Amends the Older Adult Services Act. In provisions concerning the development of a plan to restructure the State's service delivery system for older adults, provides that the Department on Aging and the Departments of Public Health and Healthcare and Family Services shall develop the plan no later than September 30, 2010. Provides that the plan shall protect the rights of all older Illinoisans to services based on their health circumstances and functioning level, regardless of whether they receive their care in their homes, in a community setting, or in a residential facility. Provides that financing for older adult services shall take into account individual preference but shall not jeopardize the health, safety, or level of care of nursing home residents. Effective immediately.
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Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that the Illinois Supreme Court or any circuit court of this State may adopt rules permitting the use of video conferencing equipment in all court hearings, subject to certain criteria. Provides that any court may permit any witness, including a psychiatrist, to testify by video conferencing equipment from any location in the absence of a court rule specifically prohibiting such testimony.
Amends provisions of the Illinois Human Rights Act prohibiting sexual harassment in higher education so that they also apply to sexual harassment in elementary and secondary schools. Effective immediately.
Creates the Mercury Thermostat Collection Act. Requires thermostat manufacturers to establish an out-of-service mercury thermostat collection program that meets certain requirements. Requires thermostat manufacturers to submit certain reports on their collection programs to the Agency. Sets goals for the collection of out-of-service mercury thermostats. Provides that if those goals are not met, then the manufacturers must revise their collection programs as necessary to achieve the applicable goal. Requires contractors, service technicians, thermostat wholesalers, thermostat manufacturers, and thermostat retailers to handle and manage out-of-service mercury thermostats in a manner that is consistent with the provisions of the universal waste regulations adopted by the Illinois Pollution Control Board. On and after January 1, 2011, prohibits (i) thermostat wholesalers from selling, offering to sell, distributing, or offering to distribute thermostats unless certain requirements are met and (ii) contractors from removing, replacing, or otherwise taking mercury thermostats out of service unless the contractors deliver those thermostats to a collection site. On and after January 1, 2011, prohibits thermostat manufacturers that are in violation of the Act from selling, offering to sell, distributing, or offering to distribute thermostats in the State. Requires the Agency to post certain information on its website and to report certain information to the General Assembly. Provides for prosecution by the Attorney General or the State's Attorney of the county in which a violation occurs. Requires the Agency to make certain recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by January 1, 2012. Effective immediately.
Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. In a provision prohibiting fee splitting, exempts from the provision an entity that is an Illinois not for profit corporation that is recognized as exempt from the payment of federal income taxes as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and all of its members are full-time faculty members of a medical school that offers a M.D. degree program that is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and a program of graduate medical education that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Effective immediately.
Creates the Long Term Care Hospital Quality Improvement Transfer Program Act. Provides that because it is vital for the State of Illinois to find methods to improve the health care outcomes of patients served by the healthcare programs operated by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department shall establish the Long Term Care Hospital Quality Improvement Transfer Program. Provides that the program is designed to better utilize the specialized services available in the State to improve the health outcomes of the most severely injured and ill patients and to enhance the continuity and coordination of care for these patients. Contains provisions concerning how a hospital may qualify to participate in the program; hospital outcome and measurement data; exemptions; hospital duties; supplemental per diem rates; and other matters. Requires the Department to satisfy certain reporting requirements; to implement, monitor, and evaluate the program; and other matters. Permits the Department to use up to $500,000 of funds contained in the Public Aid Recoveries Trust Fund per State fiscal year to operate the program and to expand existing contracts, issue new contracts, issue personal service contracts, or purchase other services, supplies, or equipment for the purposes the program. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that no property owner shall allow any unreasonable obstruction of a designated aisle or parking place specifically reserved for persons with disabilities after 24 hours following the conclusion of an adverse weather event. Provides that no property owner shall allow the accumulation of debris or large objects, such as trash containers, to unreasonably obstruct any designated aisle or parking place specifically reserved for persons with disabilities without providing suitable and equivalent alternative parking spaces on-site. Provides that a person who violates these provisions shall be guilty of a petty offense and pay fine of not more than $250. Effective January 1, 2011.
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that, in addition to other provisions, the Department on Aging shall increase the effectiveness of the existing Community Care Program by ensuring that the determination of need tool accurately reflects the service needs of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia disorders. Effective immediately.
Creates the Pediatric Palliative Care Act. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall develop a pediatric palliative care pilot program under which a qualifying child may receive community-based pediatric palliative care from a trained interdisciplinary team while continuing to pursue aggressive curative treatments for a potentially life-limiting medical condition under the benefits available under the Medicaid program. Provides that the Department shall apply for a federal waiver or State Plan amendment to conduct the program. Provides that if the Department applies for a State Plan amendment, the amendment shall be filed prior to December 31, 2010. Provides that a "qualifying child" for the pilot program is a child under the age of 18 years who is enrolled in the Medicaid program and suffers from a potentially life-limiting medical condition. Requires a report to the General Assembly at the end of the 3-year pilot period. Effective immediately.
Amends the Home Repair Fraud Act. Provides that a person commits the offense of aggravated home repair fraud when he commits home repair fraud in connection with a home repair project intended to assist a disabled person. Provides that aggravated home repair involving misrepresentation or deception is a Class 3 (instead of Class 4) felony when the amount of the contract or agreement is $500 or less and a Class 2 (instead of Class 3) felony for a second or subsequent offense when the amount of the contract or agreement is $500 or less. Effective immediately.