Rep. Joseph M. Lyons

Amends the Chicago Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Allows purchase of service credit for up to 2 years of military service during which the fireman was not on a leave of absence from employment. Allows purchase at a reduced interest rate for 6 months. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Public Aid shall provide nursing home employee scholarships (to be added to a nursing home's regular Medicaid reimbursement rate) to each nursing home reimbursed under the Medicaid program. Provides that the purpose of the scholarships is to lead to career advancement or to provide job-related training in English as a second language. Provides for such scholarships at the rate of $0.25 per bed for the period from July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006; provides for such scholarships calculated according to various factors after June 30, 2006.

Creates the Banking Development District Act. Provides for the establishment of banking offices and services in underserved locations. Requires the Office of Banks and Real Estate to consult with the Department of Financial Institutions and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to adopt rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act. Sets forth criteria for the establishment of banking development districts. Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates a new Section concerning the abatement of taxes in a banking district. Effective immediately.

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Provides that if an applicant for a license under the Act has not been previously licensed under the Act or if the assisted living or shared housing establishment is not in operation at the time the application is made, the Department of Public Health must (instead of may) issue a probationary license. Provides that failure to receive a license under the Act within 6 months after applying for one shall result in a denial of the application. In connection with hearings held under the Act, authorizes the Director of Public Health to compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of records and to administer oaths. Provides that an establishment that provides medication administration as an optional service shall annually administer a flu shot to each resident and shall administer or arrange for the administration of a pneumonia shot to each resident who is age 65 or older. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of the Code, if a school district adopts, in a fiscal year, an additional or supplemental budget as a result of the voters in the school district having voted in favor of an increase in the annual tax rate for educational or operations and maintenance purposes or both at an election held after the adoption of the annual school budget adopted in that fiscal year, the county clerk shall include, in the extension of taxes made during that fiscal year, the extension of taxes for the supplemental or additional budget adopted by the school district.

Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Increases the duty disability benefit to 80% of the current salary attached from time to time to the rank held by the policeman at the time of removal from the police department payroll. Provides that beginning on January 1, 2004, no duty disability benefit that has been payable for at least 5 years shall be less than 70% of the current salary attached from time to time to the rank held by the policeman at the time of removal from the police department payroll. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Banking Act and the Limited Liability Company Act to authorize the organization of banks as limited liability companies. Effective immediately.

Creates the Long-Term Care Planning Strategy Act. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to achieve an awareness and use of alternatives to nursing homes. Provides for a long-term care planning committee, to be established by the Director of Aging, to consist of representatives of (i) the Department on Aging and the departments of Public Aid, Public Health, Human Services, Insurance, and Commerce and Economic Opportunity and (ii) consumers of long-term care services and others. Requires the committee to identify long-term care issues, refine State long-term goals, make recommendations, and perform other functions. Requires reports from the committee, beginning January 1, 2005. Requires the Director of Aging, with the assistance and advice of others, to contract for a public awareness campaign concerning the aging process, the long-term care system, and alternatives available. Effective immediately.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Creates 2 new types of licenses, to be known as the beer and wine distributors license and the beer and wine importing distributors license. Provides that a beer and wine distributors license authorizes its holder to engage in purchasing, storing, possessing, or warehousing beer or wine for resale or reselling at wholesale, within or without Illinois. Provides that a beer and wine importing distributor's license authorizes its holder to import into Illinois, from any point in the United States outside of Illinois, whether for himself or for another, any beer or wine for sale or resale and to import into Illinois, from any point in the United States outside of Illinois, for consumption in any one calendar year, more than one gallon of beer and wine.

Creates the Priority for In-Home and Community Support Services Act. Requires the Department on Aging and the departments of Human Services and Public Aid to establish programs of in-home and community support services for adults with long-term care needs who have been placed inappropriately in an institutional setting. Requires the head of each department to designate multidisciplinary teams throughout the State to assist with evaluations of persons concerning their eligibility for the programs. Authorizes demonstration projects.