Urges the Senate of the United States to vote favorably to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Urges the General Assembly to commit themselves to ending long-term or repeated homelessness in Illinois.
Amends the Illinois Health Care Finance Reform Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to require all ambulatory surgical treatment centers licensed to operate in the State (now, the requirement applies only to hospitals licensed to operate in the State) to adopt a uniform system for submitting patient charges for payment from public and private payors and to electronically submit certain patient billing data to the Department for public disclosure. Makes corresponding changes in provisions concerning the process for review, adjustment, and validation of the publicly disclosed information. Requires the Department to collect and compile certain billing data from ambulatory surgical treatment centers according to certain standards by January 1, 2006 (or by January 1, 2007 for centers or physicians with fewer than 25 employees). Effective January 1, 2005.
Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that "debt service extension base" means, for park districts (i) that were first subject to this Law in 1991 or 1995 and (ii) whose extension for the 1994 levy year for the payment of principal and interest on bonds issued by the park district without referendum (but not including excluded non-referendum bonds) was less than 51% of the amount for the 1991 levy year constituting an extension for payment of principal and interest on bonds issued by the park district without referendum (but not including excluded non-referendum bonds), an amount equal to that portion of the extension for the 1991 levy year constituting an extension for payment of principal and interest on bonds issued by the park district without referendum (but not including excluded non-referendum bonds). Provides that "excluded non-referendum bonds" means (i) bonds authorized for certain aquarium and museum projects, (ii) double-barrelled bonds, and (iii) refunding obligations issued to refund or to continue to refund obligations initially issued pursuant to referendum.
Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.
Creates the Illinois Housing Initiative Act of 2003. Requires that a task force, composed of all key State agencies with functions related to housing and other experts in housing, develop an annual comprehensive housing plan that prioritizes the development of a range of permanent housing for certain underserved populations, including low-income and homeless persons. Creates the Illinois Housing Initiative, to be in effect through December 31, 2008, to coordinate and streamline the allocation of available housing resources to make it possible to prioritize the development of housing for underserved populations in accordance with the annual comprehensive housing plan. Provides for funding for housing construction and rehabilitation and supportive services. Requires every municipality to create a local housing development plan.
Thanks Stuart Ferst for his years of accomplishment serving people with disabilities.
Amends the Federally Subsidized Housing Preservation Act. Changes the short title to the Federally Assisted Housing Preservation Act, and replaces references to "subsidized housing" with references to "assisted housing". Requires the owner of an assisted housing development to give 12 (instead of 6) months notice of the owner's intent to sell or otherwise dispose of the assisted housing; also requires notice of the owner's intent to complete prepayment or terminate a subsidy contract or rental restrictions. Provides for representation of a tenant association by a not-for-profit corporation or private purchaser. Requires that the owner offer the property for sale to a tenant association within 60 days after the association has complied with the requirements of the Act concerning notice to the owner. Requires that a tenant association notify the owner of its intent to purchase the property within 90 (instead of 30) days after receiving the owner's offer of sale. Effective immediately.
Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Increases the minimum wage for workers 18 years and older to $6.50 per hour on January 1, 2004. Provides that, beginning in 2005, the minimum wage shall be annually adjusted by the Department of Labor. Provides that the adjustment shall be calculated each September 30, using the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, and shall take effect on January 1 of the following year. Provides that the Director of Labor shall by rule establish the minimum wage for employees under the age of 18 years. Deletes language providing that: (i) wages may not be less than the federal minimum hourly wage and wages paid to any employee under 18 years of age may not be more than 50 cents less than the wage required to be paid to employees who are at least 18 years of age; and (ii) every employer of an employee engaged in an occupation in which gratuities have customarily been recognized as part of the remuneration is entitled to an allowance for gratuities as part of the hourly wage rate in an amount not to exceed 40% of the applicable minimum wage rate.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code with respect to colorectal cancer examinations. Provides that insurance coverage must provide coverage for colorectal cancer examinations according to the most recently published guidelines of the American Cancer Society. Effective immediately.
