Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that upon admission of a committed person to a Department of Corrections facility as part of the prisoner's comprehensive physical examination and immediately prior to release of that person, the committed person shall be required to take tests for HIV/AIDS and methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections administered by the Department. Provides that if the test result is positive, the committed person shall receive medical care for the infection paid by the Department during the committed person's incarceration. Provides that upon release of the committed person from incarceration, the costs of HIV/AIDS and MRSA treatment and counseling shall be paid by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall develop a specialized discharge plan for a committed person who tests positive for HIV/AIDS or MRSA. Provides that the Department of Corrections, in consultation with the Department of Public Health and Prisoner Review Board, shall provide community reentry services for committed persons who test positive for HIV/AIDS or MRSA. Provides that each committed person shall be provided with HIV/AIDS and MRSA counseling. Provides that each committed person shall receive mandatory GED education that includes HIV/AIDS, MRSA, and hepatitis C prevention education. Provides that a defendant at least 17 years of age who has a high school diploma or who has passed the high school level GED test and who is convicted of a felony and who is sentenced to a term of imprisonment in the Department of Corrections shall be provided with an educational program that leads to the completion of an associate, baccalaureate, or higher degree paid by the Department of Corrections. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Payday Loan Reform Act. Changes the definition of "payday loan" to include any loan with a finance charge exceeding an annual percentage rate of 36% (instead of with a finance charge exceeding an annual percentage rate of 36% and with a term that does not exceed 120 days). Provides that no lender may make a payday loan with periodic payments unless the periodic payments are substantially equal term payments and, if paid as scheduled, result in full payment of the principal and interest owed on the loan at the end of the loan term. Requires the licensee, as part of the information that he or she must collect and maintain, to include the total number of lawsuits filed by the licensee or its agent against consumers to collect on payday loans from consumers during the preceding calendar year. Prohibits a licensee or a person making payday loans from evading the requirements and prohibitions of the Act by use of a device or subterfuge including, but not limited to, (i) disguising a payday loan as a different type of transaction, or (ii) characterizing a required fee as a purchase of a good or service in connection with a payday loan. Authorizes the Department to develop rules to determine if any person or entity seeks to evade the applicability of this Act by any device, subterfuge, or pretense. Effective immediately.
Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that in unfitness proceedings alleging that a minor is abused, neglected, or dependent, if documents, assessments, and evaluations are directly used to prove an unfitness ground as alleged in the petition or at the best interest portion, relating to parent child bonding, and a party objects to the introduction of the documents into evidence, the author of those documents shall testify, if available, as to the recommendations and findings. Provides that if the author is unavailable, the documents are admissible without such testimony. Provides that the court shall determine the proper weight accorded to the documents. Provides that a supplemental petition to reinstate parentage may be filed regarding any minor who is presently a ward of the court under the Abused, Neglected, or Dependent Minors Article of the Act. Establishes procedures for filing such supplemental petition. Effective August 1, 2007.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, and the Voluntary Health Services Plan Act to require policies of health insurance and health plans issued by insurers that have been licensed for 5 years or more to expend no less than 85% of the aggregate dues, fees, and other periodic payments received by the policy or plan for providing health care services to its subscribers or enrollees. Provides that policies or plans issued by insurers that have been licensed for less than 5 years may spend no less than 75% for providing health care services to its subscribers or enrollees. Extends the statutory authority of the Director to disapprove group health insurance policies that fail to comply with the provisions concerning health insurance administrative costs. Effective January 1, 2009.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Circuit Courts Act, the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, and other Acts. Provides that the chief judge of each circuit shall establish a separate family division for the circuit for the purpose of hearing all family cases. Provides that the chief judge shall designate an appropriate number of circuit judges or associate judges, or both, to serve in the family division. Provides that "family case" means an action in which the court exercises its jurisdiction under Article X of the Illinois Public Aid Code (concerning the enforcement of child support obligations), Article II, III, or IV of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (concerning abused, neglected, or dependent minors, minors requiring authoritative intervention, and addicted minors), the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, and other designated Acts. Provides for a right to trial by jury in family cases. (Under current law, trial by jury is expressly prohibited under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984, and the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986.) Provides that the court may order parties to a family case to undergo counseling as the court deems appropriate, based on the evidence.
Amends the Illinois Housing Development Act. Authorizes the Illinois Housing Development Authority to develop and implement a program of financial assistance to recently hired Illinois nurses and home-care workers purchasing their first primary residence. Limits the program to nurses and home-care workers employed in Cook County. Limits eligibility to nurses and home-care workers with no more than 2 years of employment who commit to continue working, for at least 3 years after their closing date, in Cook County. Effective immediately.
Declares May 8, 2008 as Moms on a Mission Day in the State of Illinois.
Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to make available in the schools for purchase by students nutritious, low-fat foods and drinks at all times when food and drink are available for purchase by students during the regular school day, which shall include without limitation low-fat milk, 100% natural fruit juices, and water and low-fat dairy products and fresh or dried fruit.
Creates the Department of Human Services Consolidation Act. Abolishes the Department of Public Health and transfers all of the functions of that Department to the Department of Human Services. Transfers the staffs, records, and unexpended funds of the Department of Public Health to the Department of Human Services. Effective July 1, 2007.
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that, if the person who gives, donates, or bequeaths money or other property to children under the care of the Department provides in writing that it is to be used for a specific purpose, the Department shall use the money or other property only for that purpose. Provides that on and after October 1, 2007, subject to appropriation, all youths emancipated from the Department are eligible to receive a payment from the Department not to exceed $1,500 for the purpose of promoting successful transition outcomes by supporting initial housing and living expenses for the recipient. Requires the Department to establish rules concerning (i) eligibility criteria for the receipt of funds under this paragraph and (ii) a process for disseminating the payments. Effective July 1, 2007.