Amends the Alternate Fuels Act. Provides that beginning July 1, 2004, owners of vehicles using domestic renewable fuel are eligible to apply for a fuel cost differential rebate. Provides that biodiesel blended fuel facilities may be included in the Alternate Fuel Infrastructure Program administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Provides that "alternate fuel" includes, among other fuels, "80% bio-based methanol" (instead of "bio-based methanol"), fuels that are 80% (instead of 70%) derived from biomass, and hydrogen fuel. Provides that "domestic renewable fuel" includes, among other fuels, "80% bio-based methanol" (instead of "bio-based methanol") and 20% biodiesel fuel (instead of "fuels derived from bio mass"). Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that any person who uses a consumer credit report in connection with the approval of credit, may not lend money, extend credit, or complete the purchase, lease, or rental of goods or non-credit related services without taking reasonable steps to verify the consumer's identity. Provides that if a consumer places a statement with a security alert in his or her file requesting that his or her identity be verified by calling a specified telephone number, any person who receives that statement with the security alert in the consumer's file must take reasonable steps to verify his or her identity by contacting the consumer using the specified telephone number, prior to lending money, extending credit, or completing the purchase, lease, or rental of goods or non-credit related services, with certain exceptions. Provides that a consumer credit reporting agency is required to provide to a consumer information about security alerts and security freezes and their consequences. Prohibits a person or entity from publicly posting or displaying an individual's social security number or doing certain other acts that might compromise the security of an individual's social security number. Provides that a person or entity shall not encode or embed a social security number on a card or document, including a bar code, chip, or magnetic strip.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Prohibits a person from knowingly and secretly videotaping, photographing, or filming a family member naked, in the person's or family member's residence without the family member's consent.
Creates the Firearm Liability Act. Provides that a firearm transferor is strictly liable in a civil action for death, injury, or property damage resulting from the use of a firearm that was unlawfully sold, transferred, or caused to be sold or transferred. Provides that the plaintiff may recover punitive damages in addition to all other lawful damages, court costs, and attorney's fees. Provides that a defendant found strictly liable under this Act must pay $10,000 in a civil penalty to the Department of State Police if the defendant sold, transferred, or caused to be sold or transferred a firearm in violation of certain provisions of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act or the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that an action under this Act must be commenced within 5 years after the cause of action accrued.
Amends the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act. Requires the Department on Aging to establish and maintain a clearinghouse for all reports of elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. Requires that every State agency report to the clearinghouse all cases of confirmed elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation known to the agency. Effective immediately.
Amends the Eliminate the Digital Divide Law (i) concerning use of moneys in the Digital Divide Fund and interest being retained in the Fund and (ii) to increase the amount of a grant that a Community Technology Center may receive from $50,000 to $100,000 per fiscal year. Amends the Public Utilities Act to provide for the Department of Revenue (instead of Commerce and Economic Opportunity) to make deposits into the Digital Divide Elimination Fund. Effective immediately.
Amends the Department of Human Services Act and the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that beginning January 1, 2005, the rights, powers, duties, and functions of the Department of Human Services concerning diabetes prevention programs are transferred to the Department of Public Health. Effective immediately.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Prohibits certain methods of disposal for video display devices. Imposes fees on each person engaged in the business of selling new video display devices. Requires the seller to pay the fee to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the Video Display Device Recovery and Recycling Fund. Sets forth the purposes for which the moneys in the Fund may be used. Requires retailers to make quarter-annual tax returns to the Department of Revenue concerning the video display device fee. Sets forth procedures for administrative proceedings and hearings by the Department of Revenue concerning the collection of the fee and for judicial review of those decisions. Requires the Pollution Control Board to establish rules regarding the disposal of video display devices. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Video Display Device Recovery and Recycling Fund. Effective on January 1, 2005.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that within 72 hours of charging a person with reckless homicide, the State's Attorney must notify the Secretary of State of the charges. Provides that the Secretary must revoke the person's license upon notification of the charges. Provides that the State's Attorney must notify the Secretary of the final disposition of the case. Provides that the license revocation must remain in effect if the person is adjudicated guilty and must be rescinded if he or she is found not guilty.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Creates an absolute privilege for reporters by removing the exceptions to the privilege.