Rep. Lisa Hernandez

Repeals the Check Cashing Act and creates the Check Cashers Act. Contains a statement of purpose. Defines "merchant" as a person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation primarily engaged in the business of selling tangible personal property at retail, and defines other terms. Provides that a merchant may engage in the check cashing business for a fee only if it is incidental to the merchant's main business. Contains provisions concerning applicability, permitted fees, proceeds, deposits, reporting requirements, forged checks, records, enforcement and remedies, judicial review, and waivers. Provides that the Department may make and enforce such reasonable rules, regulations, directions, orders, decisions, and findings as the execution and enforcement of the Act require. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that any person who knowingly violates the Check Cashers Act commits an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Makes conforming changes in the Payday Loan Reform Act. Contains a severability provision. Effective 180 days after becoming law.

Amends the Transitional Bilingual Education Article of the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to classify transitional bilingual education and its appropriation as a mandated, categorically funded program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that the Department on Aging shall have the power to determine fees for Departmental conferences, trainings, and programs to offset costs. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, in J. Sterling Morton High School District 201, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2011-2012 school year or 2012-2013 school year must complete at least 40 hours of community service. Provides that this requirement does not apply to children with disabilities or pupils involved in extra-curricular activities, the number of activities to be determined by the school board. Provides that the community service shall require no staff monitoring. Effective immediately.

Amends the Cemetery Oversight Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to promulgate rules by December 31, 2012 to ensure that infant formula packaged in containers made with the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) shall not be provided to women through the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the licensing requirements.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a requirement that a municipality in a county with 2,000,000 or more inhabitants must regulate and inspect retail food establishments does not apply to a municipality that is served by a local health district. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act. Removes provisions authorizing the Secretary of State to provide by rule for the issuance of an identification card without photograph if the applicant has a bona fide religious objection to being photographed or to the display of his or her photograph. Substitutes the term "person with a disability" for the term "disabled person". Redefines the terms "developmental disability", "visual disability", "physical disability", and "mental disability". Provides that blindness is a Class 1A disability. Changes the name of the Illinois Disabled Person Identification Card to the Illinois Person with a Disability Identification Card. Makes conforming changes in the Election Code, Property Tax Code, Mobile Home Local Services Tax Act, Illinois Public Aid Code, Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act, Fish and Aquatic Life Code, Wildlife Code, Illinois Vehicle Code, Jury Act, and Jury Commission Act. Effective January 1, 2013.

Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Department of Revenue.