Rep. Mary Flowers

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that the parent or guardian of the estate of any child accepted for care and training, without the parent's or guardian's consent, under the Juvenile Court Act or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 shall not be liable for the payment to the Department or to any child care facility of any charges for the care and training of that child.

Creates the Provider Termination Notification Act. Provides that a health care licensing board that takes an adverse action against a licensed health care professional or that has reported to it an adverse action taken by a hospital or other health care professional review committee against a licensed health care professional shall notify any health carrier that voluntarily provides the licensing board a point of contact to receive information of adverse actions. Provides that a health carrier may limit, restrict, suspend, or terminate the agreement under which the licensed health care professional furnishes health care items and services to participants, beneficiaries, or enrollees of the health carrier.

Amends the School Code. Lowers the compulsory school age from 7 years to 5 years; makes a related change. Requires all school districts to establish kindergarten for the instruction of children who are 5 years of age or older. Provides that if the parents or guardian of a child who is at least 4 and one-half years of age deems it appropriate for the child to attend school, a school district must permit the child to attend school.

Amends provisions of the Illinois Human Rights Act concerning the investigation of charges by the Department of Human Rights. Eliminates language providing that questions of credibility shall be considered in determining whether there is substantial evidence that an alleged civil rights violation has been committed. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Repeals Sections concerning charges to a parent or guardian resulting from the care and training of a child by the Department of Children and Family Services. Amends the Juvenile Court Act. Deletes language concerning a parent's or guardian's liability to pay for the support of a child who has been removed from that parent's or guardian's care. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Repeals a Section concerning reimbursement for the expenses of committed persons. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure to make corresponding changes.

Creates the Medical Error Reporting Law. Requires a health care facility to develop and implement a patient safety plan for the purpose of improving the health and safety of patients at the facility. Requires a health care facility to report to the Department of Public Health every serious preventable adverse incident that occurs in that facility. Provides that a health care facility shall ensure that the patient affected by a serious preventable adverse incident is informed of the serious preventable adverse incident. Creates the Health Care Practitioner Reporting Law. Requires certain persons and entities to promptly report incidents when a health care practitioner has caused injury or death to a patient while practicing within the scope of that practitioner's profession or for violation of Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code to the appropriate licensing board having jurisdiction over the health care practitioner. Imposes criminal penalties for false reports. Creates the Health Care Consumer Information Law. Requires the Department of Public Health, in consultation with the Medical Licensing Board and the Podiatric Medical Licensing Board, to collect and maintain information concerning all physicians and podiatrists licensed in this State for the purpose of creating a profile of each physician and podiatrist. Provides that the profiles shall be made available to the public. Provides what information must be included in the profiles and what physicians may include. Provides that the Department shall contract with a public or private entity for the purpose of developing, administering, and maintaining the physician and podiatrist profiles required pursuant to the Law. Requires the Director of Public Health to report on the status of the physician and podiatrist profiles to the General Assembly. Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987 to allow for collection of information needed to complete the physician profiles. Effective immediately.

Creates the Certified Professional Midwife Licensure Act. Provides for licensure of persons providing midwifery services. Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act to repeal the new Act on January 1, 2015. Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987 and the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act to provide that those Acts do not prohibit the practice of midwifery by persons licensed under the Certified Professional Midwife Licensure Act. Effective immediately.

Creates the Loan Repayment Assistance for Nurses Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to establish an educational loan repayment assistance program for nurses who practice in designated nurse shortage areas. Provides that beginning July 1, 2004, the Department shall consider applications for assistance under the program. Provides that for each year that a qualified applicant practices full-time in a designated shortage area as a nurse, the Department shall, subject to appropriation, award a grant to that person in an amount equal to the amount in educational loans that the person must repay that year. Provides that the total amount in grants that a person may be awarded shall not exceed $5,000. Effective July 1, 2004.

Amends the Agricultural Fair Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the School Code. Requires school districts to employ receptionists who are on duty at all times during the regular school day to answer telephones at the district's administrative offices and attendance centers. Prohibits the use of answering machines, voice mail, or similar devices to respond to incoming telephone calls at an administrative office or attendance center. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.