Rep. Naomi D. Jakobsson

Creates the Illinois Early Learning Council Act. Establishes the Illinois Early Learning Council to coordinate existing State programs and services for children from birth to 5 years of age in order to better meet the early learning needs of children and their families. Provides for the appointment of members to the Council who represent both public and private organizations and who shall serve on a voluntary, unpaid basis.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Allows certain retired teachers to remain in retirement status and continue to receive their retirement annuities while engaging in employment in a designated subject shortage area. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 to provide that health insurance benefits under the State and TRIP plans are suspended while the annuitant is covered as an active teacher. Amends the School Code to require regional superintendents of schools to certify school district compliance with certain requirements of the program. Effective immediately.

Creates the Data Security on State Computers Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a public utility may not disconnect for nonpayment service during the period from December 1 through March 31 to a residential customer who is eligible for assistance under the Energy Assistance Act of 1989. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Makes technical changes in the short title Section.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that no person may operate a child care facility, receive a license to operate a child care facility, be employed by a child care facility, or live as an adult in a child care facility, if the person has been declared a sexually dangerous person under the Sexually Dangerous Persons Act or a sexually violent person under the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act or convicted of committing or attempting to commit specified offenses. Provides an exception if specified criteria are met. Defines "child care facility" for the purposes of the provision concerning background investigations. Effective immediately.

Creates the Mercury Fever Thermometer Prohibition Act. Sets forth legislative findings. Provides that (1) on or after July 1, 2004, no person shall sell, distribute, or give for promotional purposes (including online retail) mercury fever thermometers in this State and (2) on or after July 1, 2004, no hospital shall distribute mercury fever thermometers in maternity or new baby gift packs to patients. Provides that these prohibitions do not apply to mercury fever thermometers sold or provided to be used in a health care facility. Provides that on or after July 1, 2004, no person shall manufacture a mercury fever thermometer in this State. Provides that on or after July 1, 2004, no mercury-added novelty products may be offered for sale or distributed for promotional purposes; exempts button-cell batteries. Provides that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a petty offense and upon conviction is subject to a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $200 for each violation.

Amends the Children's Health Insurance Program Act to extend the sunset date for the Act from July 1, 2003 to July 1, 2006. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Repeals provisions concerning the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program. Provides instead that the State Board of Education shall make reading improvement grants to school districts in order to improve the reading and study skills of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade (from a separate appropriation made for these purposes). Provides that the State Board may use up to 2% of the appropriation for the purpose of providing teacher training and retraining. Provides that of the remaining funds (i) up to the first $5,000,000 in new funds in the 2003-2004 school year shall be distributed to districts serving grades 7 through 12 and (ii) the remainder of the appropriation shall be distributed to districts serving kindergarten through grade 6. Includes provisions concerning application requirements, reporting assessment results, eligibility in the third or subsequent years, requirements for the use of grants, and reporting results to the General Assembly. Effective July 1, 2003.

Creates the Senior Citizen Prescription Drug Discount Program Act. Provides that the Program shall be administered by the Department of Central Management Services to enable eligible senior citizens to purchase prescription drugs at discounted prices and that the Department shall (i) enroll eligible seniors into the Program, (ii) enter into rebate agreements with drug manufacturers, either itself or through an agent, and (iii) reimburse pharmacies for the cost of providing discounts using the proceeds from the manufacturer rebate agreements. Eligible seniors are persons who are Illinois residents and who are 65 years of age or older. Establishes a prescription pricing formula. Sets guidelines for the rebate agreements. Establishes application requirements for seniors and eligibility requirements for pharmacies. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Senior Citizen Prescription Drug Discount Program Fund into which rebate payments and enrollment fees shall be deposited. Provides for an initial transfer from the General Revenue Fund into the Drug Discount Program Fund of $27,000,000 to be repaid to the General Revenue Fund out of rebate payments. Effective July 1, 2003.