Sen. Martin A. Sandoval

Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that the Attorney General may establish a crime victim and witness notification system to assist public officials in carrying out their duties to notify and inform crime victims and witnesses under certain provisions of the Sex Offender Community Notification Law (rather than just under the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act).

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that a person also commits sexual exploitation of a child if he or she in the presence or virtual presence, or both, of a child engages in the sexual act or exposure of his or her sex organs, anus, or breast for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification of one whom he or she believes to be a child if the person has the intent or knowledge that one whom he or she believes to be a child would view his or her acts. Defines "virtual presence".

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a school bus must contain an operating two-way radio or cellular radio telecommunication device (rather than a two-way radio only) while the school bus driver is in possession of a school bus. Provides that the prohibitions regarding the use of a wireless telephone in a school or construction zone or sending an electronic message while driving do not apply to a school bus driver while performing his or her official duties. Effective immediately.

Amends the Capital Development Board Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title of the Act.

Amends Public Act 96-693 by providing that a described parcel in Christian County is conveyed by quitclaim deed to named persons (instead of an easement is released over and through described parcel) and by making changes in the description of the parcel. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to convey described parcels or release highway easements in Carroll, Monroe, Morgan, Pike, and Tazewell counties. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides an additional circumstance when the confidential nature of counseling records is not waived: in the case of an adult who has a guardian of his person, if the guardian inspects the records with the victim's consent. Provides that an adult victim who has a guardian of his or her person may knowingly waive the rape crisis statement privilege, but if the adult victim is, in the court's opinion, incapable of knowingly waiving the privilege, the guardian of the adult victim may waive the privilege, unless the guardian is charged with a violent crime against the victim or otherwise has an adverse interest to the victim with respect to the privilege.

Amends the School Code. Provides that if a student that is a child of active duty military personnel is (i) placed with a non-custodial parent and (ii) as a result of placement, must attend a different school district, then the student must not be charged the tuition of the school that student attends as a result of placement with the non-custodial parent. Creates the Military Children School Transfer Law to require the State Board of Education to review the initial rulemakings of the Interstate Commission on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children and the Interstate Commission on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children each year thereafter and recommend changes, if necessary, to Illinois law that shall support the removal of barriers to educational success for children of military families in the State. Contains provisions concerning a special power of attorney for children of active duty military personnel. Contains provisions concerning immunization requirements for out-of-State transfer students. With respect to all transfer students, adds provisions to the Code concerning (1) transfer of required courses, (2) pre-requisite courses required for current courses, (3) the transfer of credits, and (4) graduation requirements and accommodations to ensure graduation of a student. Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act to permit all out-of-State transfer students, including children of military personnel that transfer into this State, to use unofficial transcripts for admission to a school until official transcripts are obtained from his or her last school district. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that in addition to other topics at in-service training programs, school guidance counselors, teachers, principals, and other school personnel who work with pupils in grades 7 through 12 shall be trained for at least 2 hours in suicide prevention and to identify the warning signs of suicidal behavior in adolescents and teens and shall be taught appropriate intervention and referral techniques. Provides that the education may be accomplished through self-review of suitable suicide prevention materials. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In connection with the medical assistance program, provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall adopt rules for payment of claims for reimbursement for covered dental services that allow a qualified provider of such services who is volunteering his or her time at no cost to a not-for-profit health clinic to designate such health clinic as alternate payee. Provides that a not-for-profit health clinic may be a public or private health clinic or Federally Qualified Health Center where covered dental services are performed. Provides that if a qualified provider of covered dental services designates a not-for-profit health clinic as alternate payee, the provider shall not be required to individually enroll as a participating vendor in the medical assistance program and the Department shall establish a process for making reimbursement payments to such alternate payee.

Creates the Illinois Homeowner's Emergency Assistance Program Act. Contains provisions concerning the powers and duties of the Illinois Housing Development Authority with respect to the Act, the eligibility of a homeowner for assistance under the Act, the assistance payments for eligible homeowners, and funding for the program. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2011. Effective immediately.