Amends the Children's Health Insurance Program Act to extend the sunset date for the Act from July 1, 2003 to July 1, 2006. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Repeals provisions concerning the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program. Provides instead that the State Board of Education shall make reading improvement grants to school districts in order to improve the reading and study skills of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade (from a separate appropriation made for these purposes). Provides that the State Board may use up to 2% of the appropriation for the purpose of providing teacher training and retraining. Provides that of the remaining funds (i) up to the first $5,000,000 in new funds in the 2003-2004 school year shall be distributed to districts serving grades 7 through 12 and (ii) the remainder of the appropriation shall be distributed to districts serving kindergarten through grade 6. Includes provisions concerning application requirements, reporting assessment results, eligibility in the third or subsequent years, requirements for the use of grants, and reporting results to the General Assembly. Effective July 1, 2003.
Creates the Senior Citizen Prescription Drug Discount Program Act. Provides that the Program shall be administered by the Department of Central Management Services to enable eligible senior citizens to purchase prescription drugs at discounted prices and that the Department shall (i) enroll eligible seniors into the Program, (ii) enter into rebate agreements with drug manufacturers, either itself or through an agent, and (iii) reimburse pharmacies for the cost of providing discounts using the proceeds from the manufacturer rebate agreements. Eligible seniors are persons who are Illinois residents and who are 65 years of age or older. Establishes a prescription pricing formula. Sets guidelines for the rebate agreements. Establishes application requirements for seniors and eligibility requirements for pharmacies. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Senior Citizen Prescription Drug Discount Program Fund into which rebate payments and enrollment fees shall be deposited. Provides for an initial transfer from the General Revenue Fund into the Drug Discount Program Fund of $27,000,000 to be repaid to the General Revenue Fund out of rebate payments. Effective July 1, 2003.
Congratulates Dr. John A. Metzger on the occasion of his retirement as Superintendent of Johnston City Schools.
Congratulates John and Glenda Adams on the occasion of their fiftieth wedding anniversary.
Creates the Equal Pay Act of 2003. Provides that no employer may discriminate between employees on the basis of sex by paying wages solely on the basis of the employee's gender. Prohibits retaliatory discharge or discrimination against an employee on the basis of the employee's use of the Act and provides for penalties for violations of the Act, including a Class B misdemeanor for retaliatory discharge or discrimination by the employer. Provides that the Director of Labor shall administer and enforce the Act. Provides that every employer subject to the Act shall preserve specified records for not less than 3 years. Provides that every employer covered by the Act shall post a notice summarizing the requirements of the Act. Provides that the Department of Labor shall conduct ongoing outreach and education efforts concerning the Act.
Mourns the death of Dr. William J. "Bill" Swinney of Benton.
