Sen. Iris Y. Martinez

Amends the School Code. Sets requirements for competitive foods served as part of the school food program. Competitive foods are those that compete with the basic nutritional meals that are a part of the school lunch program prepared in the school cafeteria. Requires the State Board to prepare and distribute a list of products that meet the guidelines. Effective September 1, 2004.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions that authorize a partial exemption from property taxes for homestead properties that have been improved and residential structures on homestead property that have been rebuilt following a catastrophic event, changes the limit to $75,000 per year for that homestead property beginning January 1, 2004 and thereafter (now, $45,000 per year). Provides that the exemption shall continue until the homestead property is sold or otherwise transferred (now, for 4 years from the date the improvement or rebuilding is completed and occupied, or until the next following general assessment of that property, whichever is later). Effective immediately.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Makes a technical change in a Section regarding preliminary orders concerning an examination of an alleged abused or neglected child.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act to require coverage under those Acts for surgical treatment of morbid obesity.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates a homestead improvement exemption for the installation and maintenance of a residential fire safety sprinkler system. Provides that homestead properties that have been improved with a fire safety sprinkler system after January 1, 2004 are entitled to a fire safety sprinkler homestead improvement exemption, limited to $2,500 or the actual cost of installation, whichever is less, for the year that the system is installed, and $100 each year thereafter that the system remains in place, when that property is owned and used exclusively for a residential purpose. Further amends the Property Tax Code and the Criminal Code of 1961 to add cross-references. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement from the State. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. With respect to real estate transactions, prohibits discrimination on the basis of source of income. Effective immediately.

Creates the Physical Fitness Facility Medical Emergency Preparedness Act. Requires various physical fitness facilities, including (i) facilities owned or operated by a unit of local government or by a school, college, or university, (ii) golf courses, and (iii) health or fitness clubs, to develop and implement a plan for responding to medical emergencies and to file a copy of the plan with the Department of Public Health. Requires each such facility to have on its premises at least one automated external defibrillator (AED) and a trained AED user. Authorizes the Department of Public Health to inspect physical fitness facilities to investigate complaints and to ensure compliance with the Act. Authorizes the Department to impose monetary penalties for violations of the Act. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act to provide a tax exemption for private physical fitness facilities in connection with the purchase of AEDs.

Amends the Attorney General Act. Requires the Attorney General to establish within its criminal division an Office of Civil Rights to investigate official misconduct by the Attorney General, state's attorneys, attorneys employed by the Attorney General, and attorneys employed by state's attorneys.

Provides for the ratification of the proposed equal rights amendment to the United States Constitution.

Appropriates $500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for grants to the Gilead Outreach and Referral Center. Effective July 1, 2004.