Sen. Ira I. Silverstein

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning implementation of a new Minimum Data Set (MDS) payment methodology for nursing homes under the Medicaid program, provides that a transition period from the payment methodology in effect on June 30, 2003 to the payment methodology in effect on July 1, 2003 shall be provided for a period not exceeding 3 years and 92 days (instead of 3 years) after implementation of the new payment methodology. Effective immediately.

Amends the Wholesale Drug Distribution Act. Provides that an applicant for temporary licensure must meet the inspection requirements for regular licensure before the temporary license shall be granted. Removes a provision that requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to employ an Assistant Drug Compliance Coordinator to assist the Drug Compliance Coordinator in administering and enforcing the Act.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that a person who is convicted of identity theft, aggravated identity theft, felony or misdemeanor criminal sexual abuse when the victim of the offense at the time of its commission is under 18 years of age, felony or misdemeanor sexual exploitation of a child, felony or misdemeanor indecent solicitation of a child, felony or misdemeanor indecent solicitation of an adult, or any other offense for which a person is required to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act in this State or any other state who has not been pardoned shall not be permitted to file a petition for a name change in the courts of Illinois.

Amends the Illinois Power of Attorney Act. Provides that the Section that explains the powers granted in the statutory short form power of attorney for property is expanded so that the financial transaction subsection states that an agent may open, close, or control a Totten Trust, a Payable on Death Account, or a similar arrangement with a financial institution, but the agent's authority does not include any powers over accounts titled in the name of a trust pursuant to the Trust and Trustees Act, unless specifically authorized by a person's power of attorney for property. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage for the treatment of pervasive developmental disorders. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code to provide that certain mental health coverages apply to health maintenance organizations and individual policies of accident and health insurance. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning commencement of actions and forms of process.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a driver's license may not be issued to a person under 18 years of age. Provides that an instruction permit may not be issued to a person under the age of 17 years. Increases from 16 to 18 years the minimum age for issuance of a restricted driving permit or a family financial responsibility driving permit. Makes corresponding changes in other provisions. Provides that the increases in the driving age do not invalidate any license or permit that was previously issued to a person under 18 years of age if the person complies, until his or her 18th birthday, with all requirements that previously applied to drivers under 18 years of age.

Amend the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act. Establishes the CLEAN-WIN program. Provides that the Department of Public Health must reimburse eligible owners of dwellings for replacing windows in living units deemed lead hazards by the Department. Requires the Department to appropriate funds for the program and to adopt rules to implement the program and to establish criteria for eligibility. Effective immediately.

Amends the Crime Victims Compensation Act. Includes hate crime in the definition of "crime of violence". In the definition of "victim", includes the parent of a person (rather than the parent of a child) killed or injured as a result of a crime of violence. Includes the following in the definition of "pecuniary loss": (i) the loss of tuition paid to attend school when the victim had been enrolled as a student (rather than as a full-time student); and (ii) transportation expenses to and from medical and treatment facilities. Changes the definition of "dependents replacement services loss" so that it applies to loss reasonably incurred by private legal guardians of a minor dependent (in addition to loss reasonably incurred by dependents) after a victim's death under specified circumstances. Changes the definition of "replacement services loss" so that it applies to expenses reasonably incurred in obtaining ordinary and necessary services that would have been performed by an injured person (rather than a permanently injured person) under specified circumstances.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to create a tax checkoff for the Heartsaver AED Fund. Effective immediately.