Senate OKs bill on ex-cons in nursing homes - A bill that "sharpens the teeth" of recent legislation to protect nursing home residents from ex-cons is headed for Gov. Blagojevich's desk after unanimously passing the state Senate on Monday. The proposed law resolves many of the sticking points that surfaced after last year's passage of the Vulnerable Adults Protection Act. It calls for nursing homes to pay for criminal background checks on all adult residents. The state Health Department would analyze the results and tell each facility what, if any, safeguards need to be put in place to protect other residents. The bill also requires registered sex offenders to be segregated in their own bedrooms. Read more