Rep. Julie Hamos

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and the State Finance Act. Subject to appropriation, requires the Department of Public Health to develop a comprehensive statewide asthma management plan to (i) reduce the rate of hospitalizations due to asthma and (ii) facilitate the effective management of asthma in persons with asthma. Requires the Department to implement programs to meet the objectives of the statewide asthma management plan. Provides for the use of moneys from the Tobacco Settlement Recovery Fund to implement the statewide asthma management plan.

Amends the Sale of Tobacco to Minors Act. Prohibits the sale of tobacco over the Internet.

Creates the Mercury Reduction Act. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency may participate in the establishment and implementation of a multi-state clearinghouse to assist in carrying out the purpose of mercury reduction. Provides that beginning July 1, 2005, no mercury-added product may be offered for final sale or use or distributed for promotional purposes in the State without prior written notification to the Environmental Protection Agency by the manufacturer of the product. Sets forth the requirements for this notification. Sets forth restrictions on the purchase or sale of certain mercury-added products. Provides that beginning July 1, 2006, no person may crush, shred, flatten, or otherwise process a motor vehicle for scrap metal without first making a good faith effort to remove any mercury light switches and mercury headlights. Provides that, on or before January 1, 2006, the Pollution Control Board must modify its rules governing universal hazardous waste as appropriate to promote the recycling, recovery, and proper management of elemental mercury and mercury-added products on a statewide basis. Sets forth penalties for violations of the Act. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Adds "vehicle recycler" to the list of persons who may not knowingly shred, scrap, dismantle, recycle, incinerate, handle, store, or otherwise manage any white good that contains any white components. Provides that no owner, operator, agent, employee of a junkyard or scrap dealership, or vehicle recycler may knowingly shred, scrap, dismantle, recycle, incinerate, handle, store, or otherwise manage any end-of-life motor vehicle that contains any mercury-added component. Defines "vehicle recycler", "end-of-life motor vehicle", and "mercury-added component". Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination within the Department of Public Health. Requires the task force to examine the prevalence and burden of cervical cancer, raise public awareness concerning the causes and nature of cervical cancer, identify prevention and control strategies and technologies, and perform other functions. Requires the task force to develop a statewide comprehensive cervical cancer prevention plan and to make annual reports. Provides for expiration of the task force on April 1, 2009 or upon the task force's submission of its final report, whichever is earlier. Effective immediately.

Creates the Energy Efficient Commercial Building Act. Establishes an Energy Efficient Commercial Building Code that applies to commercial buildings in this State. Provides for technical assistance to certain design professions to explain the requirements of the Code. Preempts home rule powers. Effective one year after becoming law.

Creates the Residential Tenants' Right to Repair Act. Provides that, if a repair is required under a residential lease agreement or required under a law, rule, or ordinance and the reasonable cost of the repair does not exceed the lesser of $500 or one-half of the monthly rent, the tenant may notify the landlord in writing of the tenant's intention to have the repair made at the landlord's expense. Provides that, if the landlord fails to make the repair within 14 days or more promptly in an emergency the tenant may have the repair made and, after submitting a paid bill to the landlord, deduct from his or her rent the amount of the bill, subject to specified limitations. Sets forth exceptions and provisions concerning mechanics lien laws. Provides that a home rule unit may not regulate residential lease agreements in a manner that diminishes the rights of tenants under the Act.

Amends the School Code. Creates a K-3 class size reduction grant program to be implemented and administered by the State Board of Education. Provides that only those schools that are on the early academic warning list or academic watch list and that maintain grades K-3 are grant eligible. Limits use of the grant funds to operating and maintaining classes in grades K-3 with a class size of no more than 20 pupils. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Deletes a provision that includes beginning and ending dates for the operation of a Great START (Strategy to Attract and Retain Teachers) program. Deletes provisions (i) requiring a working committee of the Child and Development Advisory Council of the Department of Human Services to make certain recommendations concerning the Great START program by October 1, 2000 and (ii) requiring the Department to evaluate the Great START program, gather data on the program, and submit a report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2002. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the State aid formula.

Amends the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act. Makes changes in the definitions of "low-income housing" and "moderate-income housing". Changes dates in provisions concerning the Illinois Housing Development Authority's determination of exempt local governments, affordable housing plans, and appeals to the State Housing Appeals Board. Effective immediately.