Appropriates $64,200,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department on Aging for vendors of homemaker, chore, and housekeeping services to increase the wages paid to employees who provide homemaker, chore, and housekeeping services and to provide health insurance coverage to those employees and their dependents. Effective immediately.
Mourns the death of Catalina Garcia of Cicero.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. With respect to the additional 50-cent new or used tire fee collected from retail customers, eliminates a provision terminating the fee on January 1, 2008. Makes revisory changes. Effective July 1, 2007.
Amends the Public Community College Act. Requires the Illinois Community College Board to establish and administer a We Want to Learn English Initiative to provide resources for immigrants and refugees in this State to learn English in order to move towards becoming full members of American society. Provides that each fiscal year, the Board shall include in its budget proposal $25,000,000 in funding for the Initiative. Provides that no less than half of the funds appropriated for the Initiative each fiscal year shall be disbursed to community-based, not-for-profit organizations, immigrant social service organizations, faith-based organizations, and on-site job training programs. Effective immediately.
Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Subject to appropriations, requires the Department to pay veterans service organizations for services provided by veterans service officers in processing claims and other benefits for veterans and their spouses or other beneficiaries residing in Illinois. Requires payment at the rate of $0.010 for each dollar of benefits obtained for veterans or their spouses or other beneficiaries. Sets forth criteria that a veterans service organization must meet.
Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that "crime victim" includes both parents, legal guardians, and foster parents of a child killed as a result of a violent crime perpetrated against the child or both parents, legal guardians, and foster parents of a child victim who is physically or mentally incapable of exercising rights under the Act. Provides that the Act applies to proceedings under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that a victim-witness specialist may be present at the court proceedings. Provides that support persons of the victim are subject to the admonition of the rules of confidentiality.
Amends the School Code. Provides that the residence of a person who has legal custody of a pupil is deemed to be the pupil's residence when the person exercises custody under a short-term guardianship, provided that a court order is entered that establishes the person as the pupil's permanent guardian within 365 days (at present, 60 days) of the pupil's enrollment in the school district. Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that a person may be appointed as and exercise the duties of a short-term guardian for a minor for up to 365 days (at present, 60 days).
Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act. Increases the penalty for the violation of certain provisions concerning animal fighting from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class 4 felony for the first offense and from a Class 4 felony to a Class 3 felony for second or subsequent offenses. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Youthbuild Act. Provides that the Secretary of Human Services shall, subject to appropriation, make grants to applicants for the purpose of carrying out Youthbuild programs (now, the Secretary is authorized to make grants). Provides that youths in foster care, youth offenders, youths with disabilities, children of incarcerated parents, and migrant youth are eligible to participate in Youthbuild programs. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Energy Assistance Act. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services is authorized to institute an outreach program directed at low-income minority heads of households and heads of households age 60 or older. Provides that the program shall be consistent with the purposes and objectives of the Act and with all other specific requirements set forth in these provisions. Provides that as part of the program, the Department shall permit Case Coordination Units, under contract with the Department on Aging, to prepare and submit applications for energy assistance in the names of their clients in accordance with procedures established by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Provides that the Department shall establish a web-based application for use by applicants for energy assistance, their families, or someone acting on their behalf. Effective immediately.
