Rep. Suzanne Bassi

Amends the Hospice Program Licensing Act. Provides that a hospice program must meet all federal standards for certification under Medicare, except that a patient's anticipated life expectancy may be one year or less. Provides that the Department of Public Health's standards for hospice programs shall not require that a hospice program be certified under the Medicare program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Aeronautics Act. Establishes general requirements for air schools and requirements with regard to licensing, aircraft, air instruction, advertising, bonding, and applicant records checking for those schools. Provides that a violation of these provisions is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than 90 days, a fine of not more than $500, or both. Establishes requirements for a criminal background check of applicants. Provides that failure to follow these requirements is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by 30 days imprisonment, a fine of not more than $500, or both.

Amends the State Employees Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that an employee can establish service credit for a period of up to 8 years during which he or she was employed by the Visually Handicapped Managers of Illinois in a vending program operated under a contractual agreement with the Department of Rehabilitation Services. Effective immediately.

Amends the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Increases the income eligibility level for both circuit breaker and pharmaceutical assistance to (i) $28,000 (now, $21,218) for a household containing one person, (ii) $35,000 (now, $28,480) for a household containing 2 persons, or (iii) $42,000 (now, $35,740) for a household containing 3 or more persons for the 2003 grant year and thereafter. Provides that the household income limitation under the Act shall be subject to annual adjustments equal to the percentage of increase in the previous year in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the Untied States Department of Labor. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Makes a technical change in the definition of "Director".

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Public Aid may not establish any formulary limits on, or restrict by any prior authorization requirement, any insulin prescription drug as prescribed and determined to be medically necessary for the treatment of diabetes. Effective July 1, 2004.

Mourns the death of Corporal Peter Giannopoulos of Inverness.

Creates the Comprehensive Housing, Health, and Supportive Services for Older Adults Act and amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act, the State Finance Act, and the Nursing Home Care Act. Requires the Director of Public Health, in coordination with the Director of Aging and the Director of Public Aid, to monitor and analyze the distribution of housing and services for older adults in the different geographic areas of the State and implement corrective action plans by July 1, 2005. Provides for a program for conversion of nursing homes to assisted living or shared housing establishments; makes such conversions exempt from the requirements of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act, and provides for transition planning grants to nursing homes making such conversions. Creates special funds in the State treasury for use in implementing the Comprehensive Housing, Health, and Supportive Services for Older Adults Act. Provides for transfers from the Long Term Care Monitor/Receiver Fund to the new Nursing Home Conversion Fund and the new Nursing Home Transition Planning Grant Fund. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code and the Illinois Health Statistics Act. Provides that health examinations shall include the collection of data relating to obesity, including at a minimum, date of birth, gender, height, weight, blood pressure, waist circumference, and date of exam. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall collect and maintain health data on the extent, nature, and impact of obesity. Provides that the Department may collect health data from local schools and the State Board of Education relating to obesity on health examination forms.

Amends the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Act and the Excellence in Academic Medicine Act. Provides that Alzheimer's disease and related disorders affect an estimated 4,500,000 (rather than 1,500,000) Americans and approximately 200,000 (rather than 111,000) Illinois citizens. Provides that the Alzheimer's Disease Advisory Committee shall review and evaluate State programs and services provided by State agencies that are directed toward persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and recommend changes to improve the State's response to this health problem. Provides that payments to hospitals affiliated with each Regional Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Center shall be effected through the Illinois Department of Public Aid under the Excellence in Academic Medicine Act. Creates the Alzheimer's Disease Center Fund (and amends the State Finance Act to include the fund as a special fund in the State treasury). Creates an Alzheimer's Disease Center Program to provide financial incentives to the Regional Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Centers established under the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Act.