Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in the State aid formula provisions concerning the computation of general State aid.
Creates the Displaced Building Service Workers Protection Act. Provides protections to building service employees who are regularly assigned to a covered building on a full or part-time basis for at least 90 days immediately preceding a transition in employment and who perform work in connection with the care or maintenance of an existing building. Provides that a successor building owner, manager, or contractor shall be required to offer employment to the predecessor employer's incumbent building service employees, subject to the existence of cause, for a period of 90 days following the transition at the affected building. Provides that at the end of the 90 day transition period, the successor employer perform written performance evaluations and offer continued employment to all covered building service employees who receive satisfactory ratings. Excludes from coverage employees who earn more than $25 per hour, work less than 6 hours per week, or serve in a managerial, supervisory, or confidential capacity. Exempts from coverage those successor employers who are already or agree to become bound by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement that includes provisions that address the discharge or lay off of building service employees. Exempts any predecessor employer that obtains a written commitment from a successor employer providing that the successor employer's building service employees will be covered by a collective bargaining agreement that addresses the discharge or layoff of employees. Effective immediately.
Encourages the General Assembly to promptly review and evaluate the Report on Waiver of School Code Mandates filed by the State Board of Education to determine if the Report should be disapproved in whole or in part.
Creates a study committee to investigate and hold public hearings about the effects of U.S. trade policy on Illinois jobs and farms.
Creates the Department of Education Act and amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Illinois State Auditing Act, the Illinois Pension Code, and the School Code. Creates the Department of Education, with a Secretary of Education as its head. Provides that all of the rights, powers, duties, and functions vested by law in the State Board of Education or the State Superintendent of Education (except the State Board of Education's duty under the Illinois Constitution to appoint a chief State educational officer) are transferred to the Department of Education on July 1, 2005. Provides for the transfer of personnel and property. Requires the Auditor General to conduct a financial audit of the State Board of Education. Provides that the State Board of Education's powers and duties are limited by law, as provided in the Illinois Constitution, to only the following: (i) the State Board of Education shall research current educational best practices and policies and shall report its findings to the Department of Education, (ii) the State Board of Education shall provide suggestions to the Department of Education as to the long-range implications of the practices and policies, and (iii) the State Board of Education shall consult with the Department of Education on all matters related to education-related topics. Makes other changes. Certain provisions effective July 1, 2004; other provisions 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. Subject to appropriation, requires the Department of Public Health to develop a comprehensive statewide asthma management plan to (i) reduce the rate of hospitalizations due to asthma and (ii) facilitate the effective management of asthma in persons with asthma. Requires the Department to implement programs to meet the objectives of the statewide asthma management plan. Provides for the use of moneys from the Tobacco Settlement Recovery Fund to implement the statewide asthma management plan.
Creates the Health Care Justice Act. Provides that the State of Illinois shall implement a health care plan that provides access to a full range of preventive, acute, and long-term health care services. Establishes the Bipartisan Health Care Reform Commission with members appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders. Provides for public hearings and a report by the Commission. Requires a preliminary report by February 1, 2005 and a final report by February 1, 2006. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Consortium for Educational Opportunity Act. Changes the short title to the Diversifying Faculty in Illinois Program Act. Makes changes concerning the definition of "institution of higher education", the Program Board, assistance to graduates, subcommittees, reporting, grants, and other matters. Effective July 1, 2004.
Amends the School Code. Provides that no student shall receive a regular diploma without taking the Prairie State Achievement Exam. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to report to the State Board of Education on a monthly basis the annual student dropout rate (now does not need to be reported every month) and the number of students who graduate, transfer, or otherwise leave.
