Rep. Angelo Saviano

Creates the Hospital Report Card Act. Provides requirements for staffing levels. Requires hospitals to prepare a quarterly report detailing specified information as a condition of licensure. Requires the Department of Public Health to submit a report summarizing the quarterly reports by region to the General Assembly and publish that report on its website. Provides protection for whistleblowers. Provides a private right of action to whistleblowers against their employers. Provides penalties for violations of the Act. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that violations of the Hospital Report Card Act are grounds for discipline under the Act.

Amends the Animal Control Act. Provides that if a dog is found to be a dangerous dog, the dog must be both muzzled and leashed whenever it is upon a street, sidewalk, or other public place or grounds. Includes an owner's house in the definition of "enclosure". Provides that if a vicious dog is impounded, it must be either spayed or neutered within 30 days after the impoundment. Provides that in all cases a vicious dog must be spayed or neutered before being returned to its owner. Provides that the owner is liable for the cost of spaying or neutering. Provides that if the owner of a dangerous dog fails to keep the dog muzzled and leashed as required, and the dog attacks another person unprovoked and inflicts great bodily harm, permanent disfigurement, or permanent physical disability upon another person or causes death of another person, the owner is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, except that if the owner knowingly failed to maintain or keep the dog muzzled or leashed, the owner is guilty of a Class 4 felony. Provides that if the owner of a dog subject to enclosure (that is, a vicious dog) fails to keep the dog enclosed or as otherwise required by law (instead of simply fails to keep the dog enclosed), and the dog attacks a person unprovoked and inflicts great bodily harm, permanent disfigurement, or permanent physical disability upon another person or causes death of another person, the owner is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Effective immediately.

Amends the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act and the Hypodermic Syringes and Needles Act. Authorizes a person who is at least 18 years of age to purchase up to 20 sterile hypodermic syringes or needles at a pharmacy without a prescription. Authorizes a pharmacist to sell up to 20 sterile hypodermic syringes or needles to a person who is at least 18 years of age. Provides that the Illinois Department of Public Health must develop educational materials regarding safer injection, HIV prevention, syringe disposal, and drug treatment and make copies of those materials available to pharmacists. Provides that pharmacists must make those educational materials available to persons who purchase syringes. Repeals the Section in the Hypodermic Syringes and Needles Act requiring a person who sells a syringe, needle, or instrument to keep a record of the sale. 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.

Amends the Illinois International Port District Act. Provides that the District may police its property and exercise police powers, may enforce any rule or regulation provided by the ordinances of the District, including regulation of vehicular traffic and commercial maritime traffic, and may employ and commission police officers and other qualified persons. Provides that members of the Illinois International Port District Board shall not be prevented from receiving non-salary benefits of the type received by employees of the District. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Gives voting rights to the 2 public members of the Medical Disciplinary Board and considers them for determining a quorum. Effective immediately.

Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. For purposes of determining representation on the Suburban Bus Board, includes the Village of Willow Springs in the Central Region and excludes the Village of Willow Springs from the Southwest Region (now, the Village of Willow Springs is included in the Southwest Region only). Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a School Service Personnel Certificate with a speech-language pathologist endorsement shall be issued to a speech-language pathologist who meets specified criteria. Amends the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act. Provides that a person who has made application to the Department for a license to practice speech-language pathology or audiology may practice without a license pending disposition of the license application by the Department if specified criteria are met. Provides that a person who undertakes supervised professional experience as a speech-language pathologist must obtain a temporary license from the Department. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Extends, for one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act, the authority of the Grand Avenue Railroad Relocation Authority to use quick-take proceedings for the Grand Avenue Railroad Grade Separation Project within the village of Franklin Park, Illinois. Effective immediately.