Rep. Mary K. O'Brien

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that the fine for obstructing a highway is not less than $50 nor more than $500 (rather than not less than $10 nor more than $100) and that the fine for leaving the obstruction on the highway after being ordered to remove it by the highway authority having jurisdiction is $50 (rather than $10) per day. Effective immediately.

Creates the Death Penalty Act. Contains only a short title.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Deletes language providing that a road district commissioner may not let any contracts for road construction or repair with a value in excess of $10,000, and may not spend more than $10,000 for road construction or repair, without the approval of the county superintendent of highways or the highway board of auditors. Deletes language providing that, in emergency situations, a highway commissioner must have the approval of the county superintendent of highways or the highway board of auditors before a contract valued at more than $10,000 may be let without advertising for bids. Deletes language providing that a county treasurer must have the consent of the county superintendent of highways in order to turn over to the regular road fund of the road district, at the request of the highway commissioner, surplus moneys collected under a special tax and deposited into a separate fund for road and bridge construction. Deletes language providing that the road district commissioner must have the permission of the county engineer in order to spend moneys collected under the special tax on a project valued at more than $10,000. Effective immediately.

Amends the Boat Registration and Safety Act with regard to operating watercraft under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Provides that operating a watercraft under the influence of intoxicating compounds is also prohibited. Provides the offense is a class 4 felony if committed while the person's privileges to operate a watercraft is revoked or suspended. Provides for an additional $100 fine. Provides for a fine of $500 if the offense was committed with a child under the age of 16 aboard. Amends the Act and the Unified Code of Corrections to provide that a person whose violation of the DUI provision of the Act caused an incident resulting in an appropriate emergency response is responsible for the cost of the response. Amends provisions regarding chemical testing of and hearing procedures with regard to persons suspected of operating watercraft under the influence.

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.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Extends the partial exemption from the taxes imposed by these Acts on gasohol to December 31, 2013 (now ends on July 1, 2003), gradually reducing the partial exemption to zero after December 31, 2013. Partially exempts E85 blend fuel and bio-diesel blend fuel in the same amount and according to the same schedule as gasohol. Provides that if, at any time, the tax under these Acts on gasohol, E85 blend fuel, and bio-diesel blend fuel is imposed at 1.25%, then the partial exemption of the tax on those items does not apply during that time. Effective immediately.

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.

Thanks Assistant Majority Leader and Illinois State Representative John Philip "Phil" Novak for the positive impact his years of commitment and support have had on the communities he has served.

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Chicago Education Reform Act of 2003. Amends the School Code and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Requires the Chicago Board of Education and the chief executive officer to enter into a partnership agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union with regard to advancing student achievement. Makes changes concerning permissive and mandatory subjects of bargaining, adoption of a grievance resolution procedure for the discharge or suspension of employees, and establishment of a Labor Management Council. Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Makes changes concerning the City of Chicago with respect to increasing the number of schools that may operate, limiting operation of a school to one campus, prohibiting a for-profit entity from operating or managing a school, requiring the administration of nationally recognized standardized tests, requiring a certain percentage of employees in instructional positions to hold teaching certificates, and obtaining alternative teacher certification. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.