Rep. Jack D. Franks

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning State goals and assessment.

Creates the Children's Privacy Protection and Parental Empowerment Act. Prohibits: the sale or purchase of personal information concerning children without parental consent; the processing of personal information concerning children by prisoners or convicted sex offenders; and the distribution or exchange of children's personal information that one has reason to believe will be used to harm or abuse a child. Provides that persons who broker, solicit, or facilitate the sale of personal information concerning children are required to disclose to parents, upon request, the source and content of personal information on file with regard to their children, and to disclose to parents, upon request, the names of persons or entities that have received or solicited personal information with regard to their children. Violation of this Act is a Class A misdemeanor.

Amends the Historic Preservation Agency Act. Creates the Freedom Trail Commission. Contains provisions concerning the membership and duties of the commission. Provides that the commission must prepare a master plan to promote and preserve the history of the freedom trail and underground railroad in the State; work in conjunction with State and federal authorities to sponsor commemorations, linkages, seminars, and public forums on the freedom trail and underground railroad in the State and in neighboring states; assist and promote the making of applications for inclusion in the national and State register of historic places for significant historic places related to the freedom trail and the underground railroad in the State; assist and develop partnerships to seek public and private funds to carry out activities to protect, preserve, and promote the legacy of the freedom trail and underground railroad in the State; and work with the Illinois State Board of Education to evaluate, conduct research concerning, and develop a curriculum for use in Illinois public schools regarding the underground railroad, with emphasis on the activities of the underground railroad within this State. Provides that the commission must report its activities and findings to the General Assembly by February 1, 2004. Effective immediately.

Amends the Condominium Property Act and the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986. Provides that a condominium association, master association, common interest community association, or homeowners' association may not prohibit the display of the American flag or the installation of a flagpole for the display of the American flag, subject to specified conditions.

Amends the Attorney General Act. Creates the Office of Immigrant Assistance within the Office of the Attorney General to provide education and outreach services to the resident immigrant community of the State. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that when the victim is under 18 years of age at the time of the commission of the offense and the accused was a member of the clergy, a prosecution for criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, or aggravated criminal sexual abuse may be commenced at any time. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, for purposes of implementing ordinances regarding developer donations or impact fees, "public grounds for schools" (as used in the Counties Code) and "school grounds" (as used in the Illinois Municipal Code) are both defined as including land or site improvements, which include school buildings or other infrastructure necessitated by the development or subdivision in question. Further provides that this definition applies to all impact fees or developer donations paid into a school district or held in a separate account or escrow fund by any school district, municipality, or county for a school district. Effective immediately.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides for notice to the parents and guardians of children before the application of pesticides to a child care facility. Effective January 1, 2004.

Amends the Election Code and the Counties Code. Authorizes advisory referenda concerning (i) the number of members of the county board to be elected, (ii) whether the board members should be elected from single-member districts, multi-member districts, or at-large, (iii) whether voters will have cumulative voting rights in the election of county board members, or (iv) any combination of the preceding 3 questions. Provides that the advisory referenda may be initiated by an ordinance of the county board or by a petition containing the signatures of 3% of the registered voters of the county. Removes this type of advisory referendum from the general limit of 3 public questions per ballot. Provides that voters may have cumulative voting rights in the election of county board members in multi-member districts or at-large elections. Provides that questions concerning whether the board members should be elected from single-member districts, multi-member districts, or at-large, including whether voters have cumulative voting rights, may be decided by a referendum or by ordinance (now, only by ordinance). Provides that, if the method is determined by referendum, the referendum requires the signatures of at least 3% of the registered voters and it cannot be changed by ordinance for 12 years. Provides that, if a county board determines that members shall be elected by districts, the county board shall specify whether voters will have cumulative voting. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act by creating a tax checkoff for the Leukemia Treatment and Education Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Fund. Amends the Department of Human Services Act to provide that the Department may provide grants to public or private hospitals, medical centers, medical schools, and other organizations for education on and treatment of leukemia from appropriations to the Department from the Leukemia Treatment and Education Fund. Effective immediately.