Sen. Susan Garrett

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

Creates the Statewide Health Improvement Plan Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Creates the Elder Care Savings Fund Act and amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Authorizes the State Treasurer to establish an Elder Care Savings Fund, in which individuals may invest. Provides that income on investments in the fund are exempt from all State and local taxation, except for estate, transfer, and inheritance taxes. Directs the Governor and the Director of the Bureau of the Budget to provide for a grant program of additional financial incentives to encourage persons' use of their investments in the fund for various types of long-term care. Requires the Treasurer, in cooperation with the Department on Aging and area agencies on aging, to develop a public education program concerning the financing of long-term health care. Creates the Elder Care Trust Authority to advise the Elder Care Savings Fund staff and to assess the program's effectiveness. Effective immediately.

Creates the Freedom of Choice Act and amends the Illinois Abortion Law of 1975. Establishes a State policy recognizing a woman's reproductive rights. Prohibits State agencies and units of local government (including home rule units) from restricting a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy before fetal viability or at any time if medically necessary. Repeals a Section declaring that the General Assembly would prohibit all abortions unless necessary for the preservation of a woman's life if Roe v. Wade is overruled or significantly modified. Effective immediately.

Creates the Executive Branch Boards and Commissions Appointment Act. Provides that no person may be appointed to an executive board or commission unless his or her background indicates that he or she possesses the qualifications necessary to adequately perform the duties of the position to which he or she seeks appointment. Provides that all applicants for appointment to any executive board or commission must submit a resume or curriculum vitae to the appointing authority and to any ethics commission of the executive branch. Requires that a description of the duties and functions of each position on an executive board or commission be published on the Internet web site of that board or commission or otherwise be made available to the public if no web site exists. Provides that no family member of any elected official may be considered for appointment to an executive branch board or commission.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Department's powers and duties.

Amends the Department of Public Health Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning certain appropriations to the Department.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services, in consultation with its Child Care and Development Advisory Council, to develop a comprehensive plan to revise the State's rates for the various types of child care provided for TANF recipients. Requires completion of the plan by September 30, 2004. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act. Requires counties located within the area served by the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission and having a population over 400,000 to enter into intergovernmental agreements setting standards to control stormwater runoff so as not to cause flood damage in adjacent counties. Directs the Department of Transportation, upon petition, to adopt the standards if an agreement is not created. Provides for the adoption and implementation of a Cook County stormwater management plan by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Authorizes the District to implement the plan throughout the county. Authorizes the District to impose fees on areas outside the District but within the County. Authorizes a special tax levy for stormwater management purposes and reduces the District's authorized tax levy for general corporate purposes by a corresponding amount. Preempts some home rule powers. Amends the Property Tax Code to exclude the stormwater management tax from the tax caps imposed under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Water District Act, the Water Service District Act, the Water Authorities Act, and the Water Commission Act of 1985. Requires a public water district, water service district, water authority, or water commission that issues a boil order or any other warning concerning the potability or safety of water to immediately give written notification to any county health department that serves an area subject to the order or warning. Requires the notification to include the estimated duration of the warning or order and the geographic area covered by the order or warning. Effective immediately.