Amends the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act. Provides that a provider agency may recruit volunteers for the purpose of increasing public awareness and providing transportation and companion services to eligible adults. Effective immediately.
Amends the Abused and Neglected Long Term Care Facility Residents Reporting Act. Requires the Inspector General to immediately notify the Department of State Police or the appropriate law enforcement entity (now, only the Department of State Police) if the Inspector General determines that a possible criminal act has been committed or that special expertise is required in the investigation. Makes corresponding changes. Provides that the Department of State Police shall investigate any report from a State-operated facility (now, any report) indicating a possible murder, rape, or other felony. Effective immediately.
Amends the Crime Victims Compensation Act. Provides that the definition of "pecuniary loss" includes the first month's rent and security deposit of the dwelling that the claimant relocated to and other reasonable relocation expenses incurred as a result of the violent crime.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that a person also commits aggravated arson when in the course of committing an arson he or she knowingly damages a building or structure and a correctional officer who is present at the scene acting in the line of duty is injured as a result of the fire or explosion. Effective immediately.
Creates the Home Care Consumer and Worker Protection Act. If an agency places a home care worker with a consumer to provide home care services, requires the agency to give the worker and the consumer a notice setting forth the rights and responsibilities of each of them as well as appropriate phone numbers and addresses of the Department on Aging. Provides that the Act does not apply to nursing homes, home health agencies, and certain other agencies. Provides that an agency subject to the Act must comply with the Health Care Worker Background Check Act and must ensure that every home care worker placed by the agency for hire by a consumer has the appropriate credentials and is appropriately licensed or certified as required by law. Authorizes the Department on Aging to investigate complaints of violations of the Act, issue cease-and-desist orders, and seek injunctive relief. Provides for a civil penalty of $1,000 per day for each day that a violation continues. Effective January 1, 2006.
Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Provides that a guardian ad litem appointed in a child custody proceeding shall have completed 3 hours of training that relates to the functions and duties of a guardian ad litem and that includes training on the dynamics of domestic violence on partners and children. Requires a guardian ad litem in a child custody proceeding to investigate whether there is evidence that either partner engaged in domestic violence and to report to the court on the results of the investigation. Creates a rebuttable presumption that it is not in the best interest of the child for the court to grant sole or joint custody or visitation to a parent who: (i) has been adjudicated guilty of domestic violence as defined in the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 on multiple incidents of domestic violence or of a single incident of domestic violence that resulted in serious physical injury, as determined by the trier of fact, against the parent's partner or against the child; or (ii) has been convicted of violating an order of protection entered under the specified Sections of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Lists evidence that may be used to rebut the presumption. Provides that, in cases where the presumption is rebutted, the court shall state the evidence upon which the court determined that the presumption was rebutted and its findings relating to the reason that legal custody with that party is in the best interest of the child. Provides that, if there is a danger to the health or safety of a partner, joint mediation for custody shall not be required by the court. Requires that professional personnel, evaluators, and investigators, who advise the court concerning child interview or child custody, must have 3 hours of training in domestic violence and its effects on the partner and the child. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Creates the Firearms Act. Contains only a short title provision.
Amends the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Creates the Violent Video Games Law. Provides that a person who sells, rents, or permits to be sold or rented, any violent video game to any minor, commits a Class A misdemeanor for which a fine of $5,000 may be imposed. Provides that a family member's purchase of a violent video game for another family member who is a minor does not constitute a violation of this provision. Establishes labeling requirements for violent video games. Creates the Sexually Explicit Video Games Law. Provides that a person who sells, rents, or permits to be sold or rented, any sexually explicit video game to any minor, commits a Class A misdemeanor for which a fine of $5,000 may be imposed. Provides that a family member's purchase of a sexually explicit video game for another family member who is a minor does not constitute a violation of this provision. Establishes labeling requirements for sexually explicit video games. Provides that these laws are severable. Effective January 1, 2006.
