Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires insurers to cover treatment of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and posttraumatic stress disorder as serious mental illnesses. Effective immediately.
Creates the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact Act. Provides that this State and the other contracting states solemnly agree to the terms of the compact, whose purposes include the promotion of development and implementation of improvements to intercity passenger rail service in the Midwest. Establishes a Commission, with 4 members from each contracting state, serving without compensation from the Commission, to carry out the purposes of the compact. Provides for the election of Commission officers, for meetings and Commission administration, and for financing of the operations of the Commission by the compacting states. Provides that the compact becomes effective among the contracting states upon the agreement of 3 eligible states to participate. Provides for the admission of additional states to the compact, amendment of the compact, the withdrawal, default, or termination of contracting states, and construction and severability of the compact.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires insurers to reimburse repair facilities directly for the costs of repairs related to a claim when there is a lien on the vehicle repaired and the insurer has notice of the lien. Prohibits insureds or claimants from taking an interest in money paid directly to repair facilities.
Makes appropriations to the Auditor General for (i) ordinary and contingent expenses, from the General Revenue Fund, and (ii) audits, studies, and investigations, from the Audit Expense Fund. Effective July 1, 2006.
Amends the Illinois Rural/Downstate Health Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Creates the Power for Jobs Act. Contains only a short title provision.
Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Expands the fire truck revolving loan program to include EMS service vehicles. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes.
Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that no person may bring a civil suit based on potential nuisance with respect to a proposed livestock management facility until all required federal, State, and local permits and approvals for the proposed facility have been granted. Provides that, from the time when all required federal, State, and local permits and approvals have been granted until animals are present and operations have actually begun at the proposed facility, it shall be presumed that a proposed livestock management facility can be lawfully operated in accordance with those permits. Includes related findings and declarations. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish a new principal mentoring program to allow experienced principals to serve as mentors to new principals during their first year as a principal. Provides for an alternative route to administrative certification for certain National Board certified teachers. Provides that continuing professional development for renewal of an administrative certificate must include (i) completion of an Administrators' Academy course in each of the 6 Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium standard areas in the first 5 years of serving as an administrator in a position that requires certification and (ii) if the certificate holder evaluates certified staff, completion of a one-day teacher evaluation course and participation in an additional 6 hours of Administrators' Academy-approved coursework. Deletes a provision requiring certificate holders who evaluate certified staff to complete a 2-day teacher evaluation course. Creates a teacher leader endorsement and sets forth requirements for that endorsement. Requires the State Board to certify one statewide organization representing principals, with input from institutions of higher education, and one school district or organization representing principals in the Chicago school district, with input from institutions of higher education, to establish a master principal designation program. Sets forth requirements for the program. Establishes a task force to review the Illinois Administrators' Academy and recommend revisions to the program. Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year and each school year thereafter, requires each school district to establish a principal evaluation plan. Sets forth requirements for the evaluation plan and provides that failure to evaluate a principal at least once during the term of the principal's contract is evidence that the principal is performing his or her duties and responsibilities in at least a satisfactory manner and serves to automatically extend the principal's contract for a period of one year after the contract would otherwise expire, under the same terms and conditions as the prior contract. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
