Sen. Miguel del Valle

Amends the School Code. Sets forth provisions concerning education programs for gifted and talented children. Includes provisions concerning early identification, eligibility, program supervision, monitoring, and oversight, school improvement plans, an advisory council, grants for services and materials, contracts for experimental projects and institutes, and professional development for teachers as it relates to the education of gifted and talented children. Grants rulemaking authority to the State Board of Education. Effective July 1, 2005.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning State Urban Education Partnership Grants.

Creates the Payday Loan Reform Act. Provides that the Division of Financial Institutions of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall license and regulate entities that offer payday loans (loans under which a lender accepts a post-dated check, authorization to debit a consumer's bank account, or an interest in a consumer's wages as security for the loan). Establishes requirements and restrictions applicable to license applications and licensing. Contains provisions regarding: limitations, requirements, and disclosures applicable to loan agreements, terms of loans, finance charges, and renewal of loans; revocation, suspension, and surrender of licenses; information to be available to the public; complaint handling; hearings; books and records; reports; advertising; prohibited acts; bonding; administrative rules; and other matters. Amends the Financial Institutions Code to provide for the administration of the Payday Loan Reform Act. Amends the Consumer Installment Loan Act to provide that the Act does not apply to payday loans. Provides that a violation of the Payday Loan Reform Act constitutes a violation of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Effective immediately.

Urges NBC/Telemundo to negotiate a contract in good faith for WSNS-TV Telemundo broadcast journalists.

Urges the federal Department of Veterans Affairs and the Illinois Congressional delegation to address the inequities in disability benefits to Illinois veterans.

Directs the Auditor General to conduct a management audit of the State's Business Enterprise Program, concerning its compliance with the requirements and goals of the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disabilities Act, and of the Illinois Department of Transportation's participation in a similar federal program.

Amends the School Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning teacher certification.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the State aid formula.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, for inpatient and outpatient services provided on or after January 1, 2005, in addition to rates paid for inpatient and outpatient hospital services, the Department shall pay each hospital (except for county providers and hospitals licensed under the University of Illinois Hospital Act) an amount as determined by rule of the Department, to reimburse the hospital for the reasonable costs of complying with the Language Assistance Services Act that are attributable to serving Medicaid recipients. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Illinois Community College Board.