Sen. Ira I. Silverstein

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. With respect to the retired teachers' health benefits plan, beginning with fiscal year 2010, provides that of the total insurance rate for the major medical program selected by a recipient whose primary residence is outside of Illinois, (i) if a managed care program is accessible, 37.5% (now, 50%) shall be paid from the Teacher Health Insurance Security Fund and (ii) if a managed care program is not accessible, 62.5% (now, 75%) shall be paid from the Teacher Health Insurance Security Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that it shall be the policy of the Department of Human Services to provide TANF aid to all qualified persons who seek assistance and to conduct outreach efforts to educate the public about the program. Makes changes concerning the disregard of earned income. Requires that financial aid be provided no more than 15 days after the date of application. Requires that an applicant undergo a thorough employability assessment within the first 30 days after the date of application for aid. Adds a definition of "domestic or sexual violence", and adds references to domestic or sexual violence in provisions concerning crisis assistance and development of a personal plan for achieving self-sufficiency. Effective immediately.

Proposes to amend the Suffrage and Elections Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides for the recall of the Governor by petition of the State's electors and for the election of a successor Governor. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Amends provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code requiring the recording of specified information when a uniform traffic citation or warning citation is issued and providing for analysis of the information and a traffic stop statistical study. Deletes the July 1, 2010 repeal date of those provisions.

Amends the Beer Industry Fair Dealing Act. Expands the list of prohibited conduct under the Act, as it applies to brewers, to include coercing a wholesaler to sign an agreement by threatening to refuse approval for the wholesaler's business; terminating an agreement because the wholesaler fails to agree to a renewal agreement; and presenting an agreement to the wholesaler that grants the brewer the unilateral right to amend the agreement without the wholesaler's consent. Provides that an agreement between a brewer and wholesaler must state and provide that the agreement is governed by the Beer Industry Fair Dealing Act and other matters. Changes the definition of the term "territory" or "sales territory" to mean the exclusive geographic area (rather than the geographical area) of primary sales responsibility designated by the agreement between a wholesaler and brewer for any brand, brands, or brand extensions (rather than brand or brands) of the brewer. Further adds that the "territory" or "sales territory" designated by the agreement may not be designated by address or specific location unless such specific address or location is part of a general and broad territory or sales territory description. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Changes the elements of the offenses of stalking and cyberstalking. Provides that a person commits stalking when he or she knowingly engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific person, and he or she knows or should know that this course of conduct would cause a reasonable person to: (1) fear for his or her safety or the safety of a third person; or (2) suffer other emotional distress. Provides that if the conduct is committed using electronic communication, the offense is cyberstalking. Provides that a person also commits aggravated stalking when he or she, in conjunction with committing the offense of stalking, violates a stalking no contact order or a civil no contact order. Retains the same penalties for the offenses.

Creates the Mental Health Graduate Education Scholarship Act. Establishes the Mental Health Graduate Scholarship Program, to be administered by the Department of Human Services. Requires the Department to provide scholarships to qualified individuals who are enrolled in or accepted into a mental health graduate program at a public or private college or university in this State and who agree to being employed in this State as a licensed professional counselor, licensed clinical professional counselor, licensed clinical psychologist, licensed social worker, or licensed clinical social worker in direct patient care in a human services capacity in a designated shortage area for at least one year for each year of scholarship assistance received. Sets forth provisions concerning the functions of the Department, the award and amount of a scholarship, requirements for scholarship recipients, a Mental Health Consortium Advisory Council, student enrollment and the obligations of institutions, and program funding. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counterfeit Trademark Act. Defines counterfeit mark as a spurious mark that is applied to or used with any goods, services, labels, patches, fabric, stickers, wrappers, badges, emblems, medallions, charms, boxes, containers, cans, cases, hangtags, documentation on packaging or any other components that are designed, marketed, or used with any goods or services that is identical or substantially indistinguishable from a registered mark whether or not the defendant knew the mark was registered and the application or use of the mark is likely to cause confusion or mistake or to deceive. Deletes provision that states that a "mark" includes any trademark or service mark whether registered or not. Provides that a "trademark" means anything adopted and used by a person to identify goods which distinguishes them from other goods and registered in Illinois, another state, or with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (instead of identify goods which distinguishes them from other goods). Provides definitions of "retail value", "bodily injury", and "serious bodily injury". Provides that a person who knowingly offers or sells counterfeit items having a retail value is guilty of a crime and increases the class of criminal offenses and the fines for those offenses. Provides that a peace officer shall (instead of may) upon probable cause seize any counterfeit items, counterfeit marks, or any component (instead of goods, wares, merchandise, or other product that has a counterfeit mark) and shall, upon probable cause, seize any proceeds from an Act violation.

Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Makes changes concerning the prohibition against fee splitting. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to limit the right of persons licensed under the Act to delegate tasks or duties to licensed or unlicensed personnel who have the training or experience to perform the tasks or duties so delegated. Effective immediately.