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.
Sponsored bills
Amends the School Code. In the State aid formula provisions, provides that calculation of Available Local Resources shall exclude tax amnesty funds received as a result of Public Act 93-26. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that regional long term care ombudsman programs may use trained volunteers to make routine visits to facilities licensed or certified under the Nursing Home Care Act, the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, and the Social Security Act or to any other facility for which long term care ombudsmen are obligated to visit either by federal or State law. Sets forth requirements for the volunteers. Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Includes a trained-volunteer program operated by a regional long term care ombudsman program within the definition of "health care employer". Effective immediately.
Amends the Nursing Education Scholarship Law. Authorizes scholarships for registered nurses pursuing graduate degrees in nursing and to students in areas identified as designated shortage areas. Provides that 20% of scholarships shall be for recipients pursuing graduate degrees and reduces percentages for other recipients. Removes provisions concerning scholarships for pursuing a hospital-based diploma in nursing.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2006 registration year, a person who has been approved for benefits (rather than a person who has claimed and received a grant) under the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act, or the spouse of one of those persons, shall pay $24, rather than the usual fee, for a vehicle displaying specified registration plates. Makes corresponding changes in provisions regarding Purple Heart and Korean War Veteran plates. Effective immediately.
Amends the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. Provides for relinquishment of a newborn infant to a police station (in addition to a hospital, fire station, or emergency medical facility). Provides that "police station" means a municipal police station or a county sheriff's office. Provides that a police station to which a newborn infant is relinquished must arrange for the transportation of the infant to the nearest hospital as soon as transportation can be arranged. Effective immediately.
Amends the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act. Increases the amount of moneys in the Nursing Dedicated and Professional Fund to be appropriated to the Department of Public Health for nursing scholarships awarded pursuant to the Nursing Education Scholarship Law from $750,000 to $1,500,000 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2004 and each fiscal year thereafter. Effective immediately.
Mourns the death in Iraq of U.S. Army Private First Class Collier E. Barcus of McHenry.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Creates the offense of criminal trespass to a motion picture exhibition facility. Provides that it is a Class 4 felony to knowingly possess, carry, bear, or transport an audiovisual recording device into a motion picture exhibition facility without the consent of the owner or lessee of that exhibition facility and the licensor of the motion picture being exhibited. Establishes immunity from civil liability for an owner, lessee, employee, or agent of a motion picture exhibition facility who in good faith detains a person suspected of a violation of these provisions until law enforcement officers arrive. Permits law enforcement officers to carry audiovisual equipment into a motion picture exhibition facility during a lawful investigation. Effective immediately.
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).