Sen. John O. Jones

Amends the Illinois AgriFIRST Program Act of 2001. Makes a technical change in a Section relating to certification.

Amends the Illinois Fertilizer Act of 1961. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title of the Act.

Amends the Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989. Requires each professional engineer, employee, or project representative and his or her vehicle to be clearly identified whenever he or she is on a project site. Provides that it is a violation of the Act to hide, conceal, cover, obscure, mask, or attempt to deceive another by failing to clearly identify a professional engineer, employee, or project representative and his or her vehicle whenever he or she is on a project site. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Department's powers and duties.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Removes provisions allowing the Environmental Protection Agency to assess and collect NPDES discharge fees. Effective immediately.

Amends the Office of Banks and Real Estate Act. Requires the Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate to work in cooperation with the Director of Aging to ensure that all financial institutions regulated by the Office of Banks and Real Estate participate fully in the Department on Aging's financial exploitation of the elderly intervention program. Effective immediately.

Creates the David A. Wirsing Food Animal Institute Act. Establishes the David A. Wirsing Food Animal Institute to review and encourage research and to disseminate information about the food animal industry. Provides that the Institute is governed by a Board appointed by the Governor. Sets forth the powers of the Institute. Requires the Institute to annually report to the Governor, the Clerk of the House, and the Secretary of Senate. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Food Animal Institute Fund, a special fund within the State treasury to be appropriated for the Institute's activities. Effective immediately.

Amends the Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Provides that if a prescription drug benefit is added to the federal Medicare program, State-operated senior prescription drug programs shall be realigned to ensure that Illinois residents qualify for at least the same level of benefits available to them prior to implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Requires a Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Review Committee report on the matter within 60 days after the Medicare prescription drug benefit becomes law. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Hunting Heritage Protection Act. Provides that, subject to limitations, certain State public lands shall be open to access and use for recreational hunting. Provides that State public land management decisions and actions should, to the greatest practical extent, result in no net loss of land area available for hunting opportunities on State public lands. Provides that by October 1 of each year, the Director of Natural Resources shall submit a report pertaining to areas that have been closed to recreational hunting, the reasons for the closures, and areas that were opened to recreational hunting to compensate for those areas that were closed.

Amends the Illinois Act on Aging. Deletes a provision requiring the Department on Aging to submit an annual report concerning community-based residential facilities.