Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act in the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Guardianship and Advocacy Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title of the Act.
Creates the Childhood Hunger Relief Act and amends the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act. Requires the board of education for certain school districts to utilize available federal funding to establish a school breakfast program and a summer food service program. Provides that applications for participation in the school food programs shall be filed with the State Board of Education and information about the child's status shall be provided by the Department of Human Services upon written request. Makes changes concerning the breakfast incentive program. Effective immediately.
Amends the Township Code. Provides that, if a township board, prior to enactment of the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, adopted a tax levy to provide general assistance in the township to certain persons needing that assistance and if the imposition of the property tax extension limitation would prevent the township from levying or increasing the tax, then the township may nevertheless levy the tax by ordinance in an amount not to exceed the maximum rate. Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law of the Property Tax Code. Provides that the provisions of the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law are subject to a Section in the Township Code concerning a general assistance tax. Effective immediately.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that an offender who has not been convicted more than once for a felony may apply to the court or the Prisoner Review Board to seek a certificate of relief from disabilities as relates to bars to employment or licensure or forfeiture of property imposed as a result of the offender's conviction. Establishes procedures and criteria for seeking and obtaining that relief. Also permits the Prisoner Review Board to issue certificates of good conduct to relieve an offender of a disability or bar to employment imposed by law by reason of the offender's conviction. Effective January 1, 2004.
Recognizes Mario Pena of Waukegan as a dedicated public servant and volunteer.
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 Elbert "Al" Coleman.
Congratulates the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Waukegan and Pastor Arthur J. Gass Sr. on the occasion of their 17th anniversary.
Creates the Department of Education Act and amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Illinois State Auditing Act, the Illinois Pension Code, and the School Code. Creates the Department of Education, with a Secretary of Education as its head. Provides that all of the rights, powers, duties, and functions vested by law in the State Board of Education or the State Superintendent of Education (except the State Board of Education's duty under the Illinois Constitution to appoint a chief State educational officer) are transferred to the Department of Education on July 1, 2005. Provides for the transfer of personnel and property. Requires the Auditor General to conduct a financial audit of the State Board of Education. Provides that the State Board of Education's powers and duties are limited by law, as provided in the Illinois Constitution, to only the following: (i) the State Board of Education shall research current educational best practices and policies and shall report its findings to the Department of Education, (ii) the State Board of Education shall provide suggestions to the Department of Education as to the long-range implications of the practices and policies, and (iii) the State Board of Education shall consult with the Department of Education on all matters related to education-related topics. Makes other changes. Certain provisions effective July 1, 2004; other provisions effective July 1, 2005.
