Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services, in consultation with its Child Care and Development Advisory Council, to develop a comprehensive plan to revise the State's rates for the various types of child care provided for TANF recipients. Requires completion of the plan by September 30, 2004. Effective immediately.
Provides that the amendatory provisions may be referred to as the Quality Teacher Incentive and Mentoring Law. Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to implement and administer a quality teacher incentive program, in which the Board provides signing bonuses of $1,000 each to eligible teachers. Requires the teacher to agree to teach in a public school for a minimum of 3 consecutive years. Requires the State Board of Education to implement a quality teacher mentoring program, in which the Board awards grants to school districts that meet certain criteria to allow these school districts to develop or expand teacher mentoring programs. Requires the school district to have a mentoring program for new teachers in their first 3 years of employment. Effective July 1, 2003.
Amends the Radiation Protection Act of 1990. Adds physician assistants and advance practice nurses to the list of persons who may administer radiation to human beings. Requires the Department of Nuclear Safety to promulgate rules to establish accreditation standards and procedures to be met by physician assistants who administer radiation to human beings. Effective immediately.
Appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department on Aging for the operation of the Prevention of Unnecessary Institutionalization program under the Prevention of Unnecessary Institutionalization Act. Effective July 1, 2003.
Creates the Housing with Services for the Elderly Consolidation Act. Creates the Task Force on Housing with Services for the Elderly Consolidation, composed of representatives of the Department of Public Aid and the Department of Public Health. Provides that the Task Force shall develop a plan for consolidating, under a single State agency, all programs of housing with services for the elderly in Illinois, including, but not limited to, (i) establishments licensed under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act and (ii) the Supportive Living Program. Requires the Task Force to perform other functions and to submit a report by January 1, 2005. Abolishes the Task Force on January 1, 2005. Effective immediately.
Appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for an increase in the amounts allocated for the following activities of the Office of Women's Health within the Department: (1) increasing the amount or number of grants, or both, for funding research in various areas including breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression and other mental health issues, osteoporosis, and diabetes; and (2) expanding statewide screening programs for osteoporosis, diabetes, domestic violence, and mental health issues. Effective July 1, 2003.
Creates the Long-term Care Options Program Act. Provides that the Governor shall create a Long-Term Care Options Program, administered by the Department on Aging in coordination with the Departments of Public Aid and Public Health, to establish a single point-of-entry system that assures ease of access to and coordination of community-based long-term care services for all seniors. Provides that the Options Program shall build upon the knowledge and expertise of the systems already in place such as the area agencies on aging, care coordination units, and senior centers. Creates the Long-Term Care Options Council. Effective immediately.
Amends the Public Aid Code. Provides that, in the event that the current pharmacy assistance program ceases to provide benefits and the federal government creates a Medicare prescription drug benefit, the Department shall develop a new supplemental coverage program to help cover out-of-pocket expenses of individuals enrolled in the Medicare prescription drug benefit program. Provides guidelines for coverage under and eligibility for the program. Effective immediately.
Amends the Medical Corporation Act. Requires officers, directors, and shareholders of medical corporations to be licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987, the Podiatric Medical Practice Act of 1987, or, if an officer, director, or shareholder is an advanced practice nurse, the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act (rather than the Medical Practice Act of 1987 only). Effective immediately.
Creates the Care of Students with Diabetes Act and amends the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act and the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987. Requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, to adopt guidelines that must meet or exceed those set by the American Diabetes Association for the management of children with diabetes in the school or day care setting for the training of school employees. Requires school districts and governing bodies of charter and private elementary and secondary schools to ensure that training is provided to at least 3 school employees at each school attended by a student with diabetes. Requires a medical management plan for each student who seeks care for diabetes at school. Establishes standards for the care of students with diabetes. Establishes immunity from civil liability in connection with activities authorized under the Care of Students with Diabetes Act. Provides that neither the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act nor the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987 prohibits the activities authorized under the Care of Students with Diabetes Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to provide that no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by the Care of Students with Diabetes Act. Effective immediately.
