Sen. Ira I. Silverstein

Amends the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act. Deletes a provision that establishes a salary for each member of the civil service board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Provides that compensation for each member of the board shall be established by the District's Board of Commissioners as part of the annual budget process. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of U.S. Army Sergeant Kraig Forteck of Skokie, Illinois.

Mourns the death of Phyllis Sutker of Skokie, Illinois.

Amends the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act. Provides that a "domestic living situation" includes an assisted living or shared housing establishment or a supportive living facility. Provides that an "eligible adult" includes one who neglects himself or herself, and adds a definition of "self-neglect". Provides for immunity from criminal or civil liability and from professional disciplinary action for a mandated reporter who does not make a report of self-neglect as required under the Act. Provides that face-to-face assessments, casework, and follow-up of reports of self-neglect by the provider agencies designated to receive reports of self-neglect shall be subject to sufficient appropriation for statewide implementation. Provides that the Department on Aging shall collaborate with representatives of regional administrative agencies and others to develop a protocol that outlines the procedure for referral of cases involving elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, and self-neglect and other matters, and makes other changes in connection with investigations of reports under the Act. Provides for access to records by staff of the Chicago Department on Aging while that agency is designated as a regional administrative agency. Makes other changes.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a consumer who has been the victim of identity theft may place a security freeze on his or her credit report by making a request in writing by certified mail to a consumer credit reporting agency with a valid copy of a police report, investigative report, or complaint that the consumer has filed with a law enforcement agency about unlawful use of his or her personal information by another person. Requires a credit reporting agency to place a security freeze on a consumer's credit report no later than 5 business days after receiving a written request from the consumer. Provides that if the consumer wishes to allow his or her credit report to be accessed for a specific party, parties, or period of time while a freeze is in place, he or she shall contact the consumer credit reporting agency, request that the freeze be temporarily lifted, and provide certain information. Provides that if a security freeze is in place, a credit reporting agency shall not change any of the following official information in a credit report without sending a written confirmation of the change to the consumer within 30 days of the change being posted to the consumer's file: (i) name; (ii) date of birth; (iii) Social Security number; and (iv) address. Provides that certain entities are not required to place a security freeze in a credit report provided certain conditions are met. Defines "proper identification".

Amends the Identity Theft Law of the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that identity theft also occurs when a person knowingly: (1) uses any personal identification information or personal identification document of another to portray himself or herself as that person, or otherwise, for the purpose of gaining access to any personal identification information or personal identification document of that person, without the prior express permission of that person, or (2) uses any personal identification information or personal identification document of another for the purpose of gaining access to any record of the actions taken, communications made or received, or other activities or transactions of that person, without the prior express permission of that person. Provides that where a person has been convicted of this form of identity theft, in the absence of proof of actual damages, the person whose personal identification information or personal identification documents were used in the violation in question may recover damages of $2,000. Provides that it is no defense to a charge of aggravated identity theft or identity theft that the offender received the consent of any person to access any personal identification information or personal identification document, other than the person described by the personal identification information or personal identification document used by the offender. Establishes exemptions to violations of the Identity Theft Law. Effective immediately.

Creates the Predator Accountability Act. Creates a cause of action against a person who: (i) coerced an individual into prostitution; (ii) coerced an individual to remain in prostitution; (iii) used coercion to collect or receive any of an individual's earnings derived from prostitution; or (iv) advertised or published advertisements for purposes of recruitment into prostitution. Provides for damages for violation of the Act. Exempts the provisions of joint and several liability to actions brought under the Act. Lists non-defenses to an action brought under the Act. Provides for the award of costs to the prevailing party.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Creates the offense of facilitating identity theft. Provides that a person commits the offense when he or she is an employee of the State of Illinois who in the course of his or her official duties has access to personal identifying information of another person, whether written, recorded, or on computer disk and disposes of that written, recorded, or computerized information in any receptacle, trash can, or other container that the public could gain access to without shredding that information, destroying the recording, or wiping the computer disk so that the information is either unintelligible or destroyed. Provides for civil remedies. Provides that such violation is official misconduct. Provides that a violation is a Class 3 felony.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. For his or her first year of full-time attendance at an institution of higher learning, provides that a person is entitled to a $1,000 grant if he or she (i) is in the legal custody of his or her grandparent and receives public aid assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code, (ii) has graduated from high school with a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and (iii) has been recommended for the grant by the principal of his or her high school.

Amends the Charitable Games Act. Re-enacts provisions of that Act affected by Public Act 88-669, which has been held to be unconstitutional as a violation of the single subject clause of the Illinois Constitution. Includes validation provisions. Effective immediately.