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Illinois Bar Journal
Articles on Legislation

Lawmakers Gamble on Cook County Casinos July 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 351 Near the end of the 1999 Spring legislative session, the Illinois Senate passed Senate bill 1017, which among other things substantially remodels the Illinois Riverboat Gambling Act, 230 ILCS 10/1 et seq.
$9.1 Billion Tobacco Settlement Ignites Controversy in the General Assembly June 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 304 On November 23, 1998, 46 states settled smoking-related claims against the tobacco industry for as much as $206 billion, potentially the largest court settlement in history.
Anti-crime Proposals in the Legislature June 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 304 As this issue went to press, the anti-crime bills proposed recently have received mixed support in the House and Senate.
Illinois Law Enters Cyberspace: The Electronic Commerce Security Act By R. J. Robertson Jr. and Thomas J. Smedinghoff June 1999 Article, Page 308 This new law—effective July 1—removes doubts about legal requirements for electronic "writings'' and "signatures'' and encourages e-commerce. Here's an overview.
Correspondence from Our Readers May 1999 Column, Page 234 Single-subject rule: falling on the sword of Damocles?
Despite Governor Ryan's Support, ``Non-Discriminatory Bill'' Pertaining to Sexual Orientation Encounters Dificulties in the Illinois House; HB 474. May 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 244 If passed, House Bill 474 would add "sexual orientation'' to race, religion, sex, and eight other classifications already enumerated in the Illinois Human Rights Act, 775 ILCS 5/1-101 et seq.
HMO Reform Bill Passes in the House, Likely to Fail in the Senate — HB 626. May 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 244 A sweeping HMO reform bill, known as the Managed Care Reform Act, (passed in the Illinois House on March 24, 1999 by a margin of 62-37.
The Lawyer's Journal By Bonnie McGrath May 1999 Column, Page 238 The high court revisits the single-subject rule.
Amendments to the Illinois Pull Tabs and Jar Games Act April 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 190 Public Act 90-808 amends the Illinois Pull Tabs and Jar Games Act to raise the aggregate value of all prizes or merchandise permitted to be awarded in a single day of pull-tabs and jar games to $5,000. Previously, the limit was $2,250.
Amendments to the School Code; PA 90-802 April 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 190 Public Act 90-802 amends the School Code. This Act was passed after the Governor's technical recommendations were incorporated.
Campaign Finance Reform Provisions Enacted; PA 90-737 April 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 190 Governor Jim Edgar characterized Public Act 90-737, the State Gift Ban Act, as "an important step forward in the reform of campaign finance and ethics laws'' that would "improve accountability and help Illinoisans better understand the political process in our state.''
An Illegitimate Child's Intestate Estate May Now Be Distributed to ``Eligible Parents,'' Not Just the Mother; PA 90-803 April 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 190 According to Public Act 90-803, an "intestate real and personal estate'' of an illegitimate child shall be distributed to the decedent's "eligible parents'' or the eligible parents' descendents, if the decedent did not have a spouse or direct descendents.
Advanced Practice Nurses' Privileges Expanded — PA 90-742 March 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 130 Introduced by Senator Doris Karpiel, Public Act 90-742 may save time and money for individuals seeking medical attention in Illinois.
Drug-Aided Crimes (``Date Rape'' Drugs) — PA 90-735 March 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 130 Sponsored by Senator Kirk W. Dillard, Public Act 90-735 makes it a battery to administer a controlled substance to a person without his or her consent, or by threat or deception, for non-medical purposes.
Governmental Tort Immunity Narrowed by Expansion of ``Willfull and Wanton Conduct'' Exception; PA 90-805 March 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 130 Public Act 90-805 broadens the "willful and wanton conduct'' exception to the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act, 745 ILCS 10/1-101 et seq (1998).
An Overview of the Juvenile Justice Reform Provisions of 1998 By Michele M. Jochner March 1999 Article, Page 152 A review of important changes wrought by this sweeping new law.
Using the Single-Subject Rule to Invalidate Legislation: A Better Approach? By Michael J. Kasper March 1999 Article, Page 146 The author argues that there is a better way for courts to limit legislators' power to combine diverse subjects into a single bill and offers an alternative.
Amid Controversy, Protection of Religious Freedom in Illinois Strengthened; PA 90 February 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 73 The General Assembly recently passed the Illinois Religious Freedom Restoration Act ("IRFRA'') over Governor Jim Edgar's amendatory veto.
Child-Care Provider Sanctions; Genital Mutilation — PA 90-684 February 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 73 Public Act 90-684 allows that any child care provider receiving funds from child care assistance programs under the Illinois Public Aid Code will, as a condition of eligibility to participate in the child care assistance program under this Code.
Community Policing Volunteers—PA 90-651 February 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 73 Mayor Richard Daley called for the passage of legislation to increase penalties for crimes committed against community policing volunteers.
Day-Care Licensing Records — PA 90-670 February 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 73 Public Act 90-670 amends the Freedom of Information Act to allow the public access to records including complaints, results of complaints, and Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) staff findings of licensing violations at day care facilities.
Judges, the Gift Ban Act, and the Constitution By Timothy L. Bertschy February 1999 Column, Page 68 One of the more celebrated accomplishments of the Illinois General Assembly in 1998 was passage of ethics legislation imposing limits on gifts and contributions to state office holders and candidates for those offices.
Additional Conditions Apply to Delinquent Property Tax Liability of Mortgage Lenders; PA 90-575 January 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 13 Two additional conditions must be met before the state can hold mortgage lenders liable for delinquent property taxes.
Insurance Company Policyholder Decisions Cannot Depend Solely on Domestic Violence Injuries; PA 90-700 January 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 13 In determining policyholder ``rating, underwriting, or claims handling'' decisions, insurance companies cannot solely consider the fact of domestic violence injuries.
Juvenile Justice Act Rewrite; PA 90-590 January 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 13 According to Senator Hawkinson, the re-write of the Juvenile Justice Reform Act incorporates mostly technical changes to meet the sponsors' intent to create a system that protects the community, holds juvenile delinquents accountable for their crimes, and lets juvenile offenders live responsibly and productively.
The Lawyer's Journal By Bonnie McGrath January 1999 Column, Page 10 ADA plaintiffs must be accommodating.
Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act January 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 13 On October 23, 1998, the Department of Human Services added section 299 to its administrative rules. 59 Ill Adm Code 299. 
Corporate Income Tax Formula and Individual Taxpayer Exemption Changed; P.A. 90-613 December 1998 Illinois Law Update, Page 662 Public Act 90-613 gradually changes the three-factor Illinois corporate income tax formula to a new formula based exclusively on instate sales.
Delinquent Taxpayer Disclosure-HB 2671 December 1998 Illinois Law Update, Page 662 This bill allows the director of the Department of Revenue to annually disclose a list of taxpayers who are delinquent in the payment of their tax liabilities collected by the Department of Revenue.
Establishment of Automated State Case Registry — Public Act 90-790 December 1998 Illinois Law Update, Page 662 Public Act 90-790 called for the Department of Public Aid to establish an automated state case registry to maintain records of child support orders.
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