Sen. James T. Meeks

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, subject to appropriations, the Department of Human Services shall provide up to 12 months of transitional transportation assistance to former recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families if the former recipients are no longer eligible for assistance due to an increase in earned income in the household. Provides that this provision shall not be construed to create an entitlement to transitional transportation assistance. Effective January 1, 2004.

Amends the Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse and Dependency Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to design and implement an ongoing statewide campaign to raise public awareness about fetal alcohol syndrome and other effects of prenatal alcohol exposure. Provides that the campaign must include pamphlets that describe the causes and effects of fetal alcohol syndrome and provides that the Department must distribute the pamphlets free of charge to each county clerk in sufficient quantities to enable the county clerk to provide pamphlets to all persons applying for a marriage license in the county. (Under current law, the Department may prepare such pamphlets and may distribute them to county clerks.)

Creates the Education Funding First Act. Contains a short title only.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Makes it a violation of the Act for a person to smoke tobacco in any area of a day care center, regardless of whether children are present (now it is a violation of the Act for a person to smoke tobacco in any area of a day care center in which children are allowed on a day when the center is in operation, regardless of whether children are present). Makes the violation a business offense subject to a fine of $1,000. Makes it a business offense to smoke tobacco anywhere in a day care home or group day care home when children are present at the day care home or group day care home. Effective immediately.

Amends the Interagency Wetland Policy Act of 1989. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Eliminates a provision that the Department of Children and Family Services may accept for care and training a child who has been adjudicated a truant minor in need of supervision. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Repeals the provisions relating to truant minors in need of supervision. Eliminates the jurisdiction of the court over a minor solely on the basis of the minor's truancy.

Creates the Display of Tobacco Products Act. Provides that it is unlawful to sell, offer for sale, give away, or display tobacco products for sale at any location where the consumer can acquire those products through self-service. Provides that every tobacco product must be displayed from behind a sales or service counter so that a consumer cannot access tobacco products without assistance by an employee of the retail establishment authorized to sell tobacco products. Exempts the sale of tobacco products from vending machines if the vending machines are located in places authorized under the Sale of Tobacco to Minors Act. Provides that a violation is a petty offense for which the court shall impose a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000. Exempts retail tobacco stores from the self-service restriction on tobacco product displays provided that the retail tobacco store (i) derives at least 90% of its revenue from tobacco and tobacco related products; (ii) does not permit persons under the age of 18 to enter the premises; and (iii) posts a sign on the main entrance way stating that persons under the age of 18 are prohibited from entering. Amends the Sale of Tobacco to Minors Act. Prohibits a minor under 18 years of age from selling tobacco products at a retail establishment authorized to sell tobacco products. Prohibits a minor under 18 years of age from being employed to sell tobacco products at such an establishment. Exempts a sales clerk in a family-owned business which can prove that the clerk is in fact a son or daughter of the owner. Effective January 1, 2005.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that the knowing delivery of a firearm that may be concealed upon the person, incidental to a sale, without withholding delivery of the firearm for at least 10 days (now 72 hours) after application for its purchase has been made is an unlawful sale of firearms.

Amends the School Code. In calculating supplemental general State aid, provides that, for the 2003-2004 school year and each school year thereafter, "Low-Income Concentration Level" is the low-income eligible pupil count from the most recently available federal census or the low-income eligible pupil count determined by the Department of Human Services based on those students who are eligible for food stamps or Medicaid, whichever pupil count is greater, divided by the Average Daily Attendance of the school district. Effective July 1, 2003.

Amends the Sale of Tobacco to Minors Act. Requires tobacco vendors to obtain a license from the State. Increases penalties for the distribution of tobacco to persons under 18 years of age. Requires persons who sell tobacco products to obtain a license from the State. Provides that the provisions of the Act are severable.