Rep. Jack McGuire

Congratulates Joliet's VFW Chateau Cantigny Post 367 on the occasion of its 85th anniversary.

Creates the Long-Term Care Consultation Services Act and amends the Illinois Act on the Aging and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides for a program of long-term care consultation services, to be provided by the Department on Aging and the departments of Public Aid and Human Services, to assist persons with long-term or chronic care needs in making decisions and selecting options in relation to care. Provides for screening of individuals before admission to a Medicaid-certified nursing home, and makes the Department on Aging's nursing home prescreening program subject to the Long-Term Care Consultation Services Act. Provides for exemptions from preadmission screening requirements, including emergency admissions. Makes preadmission screening a condition of Medicaid reimbursement unless an exemption applies.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that vendors of homemaker and chore housekeeper services shall receive a rate increase of at least 3% but no more than 5% on July 1 of each year based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers as determined by the United States Department of Labor. Amends the Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Act. Provides that personal care attendants shall receive an automatic cost of living allowance of at least 3% but no more than 5% on July 1 of each year based on the Consumer Price Index. Effective July 1, 2003.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that the Executive Director of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $16,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for a 15% increase in child care subsidies for licensed child care facilities. Effective July 1, 2003.

Amends the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Provides that beginning on January 1, 2004, the pharmaceutical assistance program covers prescription drugs used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Prohibits a health care employer from employing or retaining an individual in a position with duties involving direct care who have committed specific offenses. Removes theft of lost or mislaid property from the list of offenses. Requires that the Health Care Worker Task Force issue an interim report to the Governor and General Assembly no later than September 1, 2004 (rather than January 1, 2004). Effective immediately.

Appropriates $34,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services to provide a $1-per-hour wage increase for personal assistants in home services. Effective July 1, 2003.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Subject to an increase in the rates paid to chore/housekeeping and homemaker vendors contracting with the Department on Aging, requires that vendors pay an amount into a fund to provide health care coverage for individuals who perform more than 80 hours of chore/housekeeping or homemaker services per month. Provides that the amount must equal $1.40 for each hour of chore/housekeeping and homemaker services performed pursuant to the vendor's contract with the Department. Requires that the health care coverage must be at least equal to the coverage provided under Medicaid. Requires coverage of an individual's spouse and dependents. Provides that if a vendor fails to pay a required amount into the fund, the vendor must pay that amount to the Department. Effective immediately.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Includes as "public works" those projects that are financed (i) with bonds issued under the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act or (ii) with loans or funds made available under the Illinois Enterprise Zone Loan Act. Effective immediately.