Rep. Robert F. Flider

Congratulates Bob Fallstrom for his 60 years of dedicated service at the Herald & Review in Decatur.

Amends the Community Service Education Act. Establishes the Community Service Education Task Force to address what level of funding the Community Service Education Program should have. Provides that the Task Force shall consist of 4 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and 3 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. Requires the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before July 1, 2010. Repeals these provisions on July 2, 2010. Effective July 1, 2009.

Creates the Joint Committee on Government Reform to stand ready to work with the Governor and others to restore integrity to State government.

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois State Board of Education for its FY 08 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2007.

Creates the Endow Illinois Tax Credit Act and amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to authorize an income tax credit to taxpayers who provide an endowment gift to a permanent endowment fund. Sets forth procedures and criteria for authorizing the credits. Provides that the aggregate amount of all credits that the Department may authorize in any calendar year may not exceed $50,000,000. Requires the Department to make an annual report concerning the credits. Provides that the credit may be carried forward for 5 years. Exempts the credit from the Act's sunset provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning contributions by the State and other employing units.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and the State Finance Act. Creates the Airport Improvement Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that, from moneys appropriated from the Fund, the Department of Transportation must make grants to airport authorities in the State for airport improvement projects that do not qualify for federal funding. Effective immediately.

Amends the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997 in the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the General Assembly finds that it is necessary to assure that employees operating in the deregulated industry have the requisite skills, knowledge, training, experience, and competence to provide reliable and safe electrical service (now, the findings only provide it necessary to assure that employees have the requisite skills, knowledge, and competence to provide reliable and safe electrical service). Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to determine whether an applicant meets the standards for certification as an alternative retail electric supplier by requiring the applicant to demonstrate possession of the requisite knowledge, skills, training, experience, and competence to perform those functions in a safe and responsible manner in order to provide safe and reliable service (now, an applicant must demonstrate possession of the requisite knowledge, skills, and competence to perform those functions). Removes language that makes the provisions concerning utility employees apply only during the mandatory transition period. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the purpose of the Article regarding nonprofit risk organizations.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders to the extent that the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders are not already covered by the policy or plan. Provides that this coverage shall be subject to a maximum benefit of $36,000 per year, but shall not be subject to any limits on the number of visits to an autism service provider. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.