Amends the School Code. Creates a K-3 class size reduction grant program to be implemented and administered by the State Board of Education. Limits use of the grant funds to operating and maintaining classes in grades K-3 with a class size of no more than 20 pupils. Effective immediately.
Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. Prohibits the imposition of fees upon a consumer for the use of a Link card or other access device used to obtain benefits under the Illinois Public Aid Code.
Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Increases the minimum wage for workers 18 years and older to $6.50 per hour on January 1, 2004. Provides that, beginning in 2005, the minimum wage shall be annually adjusted by the Department of Labor. Provides that the adjustment shall be calculated each September 30, using the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, and shall take effect on January 1 of the following year. Provides that the Director of Labor shall by rule establish the minimum wage for employees under the age of 18 years. Deletes language providing that: (i) wages may not be less than the federal minimum hourly wage and wages paid to any employee under 18 years of age may not be more than 50 cents less than the wage required to be paid to employees who are at least 18 years of age; and (ii) every employer of an employee engaged in an occupation in which gratuities have customarily been recognized as part of the remuneration is entitled to an allowance for gratuities as part of the hourly wage rate in an amount not to exceed 40% of the applicable minimum wage rate.
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 Deposit of State Moneys Act, the Public Funds Deposit Act, the State Officers and Employees Money Disposition Act, and the Public Funds Investment Act. Provides that a treasurer or custodian of public funds may accept, as security for public funds deposited into a bank (i) certain securities authorized by certain provisions of the Deposit of State Moneys Act, the Public Funds Investment Act, or the Public Funds Deposit Act, and (ii) certificates issued by a financial institution with assets of $15,000,000 (instead of $30,000,000) or more. Authorizes a public agency, when depositing public funds, to enter into an agreement with financial institutions requiring that any non-insured funds be collateralized by certain classes of securities. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Creates the Perinatal HIV Prevention Act. Provides that every health care provider in this State that provides prenatal care or labor or delivery services to a pregnant woman must ensure that the woman is provided with HIV counseling and is offered HIV testing. Requires that the counseling be provided and the testing be offered as early in the woman's pregnancy as possible. Sets forth required components of the counseling. Provides that the counseling and testing, and offers of testing, must be in accordance with the standards set forth in the AIDS Confidentiality Act. 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 Illinois Income Tax Act. Removes language that terminates the earned income tax credit with taxable years ending on or before December 31, 2002. Exempts the credit from the sunset requirements. Effective immediately.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Exempts from an eavesdropping violation, electronic recordings made of a custodial interrogation of an individual by a law enforcement officer at a police station or other place of detention in investigations for homicide and certain sex offenses. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 and the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that statements made by a suspect at a custodial interrogation at a police station or other place of detention in investigations for homicide and certain sex offenses are presumed inadmissible unless electronically recorded. Provides that the presumption may be overcome by a preponderance of the evidence that the statements were voluntary and reliable based upon the totality of the circumstances. Provides exceptions. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board must conduct a training program for police officers on the methods and technical aspects of electronic recording of interrogations. Amends the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act. Provides that the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, from appropriations made to it for that purpose, shall make grants to local law enforcement agencies for the purpose of purchasing equipment for electronic recording of interrogations. Amends the State Mandates Act. Exempts provisions of the bill from the reimbursement requirements of the State Mandates Act. Some provisions take effect immediately.
