Creates the Blind Vendors Act. Creates the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind and provides that the Secretary of Human Services, through the Bureau Director of the Bureau for the Blind in the Department of Human Services, shall continue, maintain, and promote the Program. Provides that the Program must provide that: priority is given to blind vendors in the operation of vending facilities on State property; tie bid preference is given to blind vendors in the operation of cafeterias on State property unless the cafeteria operations are operated by employees of a State agency; vending machine income from all vending machines on State property is assigned as provided in the Act; no State agency may impose a commission, service charge, rent, or utility charge on a licensed blind vendor who is operating a vending facility on State property; and vending facilities operated by the Program use reasonable and necessary means and methods to maintain fair market pricing in relation to each facility's given demographic, geographic, and other circumstances. Contains provisions concerning: intent; compliance with federal law; rules; establishment of vending facilities on State property; other vending facilities; creation of a Blind Vendors Trust Fund as a separate account managed by the Department of Human Services for the State's blind vendors; set-aside funds; vending machine income; issuance of licenses; creation of a Committee of Blind Vendors to participate in the development and implementation of all policies, plans, program development, and major administrative and management decisions affecting the Program; hearings; arbitration; reports and surveys; and other matters. Repeals the Blind Persons Operating Vending Facilities Act.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning posting of certain notices.
Creates the 2-1-1 Service Act. Sets forth the findings of the General Assembly. Provides that "2-1-1" is created as the official State dialing code for public access to information and referral for health and human services and information about access to services after a natural or non-natural disaster. Contains provisions concerning the designation of a lead entity for 2-1-1. Contains provisions concerning the establishment or prohibition of new information services by specified parties. Contains provisions concerning 2-1-1 services, including the promotion of 2-1-1. Requires participants in 2-1-1 service to meet certain guidelines. Contains provisions concerning the liability of 2-1-1 providers. Amends the State Finance Act to create the 2-1-1 Account Fund in the State treasury to hold moneys from specified sources. Contains provisions concerning the use of moneys for projects and activities in support of 2-1-1-eligible activities. Provides that the lead entity shall provide an annual report to the General Assembly and the Illinois Commerce Commission beginning in calendar year 2010. Contains a severability clause.
Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Provides that if an inter-track wagering location licensee's facility changes locations, then the payments associated with that facility for museum purposes shall be paid to the park district in which the facility is located to be used for museum purposes. Provides that if the facility is not located in a park district, then the payments shall be paid to the taxing district responsible for park or museum expenditures. Effective immediately.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Redefines the term "compost" to mean compostable material that has, by composting, decomposed to the degree that it will not, when subjected to optimal thermal conditions and optimal levels of oxygen, moisture, and nutrients, reheat significantly due to the action of microorganisms, and that is also suitable (i) for use as a soil conditioner, (ii) for use as a cover material for a municipal solid waste landfill, or (iii) for another use approved by the Agency (now, the humus-like product of the process of composting waste, which may be used as a soil conditioner). Redefines the term "composting" to mean the decomposition of compostable material into compost by a biological process that produces carbon dioxide and water as primary by-products (now, the biological treatment process by which microorganisms decompose the organic fraction of waste, producing compost). Excepts food scrap from the definition of the term "garbage". Exempts certain types of facilities, sites, portions of facilities, and portions of sites from regulation as pollution control facilities. Defines "compostable material" and "food scrap". Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Requires the State Advisory Council on the Education of Children with Disabilities and the Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children to research and discuss best practices for addressing the needs of "twice-exceptional" children, those who are gifted and talented and have a disability. Requires the Councils to then jointly make recommendations to the State Board of Education with respect to the State Board of Education providing guidance and technical assistance to school districts in furthering improved educational outcomes for gifted and twice-exceptional children. Sets forth what the recommendations must include. Effective immediately.
Amends the Children and Family Services Act and the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that these amendatory changes may be cited as the Child Abuse Registry Accuracy and Fairness Act of 2009. Provides that notice to subjects of a report of suspected child abuse or neglect shall be served via personal delivery (verified by the subject's signature) or certified mail, and sets forth the required contents of the notice. Provides for notice of determinations that a report is "indicated", "unfounded", or "undetermined", and sets forth required contents of notice of an indicated report. Adds provisions concerning expungement of an indicated report. Provides for an appeal by a subject of a report who claims that he or she did not have actual notice that an indicated report had issued against him or her. Makes other changes concerning judicial review of final administrative decisions by the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department's handling of reports of suspected child abuse or neglect, determinations by the Department's Child Protective Service Unit, and expungement of information from the central register of child abuse and neglect.
Creates the Transparency in College Textbook Publishing Practices Act. Provides that when contacting or being contacted by prospective clients, each publisher of college textbooks shall disclose, at that time and in writing, to the faculty member or, if applicable, the other adopting entity in charge of selecting textbooks for courses taught at a public institution of higher education (1) the copyright dates of the 3 previous editions of the textbook, if any; (2) a description of the substantial content changes made between the current edition of the textbook or supplemental materials and the previous edition, if any; and (3) the existence and price of alternative formats of the textbook or supplemental materials. Provides that publishers of college textbooks are required to offer all bundled textbooks for sale as individual unbundled textbooks and supplemental materials. Contains a provision concerning institutional autonomy and academic freedom. Effective July 1, 2010.
Amends the IMRF Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions concerning creditable service, provides that if the employee was in the service of more than one school district, then the sick leave days from all such employers shall be credited (currently only sick leave days from last employer). Provides that in calculating the creditable service, the sick leave days from the last employer shall be considered first, then the remaining sick leave days shall be considered until there are no more days or the maximum creditable sick leave threshold has been reached. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Election Code. Requires that the State Board of Elections by rule prescribe the specific forms of identification and proof of residency that shall be sufficient for persons voting for the first time after having registered by mail or at a Secretary of State driver's license facility. Requires that the State Board post those forms on its official website and that printed copies be distributed to persons registering by mail or at a driver's license facility.