Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the legislative purpose of the Act.
Creates the Asset Development Program Act. Contains only a short title.
Amends the Addison Creek Restoration Commission Act. Authorizes the Addison Creek Restoration Commission to acquire, sell, or exchange real property, to accept loans and advances, to levy taxes, and to borrow money and issue bonds. Effective July 1, 2005.
Amends the School Code. Creates the Ensuring Success in School Law to (1) ensure that youth who are expectant parents, parents, or the victims of domestic or sexual violence are identified by schools in a manner respectful of their privacy and safety, treated with dignity and regard, and provided the protection, instruction, and related support services necessary to enable them to meet State educational standards and successfully attain a high school diploma; (2) ensure that key Illinois school-level staff and policymakers understand and are sensitive to the needs and characteristics of such youth; (3) afford protections in a school setting to a population of youth who have historically been stigmatized and discriminated against; and (4) promote best practices in Illinois' schools. Contains provisions concerning a statewide working group and model polices, procedures, and protocols; confidentiality; specially trained school personnel; parental involvement; enrollment and re-enrollment; special attention to youth not in school; school transfer; the right to attend school; absences and attendance; chronic or habitual truants and minors; in-school support services; in-school accommodations; non-school based support services; the responsibility to inform youth of available services and accommodations; a student success plan; missed classes and work; procedural safeguards and an ombudsperson; dispute resolution procedures; educational placement during pendency of proceedings; a notice of rights; review and revision of policies; dropout and graduation rates; and compliance. Makes other changes in the School Code concerning the transfer of students, the suspension and expulsion of pupils, home instruction, alternative schools, truants, and charter schools. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Provides that the provisions are severable. Effective immediately.
Amends the Addison Creek Restoration Commission Act. Authorizes the Addison Creek Restoration Commission to accept loans and advances, to levy taxes, and to borrow money and issue bonds. Effective July 1, 2005.
Amends the Illinois Clean Indoor Air Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning home rule powers.
Amends the Display of Tobacco Products Act. Provides that all tobacco products, other than smokeless tobacco, must be sold from behind the counter or in an age restricted area or in a sealed display case. Eliminates the provision that tobacco products, other than single packs of cigarettes, must be sold in line of sight. Provides that smokeless tobacco must be sold from behind the counter. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. With respect to real estate transactions, prohibits discrimination on the basis of source of income. In provisions making it is a civil rights violation for an owner or any other person engaging in a real estate transaction, or for a real estate broker or salesman, because of unlawful discrimination or familial status or source of income, to engage in certain activities, provides that those provisions do not: (i) require a housing authority or housing development project in which 25% or more of the units are owned by a housing authority or subject to a leasing agreement, regulatory and operating agreement, or other similar instrument with a housing authority to lease or rent another unit of that same housing development project to an existing or prospective tenant who is receiving subsidies, payment assistance, contributions, or vouchers under or in connection with the federal Housing Choice Voucher program for payment of part or all of the rent for the unit; (ii) require or prevent, with specified exceptions, any person whose property is located in a municipality with fewer than 1,000,000 inhabitants and is in a concentrated census tract where 3% of the total housing stock in that census tract is occupied by tenants relying on subsidies, payment assistance, contributions, or vouchers under or in connection with the federal Housing Choice Voucher program for payment of part of the rent for the unit to lease or rent a unit to a prospective tenant who is relying on such a subsidy, payment assistance, contribution, or voucher for payment of part or all of the rent for the unit (the housing authority shall determine which census tracts within its service area meet the concentrated census tract exemption requirements and annually deliver that information to the municipalities within its jurisdiction); or (iii) prevent an owner or agent from taking into consideration factors other than lawful source of income such as credit history, criminal history, or references. Effective immediately.
Appropriates $400,000 to the Addison Creek Restoration Commission for flood control improvements. Effective July 1, 2006.
Creates the Blind Vendors Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services, Bureau of Blind Services, shall operate and promote the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. Sets forth that the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act and the regulations adopted pursuant to that Act shall serve as the minimum standards for the operation of the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. Provides that under the Program: (1) blind vendors have priority in the operation of all vending facilities on State property; (2) vending machine income from all vending machines on State property shall be assigned to the blind vendor on the property or to the Blind Vendors Trust Fund; (3) no State agency may impose any commission, service charge, rent, or utility charge on a blind vendor operating on State property; (4) sales made at a blind vendor's vending facility are exempt from all occupation and use taxes; and (5) State agencies may not allow competition with a blind vendor. Sets forth that the Bureau Director for the Bureau of the Blind and the Committee of Blind Vendors shall jointly develop regulations to ensure that priority is given to blind vendors in the operation of vending facilities on State property. Provides that the Department may provide for set-asides of the net proceeds of vending operations under certain conditions. Requires set-aside funds to be deposited in the Blind Vendors Trust Fund, a separate account managed by the Department for the State's blind vendors. Sets forth provisions for the distribution of vending machine income from vending machines on State property. Provides certain conditions for the licensing of blind vendors. Creates the Committee of Blind Vendors to jointly participate in the development and implementation of all policies, plans, and major decisions affecting the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. Sets forth provisions for the composition of the Committee. Provides certain procedures for the resolution of disputes arising within the Program. Provides for the promulgation of regulations relating to the operation of this Act. Requires the Department to make regular surveys and reports on State property and vending facilities. Sets forth conditions and information to be contained in the surveys and reports. Preempts home rule powers. Repeals the Blind Persons Operating Vending Facilities Act. Amends the Use Tax Act, Service Use Tax Act, Service Occupation Tax Act, and Retailers' Occupation Tax Act to provide that personal property purchased from a blind vendor's vending facility licensed by the Department of Human Services under the Blind Vendors Act is exempt from the taxes imposed by those Acts and that these exemptions are not subject to the sunset provisions of those Acts.
