Rep. Bob Rita

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 Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois; also amends the Illinois Police Training Act, the State Mandates Act, and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires the Department of State Police to provide training to State Police officers concerning sensitivity toward racial and ethnic differences. Requires the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to provide for similar training for probationary police officers. Provides for a 4-year traffic stop statistical study based on information that must be recorded on the face of a uniform traffic citation, warning citation, or uniform stop card by State and local law enforcement officers. Provides that no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Creates the Senior Citizen Prescription Drug Discount Program Act. Provides that the Program shall be administered by the Department of Central Management Services to enable eligible senior citizens to purchase prescription drugs at discounted prices and that the Department shall (i) enroll eligible seniors into the Program, (ii) enter into rebate agreements with drug manufacturers, either itself or through an agent, and (iii) reimburse pharmacies for the cost of providing discounts using the proceeds from the manufacturer rebate agreements. Eligible seniors are persons who are Illinois residents and who are 65 years of age or older. Establishes a prescription pricing formula. Sets guidelines for the rebate agreements. Establishes application requirements for seniors and eligibility requirements for pharmacies. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Senior Citizen Prescription Drug Discount Program Fund into which rebate payments and enrollment fees shall be deposited. Provides for an initial transfer from the General Revenue Fund into the Drug Discount Program Fund of $27,000,000 to be repaid to the General Revenue Fund out of rebate payments. Effective July 1, 2003.

Congratulates Mrs. Slivy Edmonds Cotton and Ms. Antoinette D. Wright on being honored at the First Annual Annie Turnbo-Malone Awards Reception.

Creates the Equal Pay Act of 2003. Provides that no employer may discriminate between employees on the basis of sex by paying wages solely on the basis of the employee's gender. Prohibits retaliatory discharge or discrimination against an employee on the basis of the employee's use of the Act and provides for penalties for violations of the Act, including a Class B misdemeanor for retaliatory discharge or discrimination by the employer. Provides that the Director of Labor shall administer and enforce the Act. Provides that every employer subject to the Act shall preserve specified records for not less than 3 years. Provides that every employer covered by the Act shall post a notice summarizing the requirements of the Act. Provides that the Department of Labor shall conduct ongoing outreach and education efforts concerning the Act.

Congratulates Bonnie M. Hollaway and Paul Jacobowski on their retirement from Orland School District 135 Board of Education after eight years of service.