Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Extends the repeal of the Hearing Instrument Consumer Protection Act to January 1, 2016. Effective December 31, 2005.
Amends the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act. Makes changes in the definition of "the practice of audiology". Provides that the Act does not prohibit the performance of balance testing (rather than vestibular function testing) by an appropriately trained person under the supervision of a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has the power to discipline the supervisor of a graduate speech-language pathology student for the student's violation of the Act. Provides that the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation shall give consideration to the recommendations of the Illinois Academy of Audiology in making appointments to the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Removes the requirement that a graduate student enrolled in a program of audiology be a full-time student in order to engage in the dispensing of hearing instruments as part of the program without a license under the Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning the qualifications for licenses to practice speech-language pathology and audiology. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. With respect to school districts other than Chicago, provides that early childhood education block grant funds shall be distributed through a grant approval process (instead of on a competitive basis). Makes changes regarding grants for preschool educational and related model research-training programs, model pilot early childhood parental training programs, and pilot programs concerning services to at-risk children and their families (including allowing grants to be provided to other entities besides school districts and providing that grants must be used to supplement, not supplant, funds received from any other source). Effective July 1, 2005.
Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and the State Finance Act. Creates the Autism Research Fund and provides that, from appropriations from the Fund, the Department of Public Health must make grants to public or private entities in Illinois for the purpose of funding research concerning the disorder of autism. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to create a tax checkoff for the Fund. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that an adult day service contract with the Department shall constitute certification by the Department of the adult day service. Defines "adult day service". Effective July 1, 2005.
Amends the Public Officer Simultaneous Tenure Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the purpose of the Act.
Creates the Home Care Consumer and Worker Protection Act. If an agency places a home care worker with a consumer to provide home care services, requires the agency to give the worker and the consumer a notice setting forth the rights and responsibilities of each of them as well as appropriate phone numbers and addresses of the Department on Aging. Provides that the Act does not apply to nursing homes, home health agencies, and certain other agencies. Provides that an agency subject to the Act must comply with the Health Care Worker Background Check Act and must ensure that every home care worker placed by the agency for hire by a consumer has the appropriate credentials and is appropriately licensed or certified as required by law. Authorizes the Department on Aging to investigate complaints of violations of the Act, issue cease-and-desist orders, and seek injunctive relief. Provides for a civil penalty of $1,000 per day for each day that a violation continues. Effective January 1, 2006.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code provision regarding Illinois Fire Fighters' license plates. Provides that all moneys deposited into the Illinois Fire Fighters' Memorial Fund shall be used exclusively for the purposes listed in the Vehicle Code provision.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, as part of proof of its financial responsibility, a contract carrier transporting employees in the course of their employment is required to verify hit and run and uninsured motor vehicle coverage and underinsured motor vehicle coverage in a total amount of not less than $250,000 per passenger.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that it is unlawful for a railroad or any of its employees to interfere in any way with a railroad employee's effort to obtain first aid or medical treatment for an injury suffered in the course of employment. Provides that it is unlawful for a railroad or any of its employees to discipline or threaten to discipline an employee for requesting treatment for a job-related injury. Provides that a violation is a business offense punishable by a fine of not more than $10,000.
