Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning State goals and assessment.

Creates the Children's Privacy Protection and Parental Empowerment Act. Prohibits: the sale or purchase of personal information concerning children without parental consent; the processing of personal information concerning children by prisoners or convicted sex offenders; and the distribution or exchange of children's personal information that one has reason to believe will be used to harm or abuse a child. Provides that persons who broker, solicit, or facilitate the sale of personal information concerning children are required to disclose to parents, upon request, the source and content of personal information on file with regard to their children, and to disclose to parents, upon request, the names of persons or entities that have received or solicited personal information with regard to their children. Violation of this Act is a Class A misdemeanor.

Amends the Historic Preservation Agency Act. Creates the Freedom Trail Commission. Contains provisions concerning the membership and duties of the commission. Provides that the commission must prepare a master plan to promote and preserve the history of the freedom trail and underground railroad in the State; work in conjunction with State and federal authorities to sponsor commemorations, linkages, seminars, and public forums on the freedom trail and underground railroad in the State and in neighboring states; assist and promote the making of applications for inclusion in the national and State register of historic places for significant historic places related to the freedom trail and the underground railroad in the State; assist and develop partnerships to seek public and private funds to carry out activities to protect, preserve, and promote the legacy of the freedom trail and underground railroad in the State; and work with the Illinois State Board of Education to evaluate, conduct research concerning, and develop a curriculum for use in Illinois public schools regarding the underground railroad, with emphasis on the activities of the underground railroad within this State. Provides that the commission must report its activities and findings to the General Assembly by February 1, 2004. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning venue of actions by or against counties.

Amends the Condominium Property Act and the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986. Provides that a condominium association, master association, common interest community association, or homeowners' association may not prohibit the display of the American flag or the installation of a flagpole for the display of the American flag, subject to specified conditions.

Amends the Military Leave of Absence Act. Provides that any full-time employee of the State, a unit of local government, or a school district (instead of just the State), other than an independent contractor, who is a member of the armed forces shall be granted leave from his or her public employment for any period actively spent in military service. Makes technical changes. Preempts home rule powers. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that any waiver by a consumer of the Protections in the Act is deemed contrary to public policy and is void and unenforceable.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that when the victim is under 18 years of age at the time of the commission of the offense and the accused was a member of the clergy, a prosecution for criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, or aggravated criminal sexual abuse may be commenced at any time. 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 School Code. In a Section concerning the identification, evaluation, and placement of children with disabilities, provides that if a child is deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or visually impaired and he or she might be eligible to receive services from the Illinois School for the Deaf or the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, the school district shall notify the parents or guardian, in writing, of the existence of these schools and the services they provide. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.