Amends the School Code. Provides that the required unit of instruction studying the events of the Holocaust shall be expanded to include the study of other events of genocide, including those in Ukraine, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Sudan. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Provides that, subject to appropriations for that purpose, the Department shall fund 2 service officer positions for each veterans service organization that maintains an office in the Veterans Affairs Regional Office (VARO) in Chicago. Provides that a service officer whose position is funded under these provisions shall be an employee of the veterans service organization with which the service officer is placed, and the service officer shall be under the direct control of that veterans service organization. Provides that such a service officer must be certified by the federal government in the manner in which the head service officer of each office is certified. Provides that to be eligible to receive any moneys for the funding of a service officer position under these provisions, a veterans service organization must have maintained a state headquarters in this State for at least 10 years before July 1, 2005. Provides that a veterans service organization that is being funded with State or county moneys under any other provision of law on the effective date of this amendatory Act may not receive any moneys for the funding of a service officer position under these provisions.
Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department shall create and maintain a program that generates awareness among Illinois small manufacturers regarding opportunities to bid for work on federal, State, and local government contracts.
Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and the State Finance Act. Creates the Autism Research Fund and provides that, from appropriations from the Fund, the Department of Public Health must make grants to public or private entities in Illinois for the purpose of funding research concerning the disorder of autism. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to create a tax checkoff for the Fund. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Designates the month of November of each year as Alzheimer's Awareness Month.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions requiring an insurer that provides coverage for hospital or medical expenses under a group policy of accident and health insurance or health care plan to provide coverage under the policy for treatment of serious mental illness under the same terms and conditions as coverage for hospital or medical expenses related to other illnesses and diseases (commonly referred to as "mental health parity"), eliminates the December 31, 2005 sunset date that applies to those provisions. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act. Provides that the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority may apply for, receive, establish priorities for, allocate, disburse, and spend grants of funds for assisting counties and municipalities in establishing and maintaining reentry programs. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Permits a county or municipality that maintains a jail or municipal house of corrections to establish a program for the reentry into the community of felony offenders who are within one year of their release from prison. Provides that an offender must demonstrate a willingness to engage in employment or participate in vocational rehabilitation or job skills training and meet any existing obligation for restitution to any victim of his or her crime. Establishes various services that will be provided to participants in the program. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall establish standards for and shall inspect facilities that house participants in the reentry programs. Provides that the Department of Corrections may make construction and renovation grants for these facilities.
Amends the Military Code of Illinois. Provides that on or after July 1, 2006, if the Adjutant General determines that Illinois National Guard personnel are not available to perform military funeral honors, the Adjutant General may authorize another appropriate organization to provide one or more of its members to perform those honors and, subject to appropriations for that purpose, shall authorize the payment of a $100 stipend to the organization. Provides that the Code does not establish any entitlement to military funeral honors if the Adjutant General determines that such other appropriate personnel are not available to perform those honors or if adequate appropriated funds are not available. Effective July 1, 2006.
Amends the Family Caregiver Act. Makes the Act applicable to family caregivers for adults over age 18 who are disabled. Effective immediately.
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that an order of protection may also be issued when the alleged offender and victim are family or household members and the alleged violation is unlawful restraint, aggravated unlawful restraint, child pornography, domestic battery, aggravated battery of a senior citizen, interfering with reporting of domestic violence, stalking, aggravated stalking, cyberstalking, criminal trespass to a residence, criminal damage to property, criminal trespass to a vehicle, criminal trespass to real property, disorderly conduct, or harassment by telephone.
