Sen. Shane Cultra

Amends the Illinois Aeronautics Act. Provides that after the effective date of this amendatory Act, no person may create or construct any airport hazard which obstructs a restricted landing area. Further provides that no person may erect any airport hazard within 1,500 feet on either side of a restricted landing area or within 3,000 feet from the landing approach or departure surface end of the runway. Removes reference to residential airports and the definition of "based aircraft". Provides definition of "restricted landing area" (rather than referring to regulations in effect in 1989). Defines "airport hazard" and "private use". Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that as a condition of initial eligibility for any benefits under the Code, an applicant must pass a drug screening. Provides that as a condition of continued eligibility for benefits, a recipient must pass random drug screenings as prescribed by the Department of Human Services or the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Exempts residents of a facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act from the drug screening requirements. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Aeronautics Act. Provides that after the effective date of this amendatory Act, no person may create or construct any windmill which obstructs a restricted landing area. Further provides that no person may erect any windmill within 3,000 feet on either side of a restricted landing area or within 5,000 feet from the landing approach or departure surface end of the runway. Provides a definition of "restricted landing area" (rather than referring to regulations in effect in 1989) and defines "private use". Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that a person who transfers or causes to be transferred a firearm within the State must keep a record of the transfer for a period of 5 (rather than 10) years from the date of the transfer. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that if a student athlete has not met practice requirements for a high school sport due to the student's involvement in military training, then a waiver to participate in play in the regular season for that sport may be granted by the school board. Sets forth the waiver process. Provides for immunity from any liability for a coach, athletic director, school, school board, and school district with respect to the granting of a waiver.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Provides that the court, upon finding that a party engaged in visitation abuse, may: suspend the offending party's Illinois driving privileges pursuant to the Illinois Vehicle Code until the court has determined that there has been sufficient compliance for a sufficient period of time with the court's order concerning visitation and that full driving privileges shall be reinstated; order that the offending party be issued a family responsibility driving permit to allow limited driving privileges for employment and medical purposes; order that an entity that issued a professional license to the offending party suspend or revoke the party's professional license for a period of no more than 6 months; and fine the party not more than $500 for each finding of visitation abuse. Provides that a finding of visitation abuse constitutes a change in circumstances for purposes of a modification of a custody judgment. Provides that if a parent has been previously found in contempt by the court for visitation abuse, the court may further: incarcerate the offending parent one day for each day of denied visitation; or require the offending party to post a $5,000 bond subject to forfeiture for the purpose of assuring compliance with future visitation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Includes religious institutions in the definition of "child welfare agency". Amends the Adoption Act. Provides that a church, synagogue, temple, mosque, or other religious institution that is an agency providing adoption services and that is licensed as a child welfare agency, as those terms are defined in the Child Care Act of 1969, may adopt faith-based policies and practices relating to the placement of children for adoption that provide for the placement of a child with a prospective adoptive parent who holds the same religious beliefs as those held by that religious institution provided that: the best interest of the child must always be the primary factor in placement decisions; an agency's religious preference for placement must never override the birth parent's religious preference in making a placement decision; if an agency uses religion as a factor in making a placement decision, this must be disclosed to prospective adoptive applicants before any fees are accepted by the agency; if an agency uses religion as a factor in making a placement decision, this must be disclosed to all birth parents seeking counseling or placement services at the outset of services; a placement when practicable shall be made to an agency under the control of persons of the same religious faith as that of the child or in the custody of someone of the same religious faith as that of the child. Provides for an adoption placement, when practicable, with a person of the same religious faith as the parent or the child. Defines "expressed religious wishes". Makes other similar changes.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Repeals provision that makes it a Class 4 felony for any person knowingly to have in his or her possession or to carry about any of the substances which are regulated by Title 16 CFR Section 1500.129 of the Federal Caustic Poison Act and are required to contain the words "causes severe burns" as the affirmative statement of principal hazard on its label. Repeals provision that requires the purchaser of such substances prior to taking possession to: (1) provide a valid driver's license or other government-issued identification showing the person's name, date of birth, and photograph; and (2) sign a log documenting the name and address of the person, date and time of the transaction, and the brand, product name and net weight of the item. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning with the next registration year after the effective date of this amendatory Act in which the Secretary of State distributes newly designed standard registration plates for motor vehicles, the Secretary of State shall issue one registration plate (instead of 2) for newly registered motor vehicles and the registration plate shall be attached to the rear (instead of front and rear) of the motor vehicle. Effective immediately.

Creates the Gun-free Zone Criminal Conduct Liability Act. Provides that any person, organization, or entity or any agency of government, including any unit of local government, that creates a gun-free zone is liable for all costs, attorney's fees, and treble damages resulting from criminal conduct that occurs against an individual in the gun-free zone, if a reasonable person would believe that possession of a firearm could have helped the individual defend against such conduct. Defines "gun-free zone". Effective immediately.