Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Beginning with the 2004-2005 academic year, provides that the tuition charged an undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident shall not exceed the amount that the student was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the university as an Illinois resident if that student enrolled not more than 3 and one-half academic years before.
Amends the Credit Card Issuance Act. Provides that a credit card issuer who offers to an Illinois resident a credit card with a fixed annual percentage rate may not increase the annual percentage rate or rates of interest applicable to that credit card account, or prematurely remove or increase any introductory annual percentage rate or rates of interest applicable to the account, for reasons other than actions or omissions of the card holder that are directly related to the account and that are clearly and conspicuously described to the card holder at the time the credit card is issued. Effective immediately.
Amends the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act. Provides for licensure as an advanced practice nurse in the category of certified registered nurse anesthetist without the required graduate degree under specified conditions. Effective immediately.
Creates the Downstate Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act. Creates the Downstate Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. Authorizes the Authority to make loans for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, maintaining, or rehabilitating sports facilities in the State of Illinois, excluding the City of Chicago. Provides procedures for the Authority to issue bonds. Provides that the Authority may impose an occupation tax upon all persons engaged in the business of renting, leasing, or letting rooms in a hotel if approved by ordinance of the affected municipality.
Creates the Community Senior Services and Resources Act and amends the State Finance Act. Authorizes the Department on Aging to award grants to local community senior services and resource centers. Provides for a Community Senior Services and Resource Center Advisory Committee, with 12 voting members appointed by the Governor, to advise the Department on Aging on the administration of the Act. Creates the Community Senior Services and Resources Fund as a special fund in the State treasury, to be used by the Department on Aging for grant awards and for administering the Community Senior Services and Resources Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Extends the repeal of the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 1994 to January 1, 2014. Effective immediately.
Creates the Fireworks Displayer Licensing Act. Provides that a person may not engage in the business of publicly displaying fireworks unless licensed by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Establishes qualifications for licenses, including an appropriate Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms license, general liability insurance of at least $2,000,000, workers' compensation insurance for personnel lighting the fireworks, and other qualifications. Establishes procedures for suspending or revoking licenses for non-compliance with the provisions of the Act. Amends the Illinois Explosives Act to exclude from the definition of explosives fixed ammunition for small arms, safety fuses, matches, fireworks, theatrical pyrotechnics, and model rocket fuel. Amends the Fireworks Use Act to require a licensed pyrotechnic displayer and pyrotechnic operator to handle public displays of fireworks. Effective immediately.
Amends the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act. Provides that the Board, by a two-thirds vote of all its members, may transfer fund balances between its Working Cash Funds. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that the presence of a methamphetamine manufacturing chemical in a sealed, factory imprinted container at the time of seizure by law enforcement is prima facie evidence that the methamphetamine manufacturing chemical located within the container is in fact the chemical so described and in the amount and dosage listed on the container.
Amends the Simplified Municipal Telecommunications Tax Act. Establishes procedures for the Department of Revenue to certify an ordinance passed by a municipality to impose a tax under the Act or to amend or repeal a tax imposed under the Act and to notify telecommunications retailers of the certification of the ordinance by the Department (now, municipalities are required to file the ordinance with the Department pursuant to rules adopted by the Department). Imposes time frames for Department certification and notification of retailers. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Allows taxing districts to abate taxes on property of certain historical societies for assessment years 1998 through 2008 (now 1998 through 2003). Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the removal of a false or secret compartment from a motor vehicle, or the promise to do so, shall not be the basis for a defense to forfeiture of the motor vehicle under the Criminal Code of 1961 and shall not be the basis for the court to release the vehicle to the owner. Increases the penalty for owning or operating a motor vehicle with the knowledge that it contains a false or secret compartment from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class 4 felony.
