Rep. Eddie Washington

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Makes changes regarding the Department of Children and Family Service's obligation to inform child care facilities of unsafe children's products. Requires the Department to make the comprehensive list of unsafe children's products available to those facilities that do not have Internet access. Requires child care facilities to maintain any written information provided in a file accessible to both facility staff and parents of children attending the facility and to post in prominent locations regularly visited by parents written notification of the existence of the comprehensive list of unsafe children's products available on the Internet. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the State aid formula.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning railroad safety.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the Unified Code of Corrections. Transfers language regarding penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or intoxicating compounds from the disposition provision of the Unified Code of Corrections to the DUI provision of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Consolidates certain language within both provisions to create new language within the Illinois Vehicle Code provision and to increase the penalties that may be imposed in certain circumstances. Makes corresponding changes in other provisions of the Unified Code of Corrections and in the Clerks of Courts Act. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to provide that a person commits aggravated DUI if he or she commits DUI while driving a school bus with persons 18 years of age or younger on board (rather than with children on board).

Amends the Office of Banks and Real Estate Act. Requires the Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate to work in cooperation with the Director of Aging to ensure that all financial institutions regulated by the Office of Banks and Real Estate participate fully in the Department on Aging's financial exploitation of the elderly intervention program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a person or entity may not print an individual's social security number on an insurance card that is used to establish the eligibility of an individual or his or her dependents to receive health, dental, optical, or accident insurance benefits, prescription drug benefits, or benefits under a managed care plan or a plan provided by a health maintenance organization, a health services plan corporation, or a similar entity. Provides that existing insurance cards with an individual's social security number must be replaced with insurance cards without the individual's social security number. Provides that a violation constitutes an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act. Effective January 1, 2005.

Amends the Community Senior Services and Resources Act. Authorizes the Director of Aging to accept monetary bequests and gifts for deposit into the Community Senior Services and Resources Fund. Directs the Department on Aging, in conjunction with the Community Senior Services and Resource Center Advisory Committee, to design an awareness campaign that can be implemented by senior services and resource centers at their individual expense. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Deletes a provision that includes beginning and ending dates for the operation of a Great START (Strategy to Attract and Retain Teachers) program. Deletes provisions (i) requiring a working committee of the Child and Development Advisory Council of the Department of Human Services to make certain recommendations concerning the Great START program by October 1, 2000 and (ii) requiring the Department to evaluate the Great START program, gather data on the program, and submit a report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2002. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the State aid formula.

Creates the Low Digit License Plate Act and amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides for the issuance of license plates numbered 1 through 9999, with no letters, and license plates containing a single, 2, or 3 letters only. Establishes conditions for the issuance, transfer, and return of these plates. Provides that the Secretary of State shall adopt rules for implementing the Act. Provides that the new Act does not affect the reassignment and transfer rights of holders of low digit plates under the Illinois Vehicle Code.