Calls on the President and the U.S. Congress to fully fund the CREATE Program to reduce railroad congestion.
Amends the Township Code. Provides that an officer of the township is authorized to serve a stop order upon any person that the officer has reasonable grounds to believe is guilty of a violation of a zoning code or building code requiring that person to cease construction until a release is obtained from the county building and zoning commission. Provides that a copy of the stop order must be forwarded to the building and zoning commission that has jurisdiction over the township where the violation is alleged to have been committed. Provides that the officer has the same power and authority within the township as an inspector of building codes and zoning, as authorized by the township board and the zoning authority that has jurisdiction over the township. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Aid Continuing Appropriation Law. Makes the Law applicable to fiscal year 2004 and each fiscal year thereafter. Provides that if the General Assembly fails to make Common School Fund appropriations to the State Board of Education in fiscal year 2004 and in each fiscal year thereafter sufficient to fund the general State aid, supplemental general State aid, and supplementary grants in aid provisions of the State aid formula, the Law shall constitute an irrevocable and continuing appropriation from the Common School Fund of all amounts necessary for those purposes. Removes a provision that provides for the Law's repeal on June 30, 2003. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the State aid formula.
Amends the Toll Highway Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning usage of the tollway without payment.
Creates the Public Utility Lease Indemnification for Negligence Act. Provides that every lease, contract, covenant, or agreement in connection with any lease of real property by a public utility to a local public entity that purports to exempt the lessor public utility from liability for damages for injuries to any person or property, including any claims asserted under environmental laws, caused by or resulting from the negligence or the lessor public utility, or its agents, servants, or employees, in the ownership, operation, or maintenance of the demised premises or the real property containing the demised premises, shall be deemed to be void against public policy and wholly unenforceable. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person riding a bicycle is an intended and permitted user of any highway in Illinois except for a highway on which bicycle use has been specifically prohibited by law and the prohibition is indicated by appropriate signage. Provides that the new language does not create liability for any public entity for the failure to remedy any surface condition of a public right-of-way that is hazardous to a person riding a bicycle if that surface condition is not hazardous to a motor vehicle. Provides that, except as expressly provided by law, the new language does not impose an obligation to further improve existing public rights-of-way, or to maintain them to a higher standard, for use by bicycles.
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Sets forth legislative findings concerning the funding and implementation of renewable energy sources by public universities. Effective immediately.
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.
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.
