Creates the Good Samaritan Initiative Act. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to adopt a rule that allows for the reconnection of low-income Illinois residents to their gas and electric utility services. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department shall not impose requirements for prior approval based on a preferred drug list for any short-acting beta agonists used as rescue therapy in the treatment of life-threatening conditions due to acute bronchospasm in patients with reversible obstructive airway disease that results from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema.
Amends the Emergency Telephone System Act and the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that it is a Class A misdemeanor to knowingly and without lawful justification interrupt, verbally or physically obstruct, prevent, disrupt, impede, or otherwise interfere with another person in making or completing an emergency communication. Includes in the definition of emergency communication 9-1-1 calls and emergency calls over a radio frequency (rather than communications over a citizens band radio channel). Provides that a violation is a Class A misdemeanor (rather than a Class B misdemeanor if there is no serious bodily injury and no loss of property in excess of $1,000).
Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the definition of "33 1/3%".
Amends the Illinois Building Commission Act. Provides that the Commission shall consist of 15 Board members (now 11), the additional members to be legislators appointed by the legislative leaders. Provides guidelines for the creation of subcommittees and the selection of subcommittee members. Provides for the Commission to appoint an Executive Director from a list of persons nominated by the governor. Makes other various changes.
Mourns the death of Norris Dean Waddy of Chicago.
Amends the Counties Code and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act. Requires counties located within the area served by the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission and having a population over 400,000 to enter into intergovernmental agreements setting standards to control stormwater runoff so as not to cause flood damage in adjacent counties. Directs the Department of Transportation, upon petition, to adopt the standards if an agreement is not created. Provides for the adoption and implementation of a Cook County stormwater management plan by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Authorizes the District to implement the plan throughout the county. Authorizes the District to impose fees on areas outside the District but within the County. Authorizes a special tax levy for stormwater management purposes and reduces the District's authorized tax levy for general corporate purposes by a corresponding amount. Preempts some home rule powers. Amends the Property Tax Code to exclude the stormwater management tax from the tax caps imposed under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law. Effective immediately.
Congratulates Reverend C.R. Phillips for his 40 years as Pastor of Calvary M.B. Church in Chicago.
Creates the Public Service Accountability Act. Sets out the requirements for privatization contracts between contractors and State agencies. Provides for the monitoring and enforcement of privatization contracts. Establishes fines and prison sentences for a violation of certain Sections of the Act. Effective immediately.
Creates the Comprehensive Housing, Health, and Supportive Services for Older Adults Act and amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act, the State Finance Act, and the Nursing Home Care Act. Requires the Director of Public Health, in coordination with the Director of Aging and the Director of Public Aid, to monitor and analyze the distribution of housing and services for older adults in the different geographic areas of the State and implement corrective action plans by July 1, 2005. Provides for a program for conversion of nursing homes to assisted living or shared housing establishments; makes such conversions exempt from the requirements of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act, and provides for transition planning grants to nursing homes making such conversions. Creates special funds in the State treasury for use in implementing the Comprehensive Housing, Health, and Supportive Services for Older Adults Act. Provides for transfers from the Long Term Care Monitor/Receiver Fund to the new Nursing Home Conversion Fund and the new Nursing Home Transition Planning Grant Fund. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
