Publications

Illinois Bar Journal
Articles on Legislation

Vehicle lessors not liable for automated traffic law enforcement system violations by lessees. PA 097-0029 October 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 496 Illinois lawmakers have amended the Illinois Vehicle Code to relieve vehicle owners who leased their motor vehicles under a written lease agreement from liabilities for automated traffic law enforcement system violations. (625 ILCS 5/11-208.6).
Back seat passengers must wear seatbelts. PA 097-0016. September 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 440 The Illinois Vehicle Code has been amended to require all passengers to wear safety belts. (625 ILCS 5/12-603.1). Formerly, the requirement only applied to a driver, front seat passenger, and other riders under the age of 19.
Educational programs to combat religious hate crimes. PA 097-0161. September 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 440 Illinois lawmakers have amended the Criminal Code to implement educational programs for certain hate crime offenders. (720 ILCS 5/12-7.1).
Licensed health care workers now subject to actions concerning sex crimes. PA 097-0156. September 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 440 The Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois has been amended to establish health care worker licensure actions relating to sex crimes (20 ILCS 2105/2105-165 new).
Patients' immunization records to be collected, analyzed and released by the Department of Public Health. PA 097-0117. September 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 440 Illinois lawmakers have enacted the Immunization Data Registry Act, which will be implemented by the Department of Public Health.
State to promote the use of electric vehicles. PA 097-0089. September 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 440 State lawmakers recently passed the Electric Vehicle Act in response to findings that the adoption and use of electric vehicles would improve Illinois residents' health, reduce transportation costs, and shift the demand for imported petroleum to locally produced electricity.
The 2011 Rewrite of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act By Richard D. Hannigan August 2011 Article, Page 400 Make no mistake, this is not the workers' comp act you knew two months ago. This article highlights key changes.
2011 Spring Session Legislative Roundup By Jim Covington August 2011 Column, Page 392 A summary of key legislation from this year's session.
Assaulting a probation officer constitutes aggravated assault. PA 096-1398 August 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 388 Illinois lawmakers have amended the Criminal Code of 1961 to expand instances when an assault constitutes aggravated assault. 720 ILCS 5/12-2.
Domestic Violence Fund extended to civil unions. PA 097-0004 August 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 388 The State Finance Act has been amended to extend the Domestic Violence Fund to persons entered into civil unions. 30 ILCS 105/6z-72.
Guidelines for the administration of grants to Green Manufacturing projects. PA 096-1413 August 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 388 The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois has been amended to establish guidelines for the administration of the Green Manufacturing Grant Fund. 20 ILCS 605/605-524.
Increased fines for DUI offenders. PA 096-1342 August 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 388 The Illinois Vehicle Code has been amended to increase the fine for anyone who is found guilty of or pleads guilty to driving under the influence. 625 ILCS 5/11-501.01.
Liquor sale licenses may be issued for premises located near schools. PA 097-0009 August 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 388 The Liquor Control Act of 1934 has been amended to allow the issuance or renewal of alcoholic liquor sale licenses for retail premises located within 100 feet of schools under certain conditions. 235 ILCS 5/6-11.
New licenses for craft brewers. PA 097-0005 August 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 388 Illinois lawmakers have amended The Liquor Control Act of 1934 to establish provisions for craft brewers. 235 ILCS 5/1-3.33.
Restrictions placed on the display of state PSA's and advertisements. PA 097-0013 August 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 388 An amendment has been made to the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act regarding public service announcements and promotional material. 5 ILCS 430/5-20.
Children may immediately re-enroll in the Children's Health Insurance Program or the ALL KIDS Health Insurance Program. PA 096-1272. July 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 336 Illinois lawmakers have amended the Children's Health Insurance Program Act and the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Act to allow children to re-enroll in the Children's Health Insurance Program or the ALL KIDS Health Insurance Program immediately upon paying the required monthly premium. (215 ILCS 106/20; 215 ILCS 170/20).
