Sen. Iris Y. Martinez

Creates the Inclusion of Women and Minorities in Clinical Research Act. Provides that in conducting or supporting a project of clinical research, a grantee receiving State funds must ensure that women and members of minority groups are included as subjects in research projects. Provides that a grantee must conduct or support outreach programs for the recruitment of women and members of minority groups as subjects in projects of clinical research. Provides for exceptions.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Public Health to establish and maintain a program to accept reports of asthma cases occurring in the State. Requires physicians and certain health care facilities to give notice to the Department of every case of asthma coming under their care. Sets forth the duties of the Department in administering the program. Requires the Department to submit annual reports to the General Assembly concerning the program. Contains other provisions.

Creates the Cultural and Linguistic Competency of Physicians Act. Creates the Cultural and Linguistic Physician Competency Program to be operated by local medical societies of the Illinois State Medical Society and monitored by the Department of Professional Regulation. Provides that the program is voluntary and shall consist of educational classes designed to teach physicians (1) a foreign language at the level of proficiency that initially improves their ability to communicate with non-English speaking patients, (2) understanding and applying the roles that culture, ethnicity, and race play in diagnosis, treatment, and clinical care, and (3) awareness of how the attitudes, values, and beliefs of health care providers and patients influence and impact professional and patient relations. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that TANF may be paid for no more than 6 months on behalf of a person under 18 who has never married and who has a child or is pregnant, unless the person resides with a parent or in another specified living arrangement (instead of providing that no aid may be paid on behalf of such a person). Eliminates a provision authorizing the Department of Human Services to adopt rules setting forth criteria under which an assistance unit is ineligible for TANF for a specified number of months due to the receipt of a lump sum payment. Eliminates provisions concerning a prohibition on an increase in TANF aid solely on account of the birth of a child. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Increases the compulsory school age from 16 to 18 years of age (unless the child has already graduated from high school). Makes related changes.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that a Firearm Owner's Identification Card (FOID Card) may not be issued to a person who, in this or any other jurisdiction, is on bond or awaiting a preliminary hearing, trial, or sentencing for the commission of a felony, domestic battery, a deadly weapons offense under the Criminal Code of 1961, or a violation of this Act or substantially similar laws of another jurisdiction pertaining to firearms. Provides that an applicant for a FOID Card must be fingerprinted and photographed by a law enforcement agency and must also complete a basic firearms safety test. Provides conditions for the issuance of a FOID Card to minors. Provides that every applicant for a FOID Card must provide a password or other private information to be used by a firearms dealer to verify the identity of a person seeking to acquire a firearm. Increases the fee for a FOID Card from $5 to $25. Provides that a FOID Card is valid for one year (instead of 5). Makes other changes.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning bail on a new trial.

Amends the Poison Control System Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to establish a funding formula for the Poison Control System. Provides that the formula must increase or decrease the annual funding amount to match any increase or decrease in the consumer price index as reported on January 1 of each year. Provides that the State shall continue to provide funding to the Illinois Poison Control System on an annual basis in furtherance of the goals of the funding formula. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Insurance Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall require, by rule, all health care plans to assess the linguistic needs of the enrollee population, excluding Medicaid enrollees, and to provide for translation and interpretation for medical services, as indicated. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning child care for TANF recipients, provides that beginning July 1, 2004, the rates paid by the Department of Human Services to all providers of child care services who are licensed under the Child Care Act of 1969 shall be increased by an amount equal to 2% of the rates in effect on June 30, 2004. Effective July 1, 2004.