Sen. Paul Schimpf

Amends Public Act 99-524 to make supplemental appropriations. Reduces certain appropriations from the Commitment to Human Services Fund for funeral and burial expenses from $8,775,000 to $575,000. Appropriates $8,200,000 from the Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund for those funeral and burial expenses. Appropriates $18, 635,000 from the Commitment to Human Services Fund to the Department of Human Services for costs associated with the Domestic Violence Shelters and Services Program. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Southwest Illinois Connector Task Force to study the cost, feasibility, and environmental impact of the proposed four lane divided highway, the short and long term economic impact to the region, and all options for funding both public and private.

Makes appropriations to various agencies for prior year costs for personal services and State contributions to Social Security. Effective immediately .

Mourns the death of Billy Duane "Bill" Jackson of Anna.

Amends the Abandoned Mined Lands and Water Reclamation Act. Provides that expenditures on abandoned lands may be used for the restoration of land and water resources and the environment that have been degraded by the adverse effects of coal mining practices and are adjacent to a site. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources may set aside up to 30 percent of each year's allocation of available abandoned mine reclamation funds distributed annually from the State share and historic coal share funds into a separate fund for the abatement of the causes and treatment of the effects of acid mine drainage in a comprehensive manner within qualified hydrologic units affected by coal mining practices. Provides that these funds shall be deposited into a special State account and will be used and accounted for in accordance with all applicable State and federal regulations used solely to achieve the priorities stated in Title IV of the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. Repeals a provision providing that open and abandoned tunnels, shafts, and entryways and abandoned and deteriorating equipment, structures, and facilities resulting from any previous non-coal mining operations constitute a hazard to the public health and safety. Defines "qualified hydrologic unit". Makes other changes.

Amends the Higher Education Veterans Service Act. Requires a public college or university to use its best efforts to hire a veteran of the armed services as the Coordinator of Veterans and Military Personnel Student Services. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that disenrollment of a Medicaid enrollee from a managed care organization under contract with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall be in accordance with specified federal requirements whenever a contract is terminated between a Medicaid managed care health plan and a primary care provider that results in a disruption to the Medicaid enrollee's provider-beneficiary relationship. Effective immediately.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that a crime victim shall be allowed to present an oral or written statement in any case in which: (1) a juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent for a violent crime after a bench or jury trial; or (2) the petition alleged the commission of a violent crime and the juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent under a plea agreement of a crime that is not a violent crime. Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Makes changes to the definitions of "sentence", "sentencing", and "court proceeding". Defines "status hearing" and "support person". Provides that a party who intends to call an advocate as a witness at trial must seek permission of the court before the subpoena is issued. Provides that the party must file a written motion at least 90 days before trial that sets forth specifically the issues on which the advocate's testimony is sought and an offer of proof regarding: (1) the content of the anticipated testimony of the advocate; and (2) the relevance, admissibility, and materiality of the anticipated testimony in sufficient time to allow the court to rule and the victim to seek appellate review. Provides that if a victim has asserted the right to have a support person present at the court proceedings, the victim shall provide the name of the person the victim has chosen to be the victim's support person to the prosecuting attorney, who shall provide the name to defendant. Provides that if the defendant intends to call the support person as a witness at trial, the defendant must seek permission of the court before a subpoena is issued. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the court shall allow a victim to make an oral statement if the victim is present in the courtroom and requests to make an oral statement. Provides that an oral statement includes the victim or a representative of the victim reading the written statement. Provides that victim and any person making an oral statement shall not be put under oath or subject to cross-examination. Makes other changes.

Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Provides that a non-veteran spouse shall only have the same priority for admission to a Veterans Home as a veteran if the non-veteran spouse and his or her veteran spouse are admitted at the same to live together at the Veterans Home. Makes corresponding changes in provisions concerning the admission of a spouse to the Illinois Veterans Homes at Anna or Quincy.

Amends the Illinois Physical Therapy Act. Provides that the limitation on determining a differential diagnosis shall not in any manner limit a physical therapist from establishing a relevant diagnosis. In the definition of "documented current and relevant diagnosis" and in provisions concerning disciplinary actions, removes language requiring a diagnosis to be substantiated by a physician, dentist, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or podiatric physician. Effective immediately.