Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish in DuPage County 2 group homes, each housing 4 residents with similar diagnoses of mental illness and requiring similar intermittent care. Provides for rental of the homes to a third party who will provide necessary services to the residents of the homes.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that the vehicle of a person who drives without a license and without insurance and causes death or personal injury to another person is subject to seizure and forfeiture. Effective immediately.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that no person may operate a child care facility, receive a license to operate a child care facility, be employed by a child care facility, or live as an adult in a child care facility, if the person has been declared a sexually dangerous person under the Sexually Dangerous Persons Act or a sexually violent person under the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act or convicted of committing or attempting to commit specified offenses. Provides an exception if specified criteria are met. Defines "child care facility" for the purposes of the provision concerning background investigations. Effective immediately.

Amends the Income Tax Act to create the Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) Research Fund checkoff. Provides that the Department of Revenue shall print on its standard individual income tax form a provision indicating that if the taxpayer wishes to contribute to the Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) Research Fund, he or she may do so by stating the amount of the contribution on the return and that the contribution will reduce the taxpayer's refund or increase the amount of payment to accompany the return. Amends the Department of Public Aid Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Public Aid shall make grants from the Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) Research Fund to the Les Turner ALS Foundation for research on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Amends the State Finance Act to create the Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) Research Fund. Effective immediately.

Creates the Commission on Opportunity in State Public Construction to undertake a comprehensive study to determine the existence and the extent of racial and gender discrimination on public construction projects in the State.

Creates the Ephedra Prohibition Act. Prohibits the sale of any dietary supplement containing any quantity of ephedra or ephedrine alkaloids. Exempts from that prohibition the sale of any product that receives explicit approval by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as safe and effective for its intended use or is lawfully marketed under an over-the-counter monograph issued by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Provides that a person is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for a first-time violation of the Act and a Class 3 felony for a subsequent violation. Effective immediately.

Urges the U.S. Congress to amend Title 38 of the United States Code to provide a guaranteed level of funding for veterans health care with mandatory funding.

Supports the men and women of the United States Armed Forces in their mission in Iraq.

Recognizes Betty and Tamra Anderson for strength and dedication to finding a cure for cancer, urges all citizens of Illinois to join in the fight to find a cure for cancer, and supports the June 7 and 8, 2003 Avon Breast Cancer Walk in Chicago.

Congratulates Mary Lou Chapa of Aurora on celebrating her birthday on February 25, 2003.