SENATE WEEK IN REVIEW: MAY 10 - 12

Monday, May 16, 2005 - Posted 11:31:41 AM by Office of Sen. Dan Rutherford

 

SPRINGFIELD, ILThe following bills were approved by the Illinois Senate last week:

 

Alzheimer’s awareness (HB 20) – Designates November as “Alzheimer’s Awareness Month” in Illinois.

 

Agricultural areas (HB 229) – Allows noncontiguous areas to be included in the tabulation of Illinois agricultural areas.

 

Military personnel (HB 116) – Extends State Employee Group Insurance dependant coverage for those that serve in the military.

 

Privacy (HB 173) – Ensures the privacy of Social Security numbers in child support income withholding notices.

 

Disabled veterans (HB 270) – Increases property tax relief for disabled veterans.

 

Blood donations (HB 324) – Allows employees of local government and private businesses to qualify for paid leave when donating blood if approval is granted from his or her employer.

 

Soldiers’ employment (HB 593) – Provides that soldiers who were in line for a job at the time they are deployed overseas can return to the same spot in line when they return.

 

Safe roads (HB 744) – Allows grants for the creation of a Safe Routes to School Construction Program for the construction of bicycle and pedestrian safety and traffic-calming projects.

 

Frogs and reptiles (HB 847) – Designates the Eastern Tiger Salamander as the official state amphibian of Illinois; designates the Painted Turtle as the official state reptile of Illinois.

 

Suspended licenses (HB 888) – Increases penalties on individuals who repeatedly drive with suspended or revoked licenses.

 

Drunk driving (HB 887) – Requires municipal attorneys to review the driving records of individuals accused of drunk driving and to inform the State’s Attorney if felony penalties are available.

 

Auto accidents (HB 885) – Removes the statute of limitations on prosecutions of accidents involving a death or personal injury.

 

Dental clinics (HB 950) – Includes free dental clinics in the immunity provided by the Good Samaritan Act.

 

Identity theft (HB 1058) – Allows a consumer who has been the victim of identity theft to place a security freeze on his/her credit report by making a request in writing to the credit reporting agencies.

 

Email spam (HB 1071) – Requires that electronic mail service provided under state contracts must be provided reasonably free of unsolicited spam emails.

 

Organ donations (HB 1077) – Requires a person who wishes to donate their organs to have those wishes fulfilled.

 

Adult entertainment (HB 1333) – Allows counties to regulate adult entertainment facilities residing within unincorporated areas

 

Nursing homes (HB 1430) – Requires a nursing home employee who becomes aware of another employee’s theft of a resident’s property to immediately report the matter to the facility administrator.

 

Sporting events (HB 1432) – Increases penalties for committing assault and battery at sporting events held in indoor venues.