Rep. Lou Lang

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Makes a technical change.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning legal disability.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Military Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning funding for the Department of Military Affairs.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall include, in its annual report to the General Assembly regarding child care issues, an assessment of working condition improvements required to attract capable caregivers (now, an assessment of improvements in employee benefits that may attract capable caregivers) and a determination by the Department of the adequacy of day care facility pay and benefit packages in assuring quality care. Provides that the Department shall include in its day care planning activities priorities the provision of grants to encourage the creation and expansion of child care centers in high need communities (now, the provision of grants only to the extent funds are specifically appropriated for this purpose) and support service programs that assist teen parents to continue and complete their education (now, service programs that assist teen parents to continue and complete their education).

Repeals the Occupational Skill Standards Act. Effective immediately.

Creates the Elder Care Savings Fund Act. Authorizes the State Treasurer to establish an Elder Care Savings Fund. Allows Illinois residents to invest in the fund and provides that investors' earnings are exempt from taxes other than estate, transfer, and inheritance taxes. Provides for a program of grants, using moneys in the fund, to be applied to costs of long-term care or services. Requires the State Treasurer to implement a program to inform residents about options available for financing long-term care. Creates an Elder Care Trust Authority to advise the Elder Care Savings Fund staff and perform other functions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Adds a caption to the purpose Section.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that every child placed under that Act with a diagnosis of mental illness shall receive the necessary mental health services. Provides that no later than January 1, 2004, the Department of Children and Family Services shall file a proposal addressing the implementation of mental health services. Provides that the Department shall provide or arrange for the training of staff responsible for the oversight of childcare agencies or facilities. Requires that the child be placed in or near the community in which the child resided prior to the placement or in the community in which the child's family or nearest next of kin presently reside. Provides that prior to any placement, a determination shall be made as to the capability and suitability of the program, facility, or home to adequately meet the needs of the child being placed and to ensure that an appropriate training plan for staff is provided. Provides that all children must be visited by trained personnel at least once during the first month following placement and once every month thereafter. Provides that upon a complaint or a discovery of abuse, neglect, improper care, or inadequate care, the Department shall immediately investigate and remove the child. Provides for the independent expert evaluation of every child with a primary or secondary diagnosis of mental illness residing in every program, facility, or home licensed under the Child Care Act or receiving State funds for certain services. Provides that the Department shall prepare an assessment of each mental health community service network and complete all required individual and network assessments by January 1, 2005.