Rep. Arthur L. Turner

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Changes the name of the Illinois Incentive for Access Grant Program to the Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access Grant Program. For these grants, provides that the maximum amount paid per applicant per year is $1,000 for applicants with an expected family contribution of $0 and $500 for applicants with an expected family contribution of $500 or less but more than $0. Requires the Commission to give priority to applicants with an expected family contribution of $0. Effective July 1, 2004.

Amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. Provides that beginning in the calendar year 2004 and until December 31, 2008, a total of 5 additional enterprise zones may be certified by the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs.

Amends the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act and the Hypodermic Syringes and Needles Act. Authorizes a person who is at least 18 years of age to purchase up to 20 sterile hypodermic syringes or needles at a pharmacy without a prescription. Authorizes a pharmacist to sell up to 20 sterile hypodermic syringes or needles to a person who is at least 18 years of age. Provides that the Illinois Department of Public Health must develop educational materials regarding safer injection, HIV prevention, syringe disposal, and drug treatment and make copies of those materials available to pharmacists. Provides that pharmacists must make those educational materials available to persons who purchase syringes. Repeals the Section in the Hypodermic Syringes and Needles Act requiring a person who sells a syringe, needle, or instrument to keep a record of the sale. 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 Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that persons 17 years of age and older who have a petition of delinquency filed against them may (rather than shall) be confined in an adult detention facility.

Amends the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois; also amends the Illinois Police Training Act, the State Mandates Act, and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires the Department of State Police to provide training to State Police officers concerning sensitivity toward racial and ethnic differences. Requires the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to provide for similar training for probationary police officers. Provides for a 4-year traffic stop statistical study based on information that must be recorded on the face of a uniform traffic citation, warning citation, or uniform stop card by State and local law enforcement officers. Provides that no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code and the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall establish a pilot program to place hard-to-employ persons, including persons who have been released from a county jail or a facility under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections, in jobs. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall establish a pilot program in 2 locations in the State (one of which must be in the Lawndale community of Chicago) to place persons discharged from a Department facility on parole or mandatory supervised release in jobs or otherwise establish a connection between such persons and the workforce. Authorizes the 2 departments to consult with each other. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Identification Act and the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that if a conviction or sentence has been set aside on direct review or on collateral attack and the court determines by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant was factually innocent of the charge, then the court shall enter an order expunging the record of arrest from the official records of the arresting authority and order that the records of the clerk of the circuit court and Department of State Police be sealed until further order of the court upon good cause shown and the name of the defendant obliterated from the official index kept by the circuit clerk. Amends the State Appellate Defender Act. Provides that the State Appellate Defender shall establish, maintain, and carry out an Expungement Program to provide information and assistance to persons eligible to have their arrest or criminal history record information ordered expunged, sealed, or impounded. Provides that the State Appellate Defender shall develop brochures, pamphlets, and other materials in printed form and through the agency's World Wide Web site that include at a minimum the following information: (1) an explanation of the State's expungement process; (2) the circumstances under which expungements may occur; (3) the criminal offenses that may be expunged; (4) the steps necessary to initiate and complete the expungement process; and (5) directions on how to contact the State Appellate Defender. Provides that the State Appellate Defender shall establish and maintain a statewide toll-free telephone number that a person may use to receive information or assistance concerning the expungement or sealing of arrest or criminal history record information. Provides that the State Appellate Defender shall compile a statewide list of volunteer attorneys willing to assist eligible individuals through the expungement process. Provides that the Program shall be implemented from funds appropriated to the State Appellate Defender for this purpose. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Julius Samuel Cousin Sr.