Rep. Constance A. Howard

Mourns the death of Reverend Leonard Barr.

Congratulates the members of Monarch Award Foundation of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.'s Xi Nu Omega Chapter on the occasion of hosting its 26th Annual Monarch Awards Gala.

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 Illinois Sexually Transmissible Disease Control Act. Adds definitions for "health care professional" and "expedited partner therapy". Provides that the Department of Public Health shall provide information and technical assistance as appropriate to health care professionals who provide expedited partner therapy services for persons with sexually transmissible diseases. Provides that a health care professional who makes a clinical diagnosis of chlamydia or gonorrhea may prescribe, dispense, furnish, or otherwise provide prescription antibiotic drugs to the infected person's sexual partner or partners without physical examination of the partner or partners, if in the judgment of the health care professional, the partner is unlikely or unable to present for comprehensive health care. Provides that the health care professional shall provide counseling for the patient and written materials to be given by the patient to the partner or partners. Provides that a health care professional providing expedited partner therapy in good faith without fee or compensation and providing counseling and written materials shall not be subject to civil or professional liability, except for willful and wanton misconduct. Makes other changes.

Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Removes the requirement that a person listed on the Health Care Worker Registry who requests a waiver of the prohibition against employment must show that he or she has paid all outstanding fines. Effective immediately.

Creates the Task Force on Inventorying Employment Restrictions Act. Creates the Task Force on Inventorying Employment Restrictions within the Department of Employment Security. Provides that the Task Force shall review the statutes, administrative rules, policies, and practices that restrict employment of persons with criminal history and report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by January 31, 2010. Effective immediately.

Amends the County Jail Good Behavior Allowance Act. Provides that the Cook County Sheriff or his or her designee may revoke the good behavior allowance of an inmate who is sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections for misconduct committed by the inmate while in custody of the Cook County Sheriff. Provides that if an inmate while in custody of the Cook County Sheriff is convicted of assault or battery on a peace officer, correctional employee, or another inmate, or for bringing into or possessing contraband in the penal institution, or for criminal damage to property, his or her day for day good behavior allowance shall be revoked for each day such allowance was earned while the inmate was in custody of the Cook County Sheriff.

Amends the Criminal Identification Act relating to expungement. Changes the procedures relating to the expungement of adult criminal records and the records of minors prosecuted as adults. Establishes time limits and procedures for filing petitions to expunge. Excludes certain enumerated offenses from expungement. Provides for the sealing of certain arrest and court records. Provides that the court may, upon conviction for a subsequent felony offense, order the unsealing of prior felony conviction records previously ordered sealed by the court. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections and the Illinois Human Rights Act by changing cross-references.

Amends the Pretrial Services Act and the Probation and Probation Officers Act. Provides that for the purposes of administering the provisions of Public Act 95-773, known as the Cindy Bischof Law, all probation and court services departments are to be considered pretrial services agencies under the Pretrial Services Act and under the bail bond provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that upon conviction of domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery, the court shall advise the defendant orally or in writing that an individual convicted of domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery may be subject to federal criminal penalties for possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving any firearm or ammunition in violation of the federal Gun Control Act of 1968. Provides that a notation shall be made in the court file that the admonition was given. Effective immediately.