Sen. Iris Y. Martinez

Amends the School Code. In calculating supplemental general State aid, provides that, for the 2003-2004 school year and each school year thereafter, "Low-Income Concentration Level" is the low-income eligible pupil count from the most recently available federal census or the low-income eligible pupil count determined by the Department of Human Services based on those students who are eligible for food stamps or Medicaid, whichever pupil count is greater, divided by the Average Daily Attendance of the school district. Effective July 1, 2003.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a municipality may enact a local retail theft ordinance for the retail theft of property with a value of $150 or less. Provides that the ordinance may not apply to individuals previously convicted of theft, robbery, armed robbery, burglary, residential burglary, possession of burglary tools, or home invasion. Requires the municipality to keep a record of all individuals convicted under the local retail theft ordinance. Requires the municipality to furnish a copy of all retail theft convictions to the State's Attorney.

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Requires the court to modify the child support and maintenance obligation of any member of the National Guard or Reserves of the United States Armed Forces who is called up to active duty, by the same proportion that the soldier's military pay falls below his or her civilian pay, provided that the motion for modification is filed within 180 days of the soldier's discharge from active duty. Provides that the modification shall be retroactive to the date that the soldier reported to active duty and shall continue until his or her discharge from active duty. Effective immediately.

Creates a Senate Teen Poverty Task Force.

Creates the Displaced Building Service Workers Protection Act. Provides protections to building service employees who are regularly assigned to a covered building on a full or part-time basis for at least 90 days immediately preceding a transition in employment and who perform work in connection with the care or maintenance of an existing building. Provides that a successor building owner, manager, or contractor shall be required to offer employment to the predecessor employer's incumbent building service employees, subject to the existence of cause, for a period of 90 days following the transition at the affected building. Provides that at the end of the 90 day transition period, the successor employer perform written performance evaluations and offer continued employment to all covered building service employees who receive satisfactory ratings. Excludes from coverage employees who earn more than $25 per hour, work less than 6 hours per week, or serve in a managerial, supervisory, or confidential capacity. Exempts from coverage those successor employers who are already or agree to become bound by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement that includes provisions that address the discharge or lay off of building service employees. Exempts any predecessor employer that obtains a written commitment from a successor employer providing that the successor employer's building service employees will be covered by a collective bargaining agreement that addresses the discharge or layoff of employees. Effective immediately.

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 Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department to establish the Illinois Transit Ridership and Economic Development Pilot Project Program. Under the Program, requires the Department, beginning in fiscal year 2004, to fund a maximum of 8 pilot projects to increase Illinois transit service and facilities. Effective immediately.

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 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.

Amends the School Code. In the State aid formula provisions, increases the foundation level of support from $4,810 to $5,060. Effective July 1, 2004.