Rep. Charles E. Jefferson

Creates the Community Senior Services and Resources Act and amends the State Finance Act. Provides for grants to be awarded by the Department on Aging to local community senior services and resource centers. Provides for a Community Senior Services and Resource Center Advisory Committee, with 12 voting members appointed by the Governor, to advise the Department on Aging on the administration of the Act. Creates the Community Senior Services and Resources Fund as a special fund in the State treasury, to be used by the Department on Aging for grant awards and for administering the Community Senior Services and Resources Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. In the Article governing the use of in-precinct voting systems with optic scan technology, makes changes in terms and procedures to accommodate the use of touch-screen computers to display and mark ballots. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code with respect to colorectal cancer examinations. Provides that insurance coverage must provide coverage for colorectal cancer examinations according to the most recently published guidelines of the American Cancer Society. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Designates the third Saturday in June of each year as Juneteenth National Freedom Day to commemorate the abolition of slavery throughout the United States and its territories in 1865. Effective immediately.

Amends the Cigarette Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Home Repair Fraud Act. In provisions relating to a victim who is 60 years of age or older or a disabled person, increases criminal penalties and lowers the monetary thresholds for enhanced penalties. In addition, provides that the offender's licenses and permits may be suspended or revoked.

Amends the Military Leave of Absence Act. Requires payment of State compensation and benefits to full-time State employees while on active duty with the Illinois National Guard, the United States Armed Forces reserves, or the Illinois State Militia reserves. Reduces the employee's State compensation by the amount of active duty pay. Requires the Department of Central Management Services and the State Comptroller to coordinate in the development of applicable procedures.

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 Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that every person who qualifies for home-delivered meals under the federal Older Americans Act shall receive those services, subject to appropriation. Provides that by January 1 of each year, the Department on Aging shall provide the General Assembly and the Illinois Council on Aging estimates of the additional funds necessary to fund the program for the next fiscal year.

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.