Creates the Helping Heroes Child Care Program Act and amends the State Finance Act. Establishes the Helping Heroes Child Care Program for the purpose of providing vouchers for child care to Illinois families who have one or more parents deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan by the armed services. Provides for the program to be administered by the Department of Human Services, but only if federal funding is made available for that purpose. Provides that any such federal moneys received by the State shall be deposited into the Fund for Child Care for Deployed Military Personnel, which is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides for income eligibility criteria to be established by the Department by rule. Provides that a family that received child care assistance before the parent's deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan is eligible only for a voucher for the cost of any additional hours of child care that are necessary by reason of that deployment. Provides that a family is not eligible for a child care voucher if the family receives child care services from the United States military. Repeals the Act on July 1, 2010. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Urges Congress to preserve the right of state and local governments to operate pension plans for their employees in place of the federal Social Security system and develop legislation for responsible reform of the federal Social Security system that does not include mandatory participation by employees of state and local governments.
Mourns the death of Karyn E. Grunloh of Altamont.
Amends the School Code. In a provision concerning driver education, removes the $50 limit on the amount that a school district may charge a participant and allows the local school board to determine the reasonable fee that may be charged. Effective immediately.
Honors May Nickles on reaching the distinguished age of 100 years.
Honors Mrs. Pauline Parker and her late husband, George Parker, for their deep commitment to education.
Congratulates Catherine Fuller of Flat Rock on her 100th birthday, January 21, 2005.
Creates the School Code Review Committee to undertake a comprehensive and thorough review of every Article of the School Code and related laws, rules, and regulations impacting K-12 schools.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes it unlawful for a child sex offender to be knowingly present in a licensed child care facility or to knowingly loiter on a public way within 500 feet of a licensed child care facility. Makes it unlawful for a child sex offender to reside within 500 feet of a licensed child care facility. Provides that a violation is a Class 4 felony.
Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Provides that the special education rule of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) concerning an expedited due process hearing is changed by operation of law. Provides that ISBE may amend the rule only by general rulemaking under the Act. Effective January 1, 2005.