Rep. Angelo Saviano

Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that the Governor may appoint one person to serve as public guardian and public administrator in one or more counties (instead of one in each county). Provides that each public guardian must be certified by the Center for Guardianship Certification and that the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission shall provide professional training. Provides for fees and expenses for a public guardian and his or her temporary guardianship duties and establishes guidelines for fees. Makes other changes.

Creates the Blind Vendors Act. Creates the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind and provides that the Secretary of Human Services, through the Bureau Director of the Bureau for the Blind in the Department of Human Services, shall continue, maintain, and promote the Program. Provides that the Program must provide that: priority is given to blind vendors in the operation of vending facilities on State property; tie bid preference is given to blind vendors in the operation of cafeterias on State property unless the cafeteria operations are operated by employees of a State agency; vending machine income from all vending machines on State property is assigned as provided in the Act; no State agency may impose a commission, service charge, rent, or utility charge on a licensed blind vendor who is operating a vending facility on State property; and vending facilities operated by the Program use reasonable and necessary means and methods to maintain fair market pricing in relation to each facility's given demographic, geographic, and other circumstances. Contains provisions concerning: intent; compliance with federal law; rules; establishment of vending facilities on State property; other vending facilities; creation of a Blind Vendors Trust Fund as a separate account managed by the Department of Human Services for the State's blind vendors; set-aside funds; vending machine income; issuance of licenses; creation of a Committee of Blind Vendors to participate in the development and implementation of all policies, plans, program development, and major administrative and management decisions affecting the Program; hearings; arbitration; reports and surveys; and other matters. Repeals the Blind Persons Operating Vending Facilities Act.

Amends The Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, with certain exceptions, no person or entity whose license, certificate, or authority has been revoked by the Department may apply for a restoration of the license, certificate, or authority for a 3-year period. Effective immediately.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. In a provision prohibiting a registered professional nurse from delegating the nursing activity of medication administration to an unlicensed person, provides that "medication administration" does not include prepackaged medications administered to an individual detainee in a correctional facility by corrections personnel in accordance with Title 20 of the Illinois Administrative Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Respiratory Care Practice Act. In a Section concerning exemptions, provides that a person enrolled in a respiratory care education program shall be exempt from the Act if he or she meets certain conditions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to restrict the dispensing and sale by an optometrist of ocular devices, such as contact lenses, that contain and deliver ocular pharmaceutical agents permitted for use or prescription under the Act.

Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois; adds a chiropractic physician as a member of the State Board of Health. Amends the Hospice Program Licensing Act. Adds the following as a member of the Hospice and Palliative Care Advisory Board: a chiropractic physician, selected from the recommendations of the statewide chiropractic society representing the largest number of chiropractic physicians in the State. Provides that the chiropractic physician member shall serve for a term of 4 years. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Provides that a person may obtain a visiting physician permit if that person has received an invitation or appointment to study, demonstrate, or perform a specific medical, osteopathic, chiropractic or clinical subject or technique in a state or national medical, osteopathic or chiropractic professional association or society conference or meeting. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago Firefighters Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Allows an active fireman to establish a maximum of 24 months of additional service credit attributed to service in the armed forces of the United States that was served prior to employment by the city as a firefighter. Requires contribution of employee contributions and employer contributions, plus interest. Effective immediately.

Amends the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987. Provides that a physician assistant may prescribe, dispense, and administer drugs and medical devices to the extent delegated by the supervising physician, including the prescribing and dispensing of Schedule II through V controlled substances as described in Article II of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act and all legend drugs (now, limited prescriptive authority may be delegated by a physician for Schedule III, IV, and V controlled substances in written guidelines to a physician assistant). Provides that dispensing activities of any physician assistant shall comply with appropriate federal and State regulations and occur when pharmacy services are not reasonably available, or when it is in the best interest of the patient, or when it is an emergency. Provides that physician assistants may request, receive, and sign for professional samples and may distribute professional samples to patients. Amends the Controlled Substances Act. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall register licensed physician assistants and licensed advanced practice nurses to prescribe and dispense Schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substances (now, III, IV or V controlled substances). Makes other changes.