Sen. M. Maggie Crotty

Creates the Good Samaritan Energy Plan Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the powers and duties of the Department of Human Services.

Amends the Children's Advocacy Center Act. Provides that the form of the question for a tax levy shall substantially be "Shall an annual tax of not more than....per cent be levied on the value of all taxable property in ..... County (this tax will amount to an annual increase of approximately ..... on a home with a market value of $100,000) for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a Children's Advocacy Center to coordinate the investigation, prosecution, and treatment referrals of child sexual abuse in.....County?" (instead of "Shall an annual tax of not to exceed .....per cent be levied in .....County for the purpose of establishing and maintaining Children's Advocacy Center to serve the county?"). Requires the election authority to record the votes as "Yes" or "No". Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code relating to coverage for subjects of abuse. Extends the restrictions on denying coverage for subjects of abuse to property and casualty insurers.

Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a physician assistant may determine or certify that a person has a disability if the physician assistant has been delegated the authority to make the determination or certification by his or her supervising physician. Provides that an advanced practice nurse may determine or certify that a person has a disability if the advanced practice nurse has a written collaborative agreement with a collaborating physician that authorizes the advanced practice nurse to make the determination or certification. Effective immediately.

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Adds licensed professional counselors and licensed clinical professional counselors to the list of persons required to report possible child abuse or neglect. Effective immediately.

Amends the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act. Provides that physicians and health care providers may screen children for lead poisoning in conjunction with the school health exam when, in the physician's judgment, the child is potentially at high risk of lead poisoning.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services, subject to appropriation, may make grants to special recreation associations for the operation of recreational programs for the handicapped and transportation to and from those programs. Provides that the Department must adopt rules to implement the grant program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, to conduct a public information campaign to (i) educate women about the benefits of consuming folic acid before and during pregnancy to improve their chances of having a healthy baby and (ii) increase the consumption of folic acid by women of child-bearing age.

Amends the School Code. Repeals provisions concerning the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program. Provides instead that the State Board of Education shall make reading improvement grants to school districts in order to improve the reading and study skills of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade (from a separate appropriation made for these purposes). Provides that the State Board may use up to 2% of the appropriation for the purpose of providing teacher training and retraining. Provides that of the remaining funds (i) up to the first $5,000,000 in new funds in the 2003-2004 school year shall be distributed to districts serving grades 7 through 12 and (ii) the remainder of the appropriation shall be distributed to districts serving kindergarten through grade 6. Includes provisions concerning application requirements, reporting assessment results, eligibility in the third or subsequent years, requirements for the use of grants, and reporting results to the General Assembly. Effective July 1, 2003.