Rep. Wyvetter H. Younge

Congratulates Katherine Dunham on the occasion of her 94th birthday celebration.

Amends the School Code. Creates a K-3 class size reduction grant program to be implemented and administered by the State Board of Education. Limits use of the grant funds to operating and maintaining classes in grades K-3 with a class size of no more than 20 pupils. Effective immediately.

Congratulates Reverend and Mrs. Carlton Heyliger on the occasion of their retirement from Edgemont Grace Church of the Nazarene in East St. Louis.

Amends the Driver Education Act of the School Code. Requires a driver education course to provide at least 30 minutes of classroom instruction relating to organ, tissue, and blood donation and organ, tissue, and blood donation procedures. Prohibits a student from being required to participate in this instruction if his or her parent or guardian objects. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Designates the third Saturday in June of each year as Juneteenth National Freedom Day to commemorate the abolition of slavery throughout the United States and its territories in 1865. Effective immediately.

Amends the Home Repair Fraud Act. In provisions relating to a victim who is 60 years of age or older or a disabled person, increases criminal penalties and lowers the monetary thresholds for enhanced penalties. In addition, provides that the offender's licenses and permits may be suspended or revoked.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Public Aid shall provide Medicaid reimbursement for all prenatal and perinatal health care services that are provided for the purpose of preventing low-birthweight infants and reducing the need for neonatal intensive care hospital services. Requires a report to the General Assembly every 2 years.

Creates the Children's Privacy Protection and Parental Empowerment Act. Prohibits: the sale or purchase of personal information concerning children without parental consent; the processing of personal information concerning children by prisoners or convicted sex offenders; and the distribution or exchange of children's personal information that one has reason to believe will be used to harm or abuse a child. Provides that persons who broker, solicit, or facilitate the sale of personal information concerning children are required to disclose to parents, upon request, the source and content of personal information on file with regard to their children, and to disclose to parents, upon request, the names of persons or entities that have received or solicited personal information with regard to their children. Violation of this Act is a Class A misdemeanor.

Amends the Historic Preservation Agency Act. Creates the Freedom Trail Commission. Contains provisions concerning the membership and duties of the commission. Provides that the commission must prepare a master plan to promote and preserve the history of the freedom trail and underground railroad in the State; work in conjunction with State and federal authorities to sponsor commemorations, linkages, seminars, and public forums on the freedom trail and underground railroad in the State and in neighboring states; assist and promote the making of applications for inclusion in the national and State register of historic places for significant historic places related to the freedom trail and the underground railroad in the State; assist and develop partnerships to seek public and private funds to carry out activities to protect, preserve, and promote the legacy of the freedom trail and underground railroad in the State; and work with the Illinois State Board of Education to evaluate, conduct research concerning, and develop a curriculum for use in Illinois public schools regarding the underground railroad, with emphasis on the activities of the underground railroad within this State. Provides that the commission must report its activities and findings to the General Assembly by February 1, 2004. Effective immediately.

Creates the Council on Responsible Fatherhood Act. Creates the Council on Responsible Fatherhood. Provides for the appointment of members to the Council. Sets the duties of the Council. Requires the Council on Fatherhood to establish a responsible fatherhood initiative. Sets the goals and components of the fatherhood initiative. Provides that the Act is repealed on July 1, 2005. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Responsible Fatherhood Fund. Effective immediately.