Rep. Maria Antonia Berrios

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.

Amends the Federally Subsidized Housing Preservation Act. Changes the short title to the Federally Assisted Housing Preservation Act, and replaces references to "subsidized housing" with references to "assisted housing". Requires the owner of an assisted housing development to give 12 (instead of 6) months notice of the owner's intent to sell or otherwise dispose of the assisted housing; also requires notice of the owner's intent to complete prepayment or terminate a subsidy contract or rental restrictions. Provides for representation of a tenant association by a not-for-profit corporation or private purchaser. Requires that the owner offer the property for sale to a tenant association within 60 days after the association has complied with the requirements of the Act concerning notice to the owner. Requires that a tenant association notify the owner of its intent to purchase the property within 90 (instead of 30) days after receiving the owner's offer of sale. Effective immediately.

Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Increases the minimum wage for workers 18 years and older to $6.50 per hour on January 1, 2004. Provides that, beginning in 2005, the minimum wage shall be annually adjusted by the Department of Labor. Provides that the adjustment shall be calculated each September 30, using the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, and shall take effect on January 1 of the following year. Provides that the Director of Labor shall by rule establish the minimum wage for employees under the age of 18 years. Deletes language providing that: (i) wages may not be less than the federal minimum hourly wage and wages paid to any employee under 18 years of age may not be more than 50 cents less than the wage required to be paid to employees who are at least 18 years of age; and (ii) every employer of an employee engaged in an occupation in which gratuities have customarily been recognized as part of the remuneration is entitled to an allowance for gratuities as part of the hourly wage rate in an amount not to exceed 40% of the applicable minimum wage rate.

Creates the Nutrition Outreach and Public Education Act. Establishes a nutrition outreach and public education program within the Department of Public Health to enroll targeted populations in federal food and nutrition assistance programs and to promote the fuller implementation and utilization of such programs in unserved or underserved areas. Authorizes grants to community-based organizations for outreach activities. Requires an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act to provide that if a policy provides coverage for prescription drugs, it may not restrict coverage for prescription inhalants based upon refill limitations if the treating physician prescribes the inhalants in a manner contrary to the insurer's refill limitations. Effective immediately.

Amends the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act. Defines drug paraphernalia as equipment, products, and materials of any kind which are intended to be used unlawfully (rather than peculiar to and marketed for use) in violation of the Cannabis Control Act or the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Makes conforming changes in other Sections of the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Adoption Act. Provides that the exception to the requirement of consents or surrenders for adoption for a person found by the court to be the father of the child as a result of criminal sexual abuse or assault applies when the sexual abuse or assault results in (i) a founded, cleared, or suspended police report, (ii) an indicated report of child sexual abuse as defined in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act that involved sexual penetration of the mother, or (iii) a sworn affidavit provided by a licensed psychologist or a licensed social worker.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning State goals and assessment.

Creates the Children's Privacy Protection and Parental Empowerment Act. Prohibits: the sale or purchase of personal information concerning children without parental consent; the processing of personal information concerning children by prisoners or convicted sex offenders; and the distribution or exchange of children's personal information that one has reason to believe will be used to harm or abuse a child. Provides that persons who broker, solicit, or facilitate the sale of personal information concerning children are required to disclose to parents, upon request, the source and content of personal information on file with regard to their children, and to disclose to parents, upon request, the names of persons or entities that have received or solicited personal information with regard to their children. Violation of this Act is a Class A misdemeanor.

Creates the Illinois Early Learning Council Act. Establishes the Illinois Early Learning Council to coordinate existing State programs and services for children from birth to 5 years of age in order to better meet the early learning needs of children and their families. Provides for the appointment of members to the Council who represent both public and private organizations and who shall serve on a voluntary, unpaid basis.