Rep. Naomi D. Jakobsson

Congratulates Angela and Pat Devaney of Champaign on the birth of their first son, Martin Raymond Devaney.

Congratulates Angela and Pat Devaney of Champaign on the birth of their first son, Martin Raymond Devaney.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning advising and counseling the Governor.

Creates the Genetic and Metabolic Diseases Advisory Committee Act. Provides that the Director of Public Health shall create the Genetic and Metabolic Diseases Advisory Committee to advise the Department of Public Health regarding issues relevant to newborn screenings of metabolic diseases. Amends the State Finance Act to exempt the Metabolic Screening and Treatment Fund from transfers made by the Governor to the General Revenue Fund. Amends the Phenylketonuria Testing Act. Provides that beginning July 1, 2008, the Department of Public Health shall provide all newborns with expanded screening tests for the presence of Lysosomal Storage Disorders known as Krabbe, Pompe, Gaucher, Fabry, and Niemann-Pick. Effective immediately.

Amends the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act. Provides that it is a Class 3 felony to attempt to possess, procure, transport, store, or deliver anhydrous ammonia in an unauthorized container. Effective January 1, 2008.

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act to change the repeal date of the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act from January 1, 2008 to January 1, 2018. Amends the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act. Replaces "Department of Professional Regulation" with "Department of Financial and Professional Regulation" and "Director of the Department of Professional Regulation" with "Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation" throughout the Act. Adds a provision concerning an applicant's or licensee's change of address. Provides that a civil penalty of $10,000 (rather than $5,000) shall be imposed upon an individual for each offense of unlicensed practice. Makes changes to provisions concerning licensure, licensure by endorsement, grounds for disciplinary action, rehearing, and the appointment of a hearing officer. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Community Services Act. Changes references from "disabled person" to "person with a disability". Provides that a shift from State-provided services to community services should be acknowledged by the State as a clear priority in policies and funding that values community services and supports for persons who choose to live and work in those settings, with the needed resources following the individual. Requires the Governor to appoint a commission by July 1, 2007, or as soon thereafter as possible, to prioritize a strategy for identifying a stream of revenue to address gaps and prioritize use of that revenue on rates and reimbursements for community services and supports. Provides that the commission shall have representation from the Department of Human Services, the General Assembly, persons with disabilities and mental illness, community providers, and trade associations. Provides that the rate and reimbursement methodologies must reflect the cost of providing services and supports, recognize individual disability needs, and consider geographic differences, transportation costs, required staffing ratios, and mandates not currently funded. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Facilities Closure Act. Provides that the Act applies to all State facilities (now, a facility must be the primary work station for 25 or more State employees).

Amends the State Universities Civil Service Act. Authorizes a hearing officer (in addition to a hearing board) appointed by the University Civil Service Merit Board to preside over demotion, removal, and discharge hearings. Makes technical changes. Effective immediately.

Congratulates Orville Vernon Burton on the occasion of winning the Heartland Prize for Non-Fiction for his book "The Age of Lincoln".