Sen. Sara Feigenholtz

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Requires the Department on Aging to contract with community-based agencies to provide community reintegration assistance within the first 60 days that seniors aged 60 and older have been admitted to a nursing facility. Requires any nursing facility providing medical assistance under Title XIX of the Social Security Act to admit staff providing community reintegration assistance and cooperate to facilitate the discharge and transition of seniors who would prefer to return to their homes. Provides that, in order to secure matching federal funds for the community reintegration services, the Director of Public Aid, in cooperation with the Director of the Department on Aging, shall apply for any necessary waivers under Title XIX of the Social Security Act. Adds community reintegration services to the list of services to be included in the Department's program of services to prevent unnecessary institutionalization of persons age 60 and older in need of long term care or who are established as persons who suffer from Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Public Health Act and various other Acts concerning public health emergencies. Contains provisions relating to: quarantine and isolation; physical examinations, tests, and specimen collection; vaccines and medications; destruction of animals and property; access to medical records; syndromic data collection; information sharing; medical disaster plans; emergency personnel; immunity; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Amends the Federally Subsidized Housing Preservation Act. Changes the short title to the Federally Assisted Housing Preservation Act, and replaces references to "subsidized housing" with references to "assisted housing". Requires the owner of an assisted housing development to give 12 (instead of 6) months notice of the owner's intent to sell or otherwise dispose of the assisted housing; also requires notice of the owner's intent to complete prepayment or complete termination of the development's participation in a federal subsidy program or termination of the development's affordability restrictions. Provides for representation of a tenant association by a not-for-profit corporation or private purchaser. Requires that the owner offer the property for sale to a tenant association within 60 days after the association has complied with the requirements of the Act concerning notice to the owner. Requires that a tenant association notify the owner of its intent to purchase the property within 90 (instead of 30) days after receiving the owner's offer of sale. Effective immediately.

Amends the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act. Makes changes in the definitions of "low-income housing" and "moderate-income housing". Changes dates in provisions concerning the Illinois Housing Development Authority's determination of exempt local governments, affordable housing plans, and appeals to the State Housing Appeals Board. Effective immediately.

Congratulates Lillian Lipsey on the occasion of her 100th birthday and for her lifelong devotion to the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, the cause of world Jewry, and other philanthropic endeavors.

Urges the Governor, the executive and legislative branches of State government, and the Illinois Department of Human Services to take the immediate actions necessary to redirect and utilize existing appropriations in the capital and operating budgets and the proposed FY 05 executive budgets of the Capital Development Board and the Illinois Department of Human Services that are earmarked for the Lincoln Developmental Center to support 40 individuals with developmental disabilities and to take other actions.

Congratulates Lori G. Levin on being named the 2004-2005 President of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois.

Congratulates Rabbi Meir Shapiro on the occasion of his retirement after 40 years of service as principal at Arie Crown Hebrew Day School.

Amends the Community Health Center Expansion Act. Provides for an additional 3 years of funding (after an initial 3-year grant) for community health centers through grants from the Department of Public Health, subject to appropriation. Provides for funding at a level of 50% of a grantee's third-year-grant amount under the initial grant. Requires that such community health centers demonstrate continued financial need. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to file an annual report with the Governor and the General Assembly that details the disparate impact of various provisions of the TANF program on Whites, Blacks/African Americans, and Latinos. Sets forth matters to be included in the report. Effective immediately.