Sen. Iris Y. Martinez

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning downstate police.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that vehicles properly registered in another state and displaying a valid registration plate are required to undergo safety inspection if they are vehicles of a contract carrier transporting employees in the course of their employment on a highway of this State in a vehicle designed to carry 15 or fewer passengers.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Makes a technical change in a Section defining "economic opportunity".

Amends the Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Act. Increases a personal care attendant's minimum hourly wage to $6 beginning July 1, 2003, and $7 beginning January 1, 2004. Effective July 1, 2003.

Creates the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Prescription Drug Discount Program Act. Provides that the Program shall be administered by the Department of Central Management Services to enable eligible senior citizens and disabled persons to purchase prescription drugs at discounted prices and that the Department shall (i) enroll eligible seniors and disabled persons into the Program, (ii) enter into rebate agreements with drug manufacturers, either itself or through an agent, and (iii) reimburse pharmacies for the cost of providing discounts using the proceeds from the manufacturer rebate agreements. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Prescription Drug Discount Program Fund into which rebate payments and enrollment fees shall be deposited. Provides for an initial transfer from the General Revenue Fund into the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Prescription Drug Discount Program Fund of $27,000,000 to be repaid to the General Revenue Fund out of rebate payments. Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department shall establish a Prescription Drug Purchasing Policy Office to determine and implement strategies for best price purchasing practices for State agencies that pay for prescription drugs by direct purchase or by other arrangements. Effective July 1, 2003.

Creates the Illinois Housing Initiative Act of 2003. Requires that a task force, composed of all key State agencies with functions related to housing and other experts in housing, develop an annual comprehensive housing plan that prioritizes the development of a range of permanent housing for certain underserved populations, including low-income and homeless persons. Creates the Illinois Housing Initiative, to be in effect through December 31, 2008, to coordinate and streamline the allocation of available housing resources to make it possible to prioritize the development of housing for underserved populations in accordance with the annual comprehensive housing plan. Provides for funding for housing construction and rehabilitation and supportive services. Requires every municipality to create a local housing development plan.

Creates the Statewide Health Improvement Plan Act. Requires the Governor to deliver a Statewide Health Improvement Plan to the General Assembly by January 1, 2005. Designates certain State agencies and a bi-partisan Task Force to be appointed by the Governor to assist in developing the Plan.

Amends the Federally Subsidized Housing Preservation Act. Changes the short title to the Federally Assisted Housing Preservation Act, and replaces references to "subsidized housing" with references to "assisted housing". Requires the owner of an assisted housing development to give 12 (instead of 6) months notice of the owner's intent to sell or otherwise dispose of the assisted housing; also requires notice of the owner's intent to complete prepayment or terminate a subsidy contract or rental restrictions. Provides for representation of a tenant association by a not-for-profit corporation or private purchaser. Requires that the owner offer the property for sale to a tenant association within 60 days after the association has complied with the requirements of the Act concerning notice to the owner. Requires that a tenant association notify the owner of its intent to purchase the property within 90 (instead of 30) days after receiving the owner's offer of sale. Effective immediately.

Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. Prohibits the imposition of fees upon a consumer for the use of a Link card or other access device used to obtain benefits under the Illinois Public Aid Code.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.