Sen. Susan Garrett

Amends the Illinois Groundwater Protection Act. Requires the Department of Natural Resources to develop a program to require and issue permits for high-capacity wells and community water supply systems. Sets forth requirements for the program. Requires the Department to adopt rules to implement the program no later than December 31, 2005. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Changes the prohibitions against interests in State contracts by State officials and employees. Imposes the prohibition on any paid member of an executive branch board or commission, regardless of salary amount. Changes the minimum salary trigger for application of the prohibition to other State appointees and employees to more than 35% of the Governor's salary. Applies the prohibition to spouses and immediate family members. Applies the prohibitions to all State contracts with State entities, as well as those paid with State appropriations. Applies the prohibitions to subcontracts. Provides that the maximum penalty for violation is 10% of the contract or subcontract price (now, $5,000).

Amends the Compensation Review Act. Prohibits persons whose compensation is determined by the Compensation Review Board from receiving cost of living adjustments authorized by Senate Joint Resolution 192 of the 86th General Assembly for or during fiscal year 2005. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Provides that any maintenance obligation including any unallocated maintenance and child support obligation that becomes due and remains unpaid for 30 days or more shall accrue simple interest at the rate of 9% per annum.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Requires the Secretary of State to convert into electronic format and to post on his or her web site statements of economic interests filed with the Secretary. Removes the requirement that persons be notified when their filed statements are viewed.

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.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education, in coordination with the Illinois Board of Higher Education, shall implement a Giant Steps Autism Center for Excellence program for the study and evaluation of autism and to provide related teacher training and other services. The program shall be operated over a period of 3 school years, beginning with the 2004-2005 school year. The State Board of Education is authorized to make grants to school districts that apply to participate in the Giant Steps Autism Center for Excellence program. The State Board of Education shall by rule provide the form of application and criteria to be used and applied in selecting participating school districts. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging by providing that, beginning July 1, 2004, vendors of homemaker, chore, and housekeeping services shall receive a rate increase of $1.16 per hour if at least $0.86 of that increase is used to increase the wages of homemakers and chore housekeepers. Provides that vendors receiving this increase must submit proof to the Department, either (i) by a an audited supplemental to the Direct Service Workers cost report or (ii) by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, that they have increased homemakers' and chore housekeepers' wages by $0.86 per hour. Effective on July 1, 2004.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning State goals and assessment.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law in the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning a regional transportation task force.