Rep. Kevin A. McCarthy

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. With respect to the retired teachers' health benefits plan, beginning with fiscal year 2010, provides that of the total insurance rate for the major medical program selected by a recipient whose primary residence is outside of Illinois, (i) if a managed care program is accessible, 37.5% (now, 50%) shall be paid from the Teacher Health Insurance Security Fund and (ii) if a managed care program is not accessible, 62.5% (now, 75%) shall be paid from the Teacher Health Insurance Security Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning prohibited transactions.

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 Illinois Landscape Architecture Act of 1989. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the application of the Act.

Amends the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning posting of certain notices.

Amends the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disabilities Act. In the definition of "disabled", adds Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis to the list of conditions that may lead to a severe physical or mental disability and, thus, qualify under the definition. Effective immediately.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services, in cooperation with the Department of Human Services, to publish on the Department of Children and Family Services' website information about the benefits of annual immunization against influenza for children 6 months of age to 5 years of age. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall work with licensed day care centers and day care homes to ensure that the information is annually distributed to parents in August or September. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Public Health to implement the Colorectal Cancer Screening and Treatment Pilot Program in areas of the State that have the highest incidences of mortality related to colon cancer. Provides that the Program sites must be located in and operated through Federally Qualified Health Centers. Provides that the Program shall provide funding for colorectal cancer examinations and laboratory tests and shall provide colorectal cancer screening and treatment services for specified groups. Provides that these provisions are repealed 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act.

Amends the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Makes changes in provisions concerning reversionary annuities, child annuities, duty disability benefits, and refunds. Allows a contributing employee or commissioner to establish additional service credit for certain active military service. Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Personnel Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.