Amends the Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.
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.
Creates the Equal Pay Act of 2003. Provides that no employer may discriminate between employees on the basis of sex by paying wages solely on the basis of the employee's gender. Prohibits retaliatory discharge or discrimination against an employee on the basis of the employee's use of the Act and provides for penalties for violations of the Act, including a Class B misdemeanor for retaliatory discharge or discrimination by the employer. Provides that the Director of Labor shall administer and enforce the Act. Provides that every employer subject to the Act shall preserve specified records for not less than 3 years. Provides that every employer covered by the Act shall post a notice summarizing the requirements of the Act. Provides that the Department of Labor shall conduct ongoing outreach and education efforts concerning the Act.
Congratulates Eagle Scout Aaron David Goldsberry of Boy Scout Troop 114 in Jonesboro.
Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Chicago Education Reform Act of 2003. Amends the School Code and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Requires the Chicago Board of Education and the chief executive officer to enter into a partnership agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union with regard to advancing student achievement. Makes changes concerning permissive and mandatory subjects of bargaining, adoption of a grievance resolution procedure for the discharge or suspension of employees, and establishment of a Labor Management Council. Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Makes changes concerning the City of Chicago with respect to increasing the number of schools that may operate, limiting operation of a school to one campus, prohibiting a for-profit entity from operating or managing a school, requiring the administration of nationally recognized standardized tests, requiring a certain percentage of employees in instructional positions to hold teaching certificates, and obtaining alternative teacher certification. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Wildlife Code. Permits the use of handguns during the open season for deer. Provides that any centerfire handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches may be used. Provides that the only legal ammunition for a centerfire handgun is a cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with a capability of at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle. Prohibits the use of full metal jacket bullets. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall make administrative rules concerning management restrictions applicable to the firearm and bow and arrow season. Effective immediately.
