alternative Long-Term Care Services for Seniors Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used to fund specified alternative long-term care services with priority given to the distribution of funds for services in critical access service areas. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Alternative Long-Term Care Services for Seniors Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective immediately.

Designates the portion of Interstate Route 74 that begins with the intersection of Interstate 74 with Interstate Route 57 and ends with the intersection of Interstate 74 with U.S. Route 45 as the Veterans Memorial Parkway.

Requests that the Attorney General conduct a thorough investigation of the Request for Proposals (RFP) process used by the Department of Central Management Services to select managed care organizations to participate in the State's Group Health Insurance program.

Amends the Election Code, the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, and the Riverboat Gambling Act. Prohibits a candidate, political committee, or public official from accepting anything of value from a licensee or applicant for licensure under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 or the Riverboat Gambling Act. Provides that an initial violation is a Class A misdemeanor and a subsequent violation is a Class 4 felony. Prohibits certain persons licensed under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 or the Riverboat Gambling Act from making certain political contributions. Provides that an initial violation is a Class A misdemeanor and a subsequent violation is a Class 4 felony.