Rep. Norine Hammond

Recognizes the importance of encouraging Illinois residents to understand their cholesterol testing results and coordinate treatment with their healthcare provider. Urges the Illinois Department of Public Health to post a link providing access to www.cholesterolcounts.com on its website under the Resources section on its Cholesterol page and to designate September 1, 2016 as Hyperlipidemia Awareness Day in the State of Illinois.

Amends the Fireworks Regulation Act of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning violations of the Act.

Authorizes the Department of Military Affairs to convey described real estate in Cass County. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules for its FY 16 ordinary and contingent expenses.

Congratulates the West Prairie High School volleyball team, the Cyclones, on winning the 2016 Illinois High School Association Class 1A State Championship.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the payment of support to the State Disbursement Unit.

Amends the Department of Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to make reasonable efforts and accommodations to grant visitation privileges to a non-custodial grandparent or great-grandparent of a child who is in the care and custody of the Department that is separate and apart from any visitation privileges granted to a parent of the child. Provides that the Department shall consider, but shall not be limited to, certain criteria in determining whether to grant visitation, including: (i) the wishes of the child, taking into account the child's maturity and ability to express reasoned and independent preferences as to visitation; (ii) the mental and physical health of the grandparent or great-grandparent; and (iii) the quantity of the visitation time requested and the potential adverse impact that visitation would have on the child's customary activities. Provides that the Department may deny a request for visitation after considering the specified criteria in addition to any other criteria the court deems necessary. Contains provisions concerning the automatic termination of visitation privileges and the Department's establishment of an appeal procedure to review a decision to deny visitation. Amends the Abused, Neglected or Dependent Minors Article of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that a court may grant visitation privileges to a non-custodial grandparent or great-grandparent of a child who is in the care and custody of the Department that is separate and apart from any visitation privileges granted to a parent of the child. Provides that the court shall consider certain criteria in determining whether to grant visitation and that the court may deny a request for visitation after considering the specified criteria in addition to any other criteria the court deems necessary.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation to the State Board of Education, there is created an agriculture education teacher grant program to fund personal services costs for agriculture education teachers in school districts. Provides that a school district may apply for a grant to fund 50% of the personal services cost for an agriculture education teacher; however, a school district that is creating a new agriculture education program may apply for a grant to fund 100% of an agriculture teacher's personal services cost in the first and second year of the new agriculture education program and 80% of an agriculture teacher's personal services cost in the third and fourth years of the new agriculture education program. Allows a school district to apply for a grant for more than one teacher. Sets forth the duties of the State Board. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act with respect to teacher shortage scholarships. Specifies that agricultural education is a course of study included in the definition of "areas of identified staff shortages".

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Designates the second full week of April of each year as National Public Safety Telecommunicators' Week, as a week to honor the dedicated men and women who answer calls for help at 911 centers across the country.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that no importing distributor's licenses may be issued on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that an importing distributor's license that is valid on the effective date of the amendatory Act shall remain valid until that license expires. Changes the definition of "distributor" to include any person other than a non-resident dealer licensed under the Act who imports into this State, from any point in the United States outside this State, whether for himself or herself or for another, any alcoholic liquors for sale or resale, or for use in the manufacture, preparation, or compounding of products other than alcoholic liquors, or who imports into this State, from any point in the United States outside this State, for consumption in any one calendar year, more than one gallon of such liquors. Provides that a distributor's license also allows the importation of alcoholic liquor by the licensee into this State from any point in the United States outside this State and the purchase of alcoholic liquor in barrels, casks, or other bulk containers and the bottling of such alcoholic liquors before resale thereof, but all bottles or containers so filled shall be sealed, labeled, stamped, and otherwise made to comply with all provisions and rules governing manufacturers in the preparation and bottling of alcoholic liquors. Effective immediately.