Calls on the Illinois congressional delegation to take action to review and amend the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and urges the U.S. President and Congress to fully fund the requirements of the Act.
Congratulates Frank J. Manna on the occasion of his retirement after more than 42 years in music education.
Congratulates Renee Payne on the occasion of her retirement from her position at Saint Cajetan School in Chicago after 19 years of service.
Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Beginning January 1, 2005, extends the 3% annual increase in retirement pensions to persons born in 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1954. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Congratulates Georgene Dansky on being named Woman of the Year by the Mount Greenwood Civic Association.
Congratulates Tom Taff on being named 2005 Man of the Year by the Mount Greenwood Civic Association.
Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act to include all employees of licensed and certified long-term care facilities who have or may have contact with residents or have access to the living quarters or the financial, medical, or personal records of residents. Provides that beginning January 1, 2006, each long-term care facility operating in the State must initiate, or have initiated on its behalf, a UCIA criminal history record check for all employees with duties that involve or may involve contact with residents or access to the living quarters or the financial, medical, or personal records of residents. Provides that a health care employer may conditionally employ an applicant for up to 3 months pending the results of a UCIA criminal history record check (now, a health care employer may conditionally employ the applicant to provide direct care for up to 3 months pending the results of the check). Provides that an individual shall not be employed from the time that an employer receives the results of a non-fingerprint check containing disqualifying conditions until the time that the individual receives a waiver from the Department (now, an individual shall not be employed in a direct care position from that time until he or she receives the waiver). Provides that if the individual challenges the results of the non-fingerprint check, the employer may continue to employ the individual if the individual presents convincing evidence to the employer that the non-fingerprint check is invalid (now, the employer may continue to employ the individual in a direct care position if the individual presents convincing evidence that the non-fingerprint check is invalid).
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act. Provides that a provider agency may recruit volunteers for the purpose of increasing public awareness and providing transportation and companion services to eligible adults. Effective immediately.
Creates the Home Care Consumer and Worker Protection Act. If an agency places a home care worker with a consumer to provide home care services, requires the agency to give the worker and the consumer a notice setting forth the rights and responsibilities of each of them as well as appropriate phone numbers and addresses of the Department on Aging. Provides that the Act does not apply to nursing homes, home health agencies, and certain other agencies. Provides that an agency subject to the Act must comply with the Health Care Worker Background Check Act and must ensure that every home care worker placed by the agency for hire by a consumer has the appropriate credentials and is appropriately licensed or certified as required by law. Authorizes the Department on Aging to investigate complaints of violations of the Act, issue cease-and-desist orders, and seek injunctive relief. Provides for a civil penalty of $1,000 per day for each day that a violation continues. Effective January 1, 2006.
