Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that harassment through electronic communications by reason of the harassed person's actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or national origin is a hate crime. Effective immediately.
Amends the Secretary of State Merit Employment Code. Increases to 10 (now, 3) the number of persons ranking highest on the appropriate eligible list who must be considered for an appointment to fill a vacancy. Effective immediately.
Creates the Illinois Early Learning Council Act. Establishes the Illinois Early Learning Council to coordinate existing State programs and services for children from birth to 5 years of age in order to better meet the early learning needs of children and their families. Provides for the appointment of members to the Council who represent both public and private organizations and who shall serve on a voluntary, unpaid basis.
Creates the Good Samaritan Energy Plan Act. Contains only a short title provision.
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a public utility may not disconnect for nonpayment service during the period from December 1 through March 31 to a residential customer who is eligible for assistance under the Energy Assistance Act of 1989. Effective immediately.
Amends the Credit Card Issuance Act. Provides that a credit card issuer who offers to an Illinois resident a credit card with a fixed annual percentage rate may not increase the annual percentage rate or rates of interest applicable to that credit card account, or prematurely remove or increase any introductory annual percentage rate or rates of interest applicable to the account, for reasons other than actions or omissions of the card holder that are directly related to the account and that are clearly and conspicuously described to the card holder at the time the credit card is issued. Effective immediately.
Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. Provides that terminals must be designed and programmed so that the entry of a consumer's personal identification in reverse order causes an alarm to be sent to the local law enforcement agency.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that the vehicle of a person who drives without a license and without insurance and causes death or personal injury to another person is subject to seizure and forfeiture. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Repeals provisions concerning the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program. Provides instead that the State Board of Education shall make reading improvement grants to school districts in order to improve the reading and study skills of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade (from a separate appropriation made for these purposes). Provides that the State Board may use up to 2% of the appropriation for the purpose of providing teacher training and retraining. Provides that of the remaining funds (i) up to the first $5,000,000 in new funds in the 2003-2004 school year shall be distributed to districts serving grades 7 through 12 and (ii) the remainder of the appropriation shall be distributed to districts serving kindergarten through grade 6. Includes provisions concerning application requirements, reporting assessment results, eligibility in the third or subsequent years, requirements for the use of grants, and reporting results to the General Assembly. Effective July 1, 2003.
Recognizes the many contributions of McKinley "Deacon" Davis to the State of Illinois.
