Rep. André M. Thapedi

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that a disease management pilot project undertaken by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall include a study of patient outcomes for patients at risk of low birth weight or premature birth. Provides that low birth weight and premature birth include all medical and other conditions that lead to poor birth outcomes or problematic pregnancies. Effective immediately.

Creates the Interstate Gun Trafficking Task Force within the Illinois State Police.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall combine best practices and methods and programmatic functions of the Illinois Future Teacher Corps Program and the Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching's Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program into one program, to be known as the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program and managed by the Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching. Provides that this consolidated program shall be fully operational before July 1, 2012 and that Fiscal Year 2012 shall be the last year that Illinois Future Teacher Corps scholarships are available. Provides for a transition period. Requires the Commission to transfer funding from the Illinois Future Teacher Corps Program to the Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching. Provides that following the completion of the transition of funding, all applications for scholarship assistance shall be in a form determined by the Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching. Provides that the eligibility requirements apply only to Illinois Future Teacher Corps scholarships. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Registered Titles (Torrens) Act. Deletes a provision concerning excess funds in a county indemnity fund that states that the county may transfer and expend excess indemnity fund monies for the benefit of real property owners as the county deems appropriate, if at least 50% of the excess monies are transferred to the lead poisoning prevention fund but the county may not expend excess indemnity fund monies for any purpose other than lead poisoning prevention until it first designs, implements, and starts making loan or grant payments under the lead poisoning prevention program. Provides that this amendatory Act does not preempt, rescind, modify, or revise any local, State, or federal laws or rules governing lead paint mitigation or abatement or lead poisoning prevention. Effective immediately.

Amends the Capital Crimes Litigation Act. Provides that each provider of proposed capital litigation services must specify the best preliminary estimate that can be made in light of information received in the case at that point, and the provider must sign this estimate under the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure relating to verified statements made under the penalty of perjury. Provides that a provider of proposed services must also specify (1) his or her hourly rate; (2) the hourly rate of anyone else in his or her employ for whom reimbursement is sought; and (3) the hourly rate of any person or entity that may be subcontracted to perform these services. Provides that the court must certify reasonable and necessary expenses of the petitioner for travel and per diem (lodging, meals, and incidental expenses). Provides that these expenses must be paid at the rate as promulgated by the United States General Services Administration for these expenses for the date and location in which they were incurred, unless extraordinary reasons are shown for the difference. Provides that if the State Treasurer finds within 14 days of his or her receipt of a certification that the compensation and expenses to be paid are unreasonable, unnecessary, or inappropriate, he or she may return the certification to the court setting forth in detail the objection or objections with a request for the court to review the objection or objections before resubmitting the certification. Provides that the State Treasurer may only seek a review of a specific objection once. Provides that the claimant has 7 days from his or her receipt of the objections to file a response with the court. Provides that with or without further hearing, the court must promptly rule on the objections.

Amends the Solicitation for Charity Act. Provides that a charitable organization registered pursuant to the Act that receives in any 12 month period ending upon its established fiscal or calendar year contributions in excess of $300,000 shall file a written report with the Attorney General which shall include a financial statement covering the immediately preceding 12 month period of operation (now, in excess of $150,000).

Amends the School Code. With respect to the Early Childhood Education Block Grant, provides that not less than 11% (instead of exactly 11%) of the grant shall be used to fund programs for children ages 0-3. Provides that this percentage shall increase to at least 20% by Fiscal Year 2015, except that if, in a given fiscal year, the amount appropriated for the Early Childhood Education Block Grant is insufficient to increase the percentage of the grant to fund programs for children ages 0-3 without reducing the amount of the grant for existing providers of preschool education programs, then the percentage of the grant to fund programs for children ages 0-3 may be held steady instead of increased. Effective July 1, 2009.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning enforcement of the Code.

Amends the Illinois Migrant Labor Camp Law. Provides that licenses shall be issued prior to operation (instead of upon a calendar year basis). Effective immediately.