Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to file an annual report with the Governor and the General Assembly that details the disparate impact of various provisions of the TANF program on Whites, Blacks/African Americans, and Latinos. Sets forth matters to be included in the report. 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.
Amends the Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Act. Increases a personal care attendant's minimum hourly wage to $6 beginning July 1, 2003, and $7 beginning January 1, 2004. Effective July 1, 2003.
Creates the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Prescription Drug Discount Program Act. Provides that the Program shall be administered by the Department of Central Management Services to enable eligible senior citizens and disabled persons to purchase prescription drugs at discounted prices and that the Department shall (i) enroll eligible seniors and disabled persons into the Program, (ii) enter into rebate agreements with drug manufacturers, either itself or through an agent, and (iii) reimburse pharmacies for the cost of providing discounts using the proceeds from the manufacturer rebate agreements. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Prescription Drug Discount Program Fund into which rebate payments and enrollment fees shall be deposited. Provides for an initial transfer from the General Revenue Fund into the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Prescription Drug Discount Program Fund of $27,000,000 to be repaid to the General Revenue Fund out of rebate payments. Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department shall establish a Prescription Drug Purchasing Policy Office to determine and implement strategies for best price purchasing practices for State agencies that pay for prescription drugs by direct purchase or by other arrangements. Effective July 1, 2003.
Amends the State Finance Act, the School Code, and the Private Business and Vocational Schools Act. Extends the repeal date of provisions creating the State Board of Education Fund, the State Board of Education Special Purpose Trust Fund, and the Private Business and Vocational Schools Fund (from July 16, 2003 to July 16, 2007). Extends the repeal date of a Section requiring the establishment of the Chicago Schools Academic Accountability Council (from June 30, 2004 to June 30, 2009). Effective immediately.
Creates the Nutrition Outreach and Public Education Act. Establishes a nutrition outreach and public education program within the Department of Public Health to enroll targeted populations in federal food and nutrition assistance programs and to promote the fuller implementation and utilization of such programs in unserved or underserved areas. Authorizes grants to community-based organizations for outreach activities. Requires an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that if a taxpayer receives a tax bill for any property or portion of property that was omitted for 2 or more years from assessment, the tax bill for the omitted property must be paid within 16 months after the date the taxpayer receives the tax bill and that no interest may be imposed on the tax bill for the omitted property during that 16-month period. Provides that, after the 16-month period, interest shall be charged as with all other delinquent tax bills. Effective immediately.
Amends the Language Assistance Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Transmitters of Money Act. Includes stored value cards within the scope of the Act. Requires license applicants to submit fingerprints. Increases application and other fees. Increases penalties. Provides that a person who is unlicensed and who engages in conduct for which a license is required shall be liable to a consumer in an amount equal to 4 times the amount accepted for transmission. Requires licensees to submit additional information regarding proposed authorized sellers to the Department of Financial Institutions before the proposed authorized seller may act on behalf of the licensee. Requires licensees to file with the Department Cash Transaction Reports and Suspicious Activity Reports that are required to be filed with the federal government. Creates the TOMA Consumer Protection Fund as a special Fund in the State treasury. Provides for an assessment of $0.01 per money transmission to be paid into the Fund. Provides for moneys in the Fund to be used to reimburse consumers who suffer losses arising out of regulated transactions. Amends the State Finance Act to add the TOMA Consumer Protection Fund to the list of special funds. Effective July 1, 2003.
Amends the Guide Dog Access Act. Provides that persons with a seizure-alert or seizure-response dog may not be denied the right of entry to any public place of accommodation if the dog is wearing a harness and the person presents credentials for inspection issued by a school for training the seizure-alert or seizure-response dog. Amends the White Cane Law. Provides that a seizure-alert or seizure-response dog may accompany a person subject to epilepsy or other seizures disorders or a trainer to the listed places without having to pay an extra charge for the dog.
