Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that the vehicle of a person who drives without a license and without insurance and causes death or personal injury to another person is subject to seizure and forfeiture. Effective immediately.
Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires that, beginning July 1, 2004, the Department's prostate cancer awareness program must include development and dissemination of public service announcements promoting prostate cancer screening for men over age 40.
Amends the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act. Provides that physicians and health care providers may screen children for lead poisoning in conjunction with the school health exam when, in the physician's judgment, the child is potentially at high risk of lead poisoning.
Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Changes the name of an attendance center's professional personnel advisory committee to a professional personnel leadership committee. Provides that the purpose of the committee is to reach optimal decisions jointly with the principal and local school council on matters of educational program (instead of providing advice). Changes the membership of the committee by providing that the committee shall consist of 7 members who are certified classroom teachers or other certificated personnel and the 2 teacher members of the local school council (one or both of whom shall chair the committee). Gives the committee the authority to gather information from school staff through interviews or questionnaires without prior approval. Adds provisions concerning the committee with respect to reviewing and making recommendations regarding the school improvement plan and the school budget, reporting on the progress and problems of plan implementation, developing the school's curriculum, and making other educational improvement recommendations. Effective July 1, 2003.
Amends the School Code. Repeals provisions concerning the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program. Provides instead that the State Board of Education shall make reading improvement grants to school districts in order to improve the reading and study skills of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade (from a separate appropriation made for these purposes). Provides that the State Board may use up to 2% of the appropriation for the purpose of providing teacher training and retraining. Provides that of the remaining funds (i) up to the first $5,000,000 in new funds in the 2003-2004 school year shall be distributed to districts serving grades 7 through 12 and (ii) the remainder of the appropriation shall be distributed to districts serving kindergarten through grade 6. Includes provisions concerning application requirements, reporting assessment results, eligibility in the third or subsequent years, requirements for the use of grants, and reporting results to the General Assembly. Effective July 1, 2003.
Mourns the death of Lona Mae Martin Ford, "Mama Ford", of Chicago.
Celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Illinois Association of Park Districts.
Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Chicago Education Reform Act of 2003. Amends the School Code and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Requires the Chicago Board of Education and the chief executive officer to enter into a partnership agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union with regard to advancing student achievement. Makes changes concerning permissive and mandatory subjects of bargaining, adoption of a grievance resolution procedure for the discharge or suspension of employees, and establishment of a Labor Management Council. Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Makes changes concerning the City of Chicago with respect to increasing the number of schools that may operate, limiting operation of a school to one campus, prohibiting a for-profit entity from operating or managing a school, requiring the administration of nationally recognized standardized tests, requiring a certain percentage of employees in instructional positions to hold teaching certificates, and obtaining alternative teacher certification. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Congratulates Apostle Richard D. Henton on 39 years of pastoral service.
