Sen. Wendell E. Jones

Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and the Department of Human Services Act. Creates the Department of Community Disability Health Care and the Department of State Facilities for Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health. Renames the Department of Human Services as the Department of Social Services and Welfare. Transfers certain programs from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Community Disability Health Care and certain other programs to the Department of State Facilities for Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health. Effective July 1, 2005.

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 School Code. In the provisions for State reimbursement to school districts for furnishing special educational facilities to children with disabilities, increases the annual maximum reimbursement (i) for a teacher, professional worker, full time qualified director, and school psychologist, from $8,000 to $13,795 per person for the 2004-2005 school year, with a 2% increase in this amount each school year thereafter, (ii) for a reader, from $400 to $665 per child for the 2004-2005 school year, with a 2% increase in this amount each school year thereafter, and (iii) for non-certified employees, from $2,800 to $4,670 per employee for the 2004-2005 school year, with a 2% increase in this amount each school year thereafter. Effective July 1, 2004.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Adds to the existing exemption from property taxes for certain disabled veterans, an exemption for property up to an assessed value of $58,000, owned and used exclusively by a disabled veteran or the spouse or unmarried surviving spouse of the veteran if the disabled veteran (or surviving spouse, as applicable) (i) is receiving disability compensation, rated at 50% or higher, from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, (ii) is age 65 or older in the taxable year, (iii) is not employed, and (iv) has no children under the age of 21. Applicable to taxable years 2003 and thereafter. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Mandates Act. Changes references concerning the implementation of service mandates, tax exemption mandates, and personnel mandates. Provides that the appropriate State entity shall determine within 90 days after receiving a claim for reimbursement whether the claim is reimbursable under the Act and shall notify each local government filing a claim of its determination. If the appropriate State entity fails to notify the local government concerning its claim within 90 days, the local government shall assume the claim is reimbursable. Failure to timely notify the local government relieves the local government of the obligation to implement the mandate. Places identical decision and notification requirements on the State Mandates Board of Review with respect to appeals it handles. Removes provisions authorizing direct appeal to the State Mandates Board of Review if the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity does not respond to a claim for reimbursement within 120 days. Provides that members of the State Mandates Board of Review shall have experience in local government finance. Effective immediately.

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides for minimum staffing standards for any dedicated unit within a nursing facility that provides treatment and care to residents with Alzheimer's Disease or dementia.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the general powers and duties of the Department.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if a municipality annexes part or all of the territory in which a township operates a sewerage system, the corporate authorities of the municipality shall assume responsibility for that portion of the sewerage system within the annexed territory. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Election Code and the School Code. Provides that the property of a polling place beyond the designated campaign-free zone is a public forum while the polling place is open on election day only if that area of the polling place is public property. Effective immediately.