Rep. Esther Golar

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides for a minimum monthly personal needs allowance, subject to appropriation, for persons who are inpatients in a facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act and who are eligible for Medicaid. Provides that the State shall pay an amount in addition to the minimum monthly personal needs allowance authorized under the Social Security Act, so that the person's total monthly personal needs allowance from both State and federal sources equals $50. Effective immediately.

Amends the Housing Authorities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the determination of a tenant's income for the purpose of determining rent.

Amends the State Housing Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the name of a housing corporation.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Chicago school district.

Amends the Payday Loan Reform Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that any person being paid or compensated for the circulation of nominating petitions must register with the State Board of Elections. Provides that, to be eligible to register, an individual must (i) be a United States citizen, (ii) be at least 18 years of age, (iii) provide 2 forms of identification, and (iv) complete a one-hour training seminar. Requires the State Board of Elections to list electronically all individuals registered. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections relating to executive clemency. Provides that the Governor shall decide each application and communicate his or her decision to the Prisoner Review Board within one year after the hearing by the Board on the petition seeking a pardon, commutation, or reprieve.

Amends the State Housing Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Requires the GED program that the Department of Corrections administers for inmates to provide for the acceptance of GED credits earned while the inmate is not in the custody of the Department, including, but not limited to, credits earned while incarcerated in a county jail.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that unless otherwise authorized by law, it is a civil rights violation for any employer, employment agency or labor organization to inquire into or to use the fact of a felony conviction that was entered more than 7 years earlier as a basis to refuse to hire, to segregate, or to act with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, renewal of employment, selection for training or apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, tenure or terms, privileges or conditions of employment. This Section does not prohibit a State agency, unit of local government or school district, or private organization from requesting or utilizing sealed felony conviction information obtained from the Department of State Police under State or federal laws or regulations that require criminal background checks in evaluating the qualifications and character of an employee or a prospective employee.