Congratulates Marty Conatser on the occasion of his selection as the new National Commander of the American Legion.
Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Subject to appropriations, requires the Department to pay veterans service organizations for services provided by veterans service officers in processing claims and other benefits for veterans and their spouses or other beneficiaries residing in Illinois. Requires payment at the rate of $0.010 for each dollar of benefits obtained for veterans or their spouses or other beneficiaries. Sets forth criteria that a veterans service organization must meet.
Creates the National Guard Veterans Exposure to Hazardous Materials Act. Provides that on and after October 1, 2007, the Adjutant General shall assist any member of the Illinois National Guard who served in the Persian Gulf War or in an area designated as a combat zone by the President of the United States during Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom who (i) has been assigned a risk level I, II, or III for depleted uranium exposure by his or her branch of service, (ii) is referred by a military physician, or (iii) has reason to believe that he or she was exposed to depleted uranium during such service, in obtaining federal treatment services, including a best practice health screening test for exposure to depleted uranium. Provides that no State funds shall be used to pay for such tests or other federal treatment services. Requires the Adjutant General to submit a report to the General Assembly by October 1, 2007. Creates a task force to: (1) initiate a health registry for veterans and military personnel returning from Afghanistan, Iraq, or other countries in which depleted uranium or other hazardous materials may be found; (2) develop a plan for outreach to and follow-up of military personnel; (3) prepare a report for service members concerning potential exposure to depleted uranium and other toxic chemical substances and the precautions recommended under combat and noncombat conditions while in a combat zone; and (4) make other recommendations. Requires the task force to submit a report to the General Assembly by January 31, 2008, and terminates the task force on the date that it submits the report or on January 31, 2008, whichever is earlier. Effective immediately.
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that "person subject to involuntary admission" includes (i) a person with mental illness and who because of his or her illness is reasonably expected to engage in dangerous conduct (instead of reasonably expected to inflict serious physical harm upon himself or herself or another in the near future) and (ii) a person with mental illness who, because of the nature of his or her illness, is unable to understand his or her need for treatment and who, if not treated, is reasonably expected to suffer or continue to suffer mental deterioration or emotional deterioration, or both, to the point that the person is reasonably expected to engage in dangerous conduct. Defines "dangerous conduct" as threatening behavior or conduct that places another individual in reasonable expectation of being harmed, or a person's inability to provide, without the assistance of family or outside help, for his or her basic physical needs so as to guard himself or herself from serious harm.
Amends the Genetic Information Privacy Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning legislative intent.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the sexual exploitation of children.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Under the Medicaid program, authorizes the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to provide for the services of persons licensed as a clinical social worker in supplying medical assistance. Prohibits the Department's rules from requiring that services for a specific Medicaid recipient provided by a licensed clinical social worker be recommended by a physician. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State may defer the expiration of the driver's license of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, or of the spouse or a dependent child living with a member of the Armed Forces, for an additional 90 (rather than 45) days after that member of the Armed Forces has completed active duty service outside of the State of Illinois. Effective immediately.
Amends the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997 in the Public Utilities Act. Changes the definition of "mandatory transition period" to include the period from the effective date through the date on which the Illinois Commerce Commission has approved declarations of competitive service for all classes of service offered in the service areas of all electric utilities that, on December 31, 2005, served at least 100,000 but fewer than 2 million residential customers. Requires the Commission to order certain utilities to file and implement tariffs to reinstate all 2006 rates beginning on the first day of the month immediately following the effective date. Prohibits the Commission from taking certain actions prior to 6 months after the effective date with respect to (i) initiating, authorizing, or ordering any change by way of increase or (ii) in approving an application for a merger, imposing a condition requiring any filing for an increase, decrease, or change in or other review of a utility's rates or enforcing such a condition. Provides that the Commission shall only declare the class of service to be competitive according to certain criteria (now, the Commission is required to declare the service to be competitive if the service or a reasonably equivalent substitute is available at a reasonable price from other providers other than the utility or an affiliate and the utility has lost or is reasonably likely to lose business for service to other providers). Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Creates the School Health Center Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to initiate 20 new school health centers over a 5-year period beginning July 1, 2007, and build capacity with existing school health centers in the State. Effective immediately.
