Amends the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act. Creates the Lead-Safe Housing Advisory Council to recommend standards for lead-safe housing and to otherwise assist the Department of Public Health in administering the Act.
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.
Congratulates Heidi Keye Biederman of St. Charles on the occasion of her retirement as Executive Director of the Large Unit District Association.
Creates the Joint Task Force on Illinois Immigrants and Refugees for the purpose of examining the special needs of immigrants and refugees in the State and making recommendations to the General Assembly concerning these needs. Contains provisions concerning the membership and duties of the Task Force.
Urges Congress to establish a Great Lakes Trust Fund to fund the restoration of the Great Lakes ecosystems.
Supports the University of Illinois at Chicago's application to the National Institutes of Health for a National Biocontainment Laboratory for the City of Chicago.
Mourns the death of Kathleen F. Blatz.
Congratulates Caryl Louise and John Joseph Giordano on the birth of their daughter Reese Elle Giordano on March 11, 2003.
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.
