Congratulates David L. Hollander, eighth-grade language arts and social sciences teacher at Kennedy Junior High School in Lisle, on being named one of 10 Chicago-area teachers to win a 2005 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Mourns the death in Iraq of Staff Sergeant Andrew Pokorny of Naperville.
Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Department's powers and duties.
Creates the Payday Loan Act. Contains only a short title provision.
Amends the Adoption Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning who may be adopted.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Requires the court to impose a sentence of natural life imprisonment if the defendant is convicted of first degree murder and has previously been convicted of domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery committed against the murdered individual or has previously been convicted of violation of an order of protection in which the murdered individual was the protected person.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961 and the Unified Code of Corrections. Eliminates the distinction between family members and non-family members who commit the offenses of criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Provides that the penalties for these offenses shall be the same if the offender held a position of trust, authority, or supervision in relation to the victim. Eliminates probation for aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the State Finance Act. Provides for issuance of K-12 Education license plates, at an additional initial charge of $40 and an additional renewal charge of $27. Provides that $15 of the additional initial charge and $2 of the renewal charge shall go to the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Provides that $25 of the initial and renewal charges shall be deposited into the K-12 Education Fund. Creates the K-12 Education Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury. Provides that all moneys in the K-12 Education Fund shall, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly and approval by the Secretary of State, be paid as grants to the individual school districts designated by each applicant.
Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to annually review private child welfare agencies that place children in foster family homes. Provides that if, upon review, the Department is not satisfied that the agency has met the required minimum standards, as established by rule of the Department, the agency may be subject to disciplinary action under the Act and may be subject to provisions regarding conditional licensure and corrective plans. Provides that information regarding disciplinary actions involving private child welfare agencies must be made available to the public upon request. Requires the Department to submit a report by January 1, 2006, and on January 1 of each year thereafter, to the Governor and General Assembly regarding the review of private child welfare agencies. Effective immediately.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Creates the Contaminated Well Water Revolving Loan Program to help homeowners with contaminated well water to connect to an alternate water source. Amends the State Finance Act to establish the Contaminated Well Water Revolving Loan Program Fund. Effective immediately.
