Rep. La Shawn Ford

Amends the Children's Health Insurance Program Act, the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that under the Family Care program, the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance program, and the medical assistance program, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall reimburse providers for rapid HIV testing (results provided in less than one hour) beginning January 1, 2010. Provides that beginning January 1, 2011, the reimbursement for a conventional HIV test (results provided in more than one hour) and a rapid HIV test must not be lower than Medicare reimbursement for each test in accordance with the Medicare payment localities for Illinois. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish a standard student expulsion policy that applies to each school district in this State. Requires a district's pupil discipline policy to conform to the standard student expulsion policy. Requires a school board to furnish a copy of the district's pupil discipline policy to the parents or guardian of each pupil within 15 days after the beginning of the school year or within 15 days after starting classes for a pupil who transfers into the district during the school year and to require that each school inform its pupils of the contents of its policy (now permissive with respect to school boards other than the Chicago Board of Education).

Creates the Cemetery Licensing Act. Requires a cemetery authority owning, operating, controlling, or managing a privately operated cemetery to (i) be licensed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation; (ii) employ only licensed cemetery managers and cemetery employees; (iii) establish and make available at the signing of all agreements with a consumer a maintenance policy with a minimum level of care; and (iv) conspicuously post inside the cemetery's office the Bereaved Family's Bill of Rights. Provides that double-stacking in a grave is prohibited unless the purchaser of the grave at the time of the grave purchase gives written permission to double-stack and specifies whose remains may be double-stacked in the specified grave. Prohibits sale of term graves. Provides for the Department, in conjunction with the Cemetery Licensing Commission whose members are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, to administer the licensing and discipline of licensees. Amends the Cemetery Care Act. Provides that a cemetery authority must annually report to the Comptroller an inventory of the cemetery grounds. Provides that the Office of the Comptroller shall make such inventory reports publicly available by means of a searchable database that is accessible through that agency's website and shall issue a certificate of filing upon timely receipt of a cemetery's annual report. Establishes late filing fees and criminal penalties for specific violations. Grants the Comptroller the authority to initiate an audit of the cemetery business and rulemaking authority to implement specified provisions under the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Requires the Chicago Board of Education to establish a basic skills class for students in each of grades 4, 5, and 6. Provides that if a 3rd grade student is at least 2 grade levels behind in reading or mathematics, based on an assessment of the student's reading and mathematics skills, the student must be placed in a basic skills class when he or she is in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades until he or she completes 6th grade or attains reading or mathematics skills that are at or above the 6th grade level, whichever occurs first. Requires the State Board of Education to create the appropriate curriculum for the basic skills class, establish learning objectives for students in a basic skills class, and provide lesson plans for the basic skills class.

Amends the Cannabis Control Act, the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, and the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act. Provides that the first time probation provisions for certain drug possession offenses apply to persons who committed previous misdemeanor cannabis violations.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person who commits 3 offenses against traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles within any 12 month period, in addition to any other penalty imposed by the court, shall be fined twice the amount authorized for the offense.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Makes a technical change in the Section concerning the administration of institutions and facilities of the Department of Corrections.

Urges House members to not opt out of any federal public health care insurance program.

Creates the MR/DD Community Care Act and amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that all intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled and long-term care for under age 22 facilities shall be licensed by the Department of Public Health under the MR/DD Community Care Act instead of under the Nursing Home Care Act. Makes the provisions in the MR/DD Community Care Act substantially the same as those in the Nursing Home Care Act, including provisions for the rights of residents and responsibilities of facilities, licensing, violations and penalties, and transfer or discharge of residents. Amends the Department of Human Services Act, the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act, the Illinois Income Tax Act, the Nursing Home Administrators Licensing and Disciplinary Act, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Nursing Home Grant Assistance Act, the Unified Code of Corrections and other Acts to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the African American Employment Plan Act. Provides that the purposes of the Act are to: (1) improve State services delivery to Illinois' African Americans; (2) increase the number of African Americans: who are employed throughout State government, who are promoted, and who are veterans who are hired by State government; (3) assist State agencies meet goals established by the African American Employment Plan; and (4) establish an African American Employment Plan Advisory Council. Defines terms. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services shall: develop and implement plans to increase the number of African Americans employed by State government, including those at supervisory, technical, professional, and managerial levels; prepare a State African American Employment Plan; annually report to the General Assembly each State agency's activities that implement the Plan; and assist State agencies with training programs to meet their affirmative action and equal employment opportunity goals. Provides that each State agency shall: implement programs under the Plan to increase the number of African Americans employed by the State, including at supervisory, technical, professional, and managerial levels; and report annually to the Department its activities that implement the Plan. Provides that the African American Employment Plan Advisory Council is created, consisting of 11 members each of whom shall be an African American subject matter expert appointed by the Governor. Provides that members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses from appropriated funds. Includes other provisions. Effective immediately.