Rep. Larry McKeon

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning State goals and assessment.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that every person who qualifies for home-delivered meals under the federal Older Americans Act shall receive those services, subject to appropriation. Provides that by January 1 of each year, the Department on Aging shall provide the General Assembly and the Illinois Council on Aging estimates of the additional funds necessary to fund the program for the next fiscal year.

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.

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Provides that the Illinois Labor Relations Board or the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board shall: designate a representative for purposes of collective bargaining when the representative demonstrates a showing of majority interest by employees in a unit; ascertain the employees' choice of employee organization in the case of a dispute on the basis of dues deduction authorization and other evidence, or, if necessary, by conducting an election; conduct an election if the dues deduction authorizations and other evidence are fraudulent or were obtained through coercion; and investigate and consider a party's allegations that the dues deduction authorizations and other evidence submitted in support of a designation of representative without an election were subsequently changed, altered, withdrawn, or withheld as a result of fraud, coercion, or unfair labor practice by the employer and designate the representative without conducting an election if it determines that a representative would have had a majority interest but for the employer's fraud, coercion, or unfair labor practice. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning grievance procedures.

Amends the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act and the Hypodermic Syringes and Needles Act. Authorizes a person who is at least 18 years of age to purchase up to 20 sterile hypodermic syringes or needles at a pharmacy without a prescription. Authorizes a pharmacist to sell up to 20 sterile hypodermic syringes or needles to a person who is at least 18 years of age. Provides that the Illinois Department of Public Health must develop educational materials regarding safer injection, HIV prevention, syringe disposal, and drug treatment and make copies of those materials available to pharmacists. Provides that pharmacists must make those educational materials available to persons who purchase syringes. Repeals the Section in the Hypodermic Syringes and Needles Act requiring a person who sells a syringe, needle, or instrument to keep a record of the sale. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Workforce Investment Board Act. Requires the Illinois Workforce Investment Board to implement a benchmarking system for the State's workforce development system, establish a mechanism to collect data and track the benchmarks on an annual basis, and then use the results to set goals for each benchmark, to inform planning, and to ensure the effective use of State resources.

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 Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that any minor under 18 years of age who has been declared dependent by a juvenile court can be deemed eligible by that court for long-term foster care due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment if that minor is otherwise eligible for special immigrant juvenile status under federal law. Effective immediately.

Commends the Lincoln Park Lagooners of Chicago on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the organization.