Sen. Miguel del Valle

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Makes a technical change concerning the Act's purpose.

Creates the Patient Safety Act. Provides that no employee of a health care facility may be required to accept overtime work except in the case of an unforeseen emergent circumstance when overtime is required only as a last resort. Establishes civil monetary penalties for a health care facility's violation of the Act. Provides for a private right of action for a person who suffers damage as a result of a violation of the Act. Requires health care facilities to post a summary of the Act approved by the Director of Labor. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Makes a technical change in a provision concerning the removal of a principal.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the assessment made in each general assessment year shall be no more than a 5% increase over the assessment made in the most recent general assessment year if (i) the property is classified as residential property and (ii) the owner of the property has continuously occupied the residence for at least 5 years immediately prior to the general assessment year. Effective immediately.

Disapproves Executive Order 6 of 2004, which proposes to transfer the functions of the Departments of Financial Institutions, Insurance, and Professional Regulation and the Office of Banks and Real Estate to a new Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning instructional materials.

Amends the School Code with regard to the Chicago school district. Provides that teacher seniority shall be based on employment within the school district, not employment at a particular attendance center. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act. Provides that pharmaceutical manufacturing companies shall disclose to the State Board of Pharmacy any gift, fee, payment, subsidy, or other economic benefit provided in connection with marketing activities to persons in Illinois authorized to prescribe, dispense, or purchase prescription drugs. Provides that trade secret information shall be confidential. Provides exemptions from disclosure. Provides for enforcement by the Attorney General. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2003-2004 school year or a subsequent school year must successfully complete (i) 4 years of English (instead of 3 years of language arts), (ii) 3 (instead of 2) years of mathematics (iii) 3 years (instead of one year) of science, (iv) 3 (instead of 2) years of social studies, (v) 2 years of a foreign language (instead of one year chosen from music, art, foreign language, or vocational education), (vi) 2 years of fine arts, which may include one year of art or drafting and one year of music, and (vii) 2 years of physical education. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective July 1, 2003.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Department's powers and duties.