Amends the School Code. Creates the Professional Teacher Standards Board consisting of 11 members appointed by the Governor to administer the Article of the School Code governing the certification of teachers and other certificated school personnel and the approval of teacher and administrator preparation programs. Gives the Professional Teacher Standards Board all powers and duties currently exercised by the State Board of Education and the State Teacher Certification Board with respect to administration of the certification and program approval process, and abolishes the State Teacher Certification Board. Authorizes the Professional Teacher Standards Board to employ an Executive Director and such other staff members as are necessary to exercise its powers and duties and carry out its functions. Provides that a Standard Certificate may be renewed based on proof of professional development (instead of on proof of continuing education or professional development). Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2003.
Sponsored bills
Creates the Retired Officers Security Act. Permits the Department of State Police to issue permits to carry concealed firearms to retired peace officers and retired military who have served honorably for at least 10 years. Provides that permits to carry a concealed firearm shall be valid throughout the State for a period of 4 years from the date of issuance. Provides that a person in compliance with the terms of the permit may carry concealed firearms on or about his or her person. Provides that the permittee shall carry the permit at all times the permittee is carrying a concealed firearm and shall display the permit upon the request of a law enforcement officer. Establishes firearm proficiency tests for applicants for concealed carry permits. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2010. Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Pre-empts home rule regulation of the issuance of concealed carry permits. Effective immediately.
Creates the Comprehensive Housing, Health, and Supportive Services for Older Adults Act and amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act, the State Finance Act, and the Nursing Home Care Act. Requires the Director of Public Health, in coordination with the Director of Aging and the Director of Public Aid, to monitor and analyze the distribution of housing and services for older adults in the different geographic areas of the State and implement corrective action plans by July 1, 2005. Provides for a program for conversion of nursing homes to assisted living or shared housing establishments; makes such conversions exempt from the requirements of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act, and provides for transition planning grants to nursing homes making such conversions. Creates special funds in the State treasury for use in implementing the Comprehensive Housing, Health, and Supportive Services for Older Adults Act. Provides for transfers from the Long Term Care Monitor/Receiver Fund to the new Nursing Home Conversion Fund and the new Nursing Home Transition Planning Grant Fund. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Makes a stylistic change in provisions concerning the commencement of actions for declaration of invalidity of marriage.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Makes a technical change in a Section requiring the Department of Corrections to designate those institutions and facilities that are maintained for persons assigned as adults and as juveniles.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates the Cancer Trial Discrimination Prohibition Law. Contains only a short title provision. Effective immediately.
Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that no person shall sell or issue a gift certificate that is subject to an expiration date. Provides that no gift certificate or any agreement with respect to the gift certificate may contain language suggesting that an expiration date may apply. Provides that fees and penalties shall not be imposed for inactivity with respect to a gift certificate. Provides that any person who sells a gift certificate subject to an expiration date shall be fined not more than $500 per occurrence. Defines gift certificate.
Amends the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Act and the Excellence in Academic Medicine Act. Provides that Alzheimer's disease and related disorders affect an estimated 4,500,000 (rather than 1,500,000) Americans and approximately 200,000 (rather than 111,000) Illinois citizens. Provides that the Alzheimer's Disease Advisory Committee shall review and evaluate State programs and services provided by State agencies that are directed toward persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and recommend changes to improve the State's response to this health problem. Provides that payments to hospitals affiliated with each Regional Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Center shall be effected through the Illinois Department of Public Aid under the Excellence in Academic Medicine Act. Creates the Alzheimer's Disease Center Fund (and amends the State Finance Act to include the fund as a special fund in the State treasury). Creates an Alzheimer's Disease Center Program to provide financial incentives to the Regional Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Centers established under the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Act.
Amends the School Code and the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. In provisions requiring an applicant for employment with a school district to undergo a criminal background investigation, requires that the Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history records database be searched (now requires only the Illinois criminal history records database to be searched). Makes related changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that regional long term care ombudsman programs may use trained volunteers to make routine visits to facilities licensed or certified under the Nursing Home Care Act, the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, and the Social Security Act or to any other facility for which long term care ombudsmen are obligated to visit either by federal or State law. Sets forth requirements for the volunteers. Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Includes a trained-volunteer program operated by a regional long term care ombudsman program within the definition of "health care employer". Effective immediately.