Amends the Grow Your Own Teacher Education Act. Makes changes concerning the Act's purpose and the definition of "hard-to-staff school". Changes certain references from target schools to eligible schools. Provides that in any fiscal year in which an appropriation for the Grow Your Own Teacher Education Initiative is made, the consortium shall guarantee that support will be available to an admitted cohort for the cohort's training for that fiscal year (instead of providing that the consortium shall guarantee that support will be available to an admitted cohort through the cohort's full period of training). Makes changes concerning expenditures under the Initiative with regard to requests for waivers or deferrals of the teaching obligation, the way grants are awarded to provide the required support for a cohort of candidates, and what a program budget must include. Provides that grant funds may be used by any member of a consortium to offset the costs of child care and other indirect expenses that are necessary to permit candidates to maintain their class schedules. Makes other changes.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code and the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Requires coverage for a mammogram at the age and intervals considered medically necessary by the woman's health care provider for women under 40 years of age and having a family history of breast cancer, prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing, or other risk factors (now, only for women under 40 years of age and having a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors). Also requires coverage for a comprehensive ultrasound screening of an entire breast or breasts if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System established by the American College of Radiology or if the woman is believed to be at increased risk for breast cancer due to family history or prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing, or other indications as determined by a woman's health care provider. Effective immediately.
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. In the definition of "children with disabilities", provides that an eligible student who requires continued public school educational experience to facilitate his or her successful transition and integration into adult life is eligible for special education services through age 21, inclusive, which, for purposes of the Article, means the day before the student's 22nd birthday. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Deletes the provision that refunds with respect to the earned income tax credit are subject to the availability of funds from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant and the State's ability to meet its required Maintenance of Effort. Effective immediately.
Creates the Information Technology Access Act. Requires the State, units of local government, and service providers paid with public funds to make their visual-based, electronic information technology accessible to blind and visually impaired employees, program participants, and members of the public through the use of nonvisual technology. Establishes procurement standards and applies to the purchase of new technology and the upgrading of software, hardware, and websites. Authorizes injunctions against violations. Effective immediately.
Amends the Township Code. Provides that certain contracts for construction work with an estimated cost of more than $20,000 (now, $2,500) shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder after public notice. Effective immediately.
Amends the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. Provides that every hospital, fire station, emergency medical facility, and police station that is required to accept a relinquished newborn infant in accordance with the Act must post a sign in a conspicuous place on the exterior of the building housing the facility informing persons that a newborn infant may be relinquished at the facility in accordance with the Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to prescribe specifications for the signs and for their placement that will ensure statewide uniformity. Effective immediately.
Creates the Regulation of Phosphorus in Detergents Act. Provides that on and after January 1, 2010, no person may use, sell, manufacture, or distribute for sale any cleaning agent containing more than 0.5% phosphorus by weight, expressed as elemental phosphorus, in Illinois, except as provided under this Act. Sets forth certain exceptions. Provides that the Pollution Control Board may authorize the use of certain cleaning agents containing phosphorus under certain conditions and shall promulgate rules for the administration and enforcement of this Act. Provides that no home rule unit may regulate phosphorus in detergents. Effective immediately.
Creates the Illinois Justice Study Committee to review all non-capital wrongful conviction cases, identify the most common causes of wrongful conviction in non-capital cases, identify current law, and identify solutions.
Reconstitutes the Commission to Study the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its Past and Present Effects on African-Americans created by SJR 31 of the 94th General Assembly.