SPRINGFIELD,
IL
– The 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.