Sen. William Delgado

Amends the School Code. In a provision concerning the United States citizenship requirement for teacher certification, allows the State Superintendent of Education to extend the 6-year time limit for becoming a U.S. citizen for a period of 2 years if the person certifies his or her intention to become a U.S. citizen and furnishes proof that he or she has filed an application for citizenship. Provides that upon the expiration of this extension period, the State Superintendent of Education may grant an additional extension of 2 years upon proof that the person's application for citizenship is pending.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department shall not impose requirements for prior approval based on a preferred drug list for any short-acting beta agonists used as rescue therapy in the treatment of life-threatening conditions due to acute bronchospasm in patients with reversible obstructive airway disease that results from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services, in consultation with its Child Care and Development Advisory Council, to develop a comprehensive plan to revise the State's rates for the various types of child care provided for TANF recipients. Requires completion of the plan by September 30, 2004. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Public Aid may not establish any formulary limits on, or restrict by any prior authorization requirement, any insulin prescription drug as prescribed and determined to be medically necessary for the treatment of diabetes. Effective July 1, 2004.

Creates the Comprehensive Housing, Health, and Supportive Services for Older Adults Act and amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act, the State Finance Act, and the Nursing Home Care Act. Requires the Director of Public Health, in coordination with the Director of Aging and the Director of Public Aid, to monitor and analyze the distribution of housing and services for older adults in the different geographic areas of the State and implement corrective action plans by July 1, 2005. Provides for a program for conversion of nursing homes to assisted living or shared housing establishments; makes such conversions exempt from the requirements of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act, and provides for transition planning grants to nursing homes making such conversions. Creates special funds in the State treasury for use in implementing the Comprehensive Housing, Health, and Supportive Services for Older Adults Act. Provides for transfers from the Long Term Care Monitor/Receiver Fund to the new Nursing Home Conversion Fund and the new Nursing Home Transition Planning Grant Fund. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Makes a technical change in a Section requiring the Department of Corrections to designate those institutions and facilities that are maintained for persons assigned as adults and as juveniles.

Amends the State Appellate Defender Act. Provides that the State Appellate Defender may hire investigators to provide investigative services to appointed counsel and county public defenders. Provides that investigators employed by the Death Penalty Trial Assistance and Capital Litigation Division of the State Appellate Defender shall be authorized to inquire with the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS) to ascertain whether their potential witnesses have a criminal background. Provides that the authorization applies only to information held on the State level and shall be used only to protect the personal safety of the investigators. Provides that any information that is obtained through this inquiry may not be disclosed by the investigators.

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 Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Act and the Excellence in Academic Medicine Act. Provides that Alzheimer's disease and related disorders affect an estimated 4,500,000 (rather than 1,500,000) Americans and approximately 200,000 (rather than 111,000) Illinois citizens. Provides that the Alzheimer's Disease Advisory Committee shall review and evaluate State programs and services provided by State agencies that are directed toward persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and recommend changes to improve the State's response to this health problem. Provides that payments to hospitals affiliated with each Regional Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Center shall be effected through the Illinois Department of Public Aid under the Excellence in Academic Medicine Act. Creates the Alzheimer's Disease Center Fund (and amends the State Finance Act to include the fund as a special fund in the State treasury). Creates an Alzheimer's Disease Center Program to provide financial incentives to the Regional Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Centers established under the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Act.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that regional long term care ombudsman programs may use trained volunteers to make routine visits to facilities licensed or certified under the Nursing Home Care Act, the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, and the Social Security Act or to any other facility for which long term care ombudsmen are obligated to visit either by federal or State law. Sets forth requirements for the volunteers. Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Includes a trained-volunteer program operated by a regional long term care ombudsman program within the definition of "health care employer". Effective immediately.