Fine raised for imposing absolute liability for misdemeanor crimes. PA 096-1198 July 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 336 Illinois lawmakers have amended the Criminal Code of 1961 to raise the fine when imposing absolute liability on a person who committed a misdemeanor offense that is not punishable by incarceration (720 ILCS 5/4-9).
First-time misdemeanor violators of the Use of Intoxicating Compounds Act may elect to receive treatment. PA 096-1440. July 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 336 The Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse and Dependency Act has been amended and expanded to allow not only addicts or alcoholics convicted of a crime but also first-time misdemeanor violators of the Use of Intoxicating Compounds Act to choose to receive treatment under the supervision of a designated licensed program. (20 ILCS 301/40-5; 720 ILCS 690/4).
Illinois Vehicle Code amended to change restrictions on vehicle window tinting. PA 096-1056. July 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 336 Vehicle owners may tint or treat vehicle windows immediately adjacent to each side of the driver if the manufacturer of the vehicle originally installed the rear windows with nonreflective smoked or tinted glass.
Medical schools may hire private entities to conduct criminal history record checks on matriculates. PA 096-1044. July 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 336 Illinois lawmakers have amended the Medical School Matriculate Criminal History Records Check Act to allow medical schools to hire private entities to check the criminal history records of matriculates. (110 ILCS 57/10; 110 ILCS 57/15).
Rules for non-highway vehicles used for farming purposes amended. PA 096-1434. July 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 336 The Illinois Vehicle Code has been amended to modify restrictions for non-highway vehicles (625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1).
School social workers must learn how to detect and prevent adolescent and teen suicide. PA 096-0951. July 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 336 The School Code has been amended to require school social workers who work with 7th through 12th graders to receive training for the detection and intervention of student suicide (105 ILCS 5/34-18.7).
Definition broadened for "maintaining a place of business" in Illinois. PA 096-1544 June 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 286 The Use Tax Act and Service Use Tax Act have been amended to broaden the definition of a "retailer" or "serviceman" who is "maintaining a place of business in this state." 35 ILCS 105/2; 35 ILCS 110/2.
Drivers can avoid license suspension for traffic violations by beginning payment plans. PA 096-1184 June 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 286 Illinois lawmakers have amended the Illinois Vehicle Code to authorize the Secretary of State to reinstate the driver's license of a person whose license was suspended for failure to pay traffic-related fines or penalties if the person enters into a payment plan with a municipality.
Public employee benefits protected during furlough. PA 096-1535 June 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 286 The Illinois Pension Code has been amended to enable public workers to establish creditable service and earn credits in the public employee retirement system during furloughs.
Regulations tightened for demolishing buildings containing hazardous air pollutants. PA 096-1536 June 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 286 Illinois lawmakers have amended the Counties Code, Illinois Municipal Code, and the State Mandates Act to better regulate the demolition and renovation of buildings containing hazardous air pollutants such as asbestos. 55 ILCS 5/5-1063.5; 65 ILCS 5/11-39-2.5; 30 ILCS 805/8.35.
Certain articles inside towed motor vehicles exempted from possessor liens. PA 096-1506 May 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 228 Illinois lawmakers have amended the Illinois Vehicle Code to exempt certain articles from being subjected to a possessor lien when a motor vehicle is towed. (625 ILCS 5/4-203).
Civil unions provide same-sex couples legal protections provided to all Illinois spouses. Public Act 096-1513 May 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 228 State lawmakers recently passed the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act to provide persons entering into civil unions the obligations and benefits granted to all spouses under Illinois law.
Death penalty is abolished. PA 096-1543 May 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 228 Illinois lawmakers have abolished the death penalty in Illinois and all existing sentences may not be imposed. (725 ILCS 5/119-1 new). All monies previously held in the Capital Litigation Trust Fund are now to be used to provide services for families of the victims of homicide and to provide training for law enforcement personnel.
Good Samaritans at building evacuation scenes not subject to civil liability absent willful and wanton misconduct. PA 096-1169 May 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 228 Illinois lawmakers have amended the Good Samaritan Act to exempt from civil liability persons who provide free emergency care at building evacuation scenes. (745 ILCS 49/71 new).
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