Rep. Naomi D. Jakobsson

Creates the Illinois Stem Cell Initiative of 2007. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning prohibited transactions.

Amends the Energy Assistance Act. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services is authorized to institute an outreach program directed at low-income minority heads of households and heads of households age 60 or older. Provides that the program shall be consistent with the purposes and objectives of the Act and with all other specific requirements set forth in these provisions. Provides that as part of the program, the Department shall permit Case Coordination Units, under contract with the Department on Aging, to prepare and submit applications for energy assistance in the names of their clients in accordance with procedures established by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Provides that the Department shall establish a web-based application for use by applicants for energy assistance, their families, or someone acting on their behalf. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Cool Cities Act. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency shall provide technical assistance, if needed, to units of local government in the State that have endorsed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Provides that any unit of local government may request designation as an Illinois Cool City if the unit of local government has (i) endorsed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and (ii) prepared and approved a plan to achieve a 7% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by the year 2012. Provides for designation of Illinois Cool Cities upon certain findings by the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Central Management services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires that, to the extent allowable by federal law and regulation, the Department must allow employees of State colleges and universities to participate in the Department's flexible spending programs for dependent care assistance and medical care assistance.

Amends the Secretary of State Act. Makes a technical change in a Section regarding the oath of office.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a non-public elementary or secondary school may not obtain "Non-public School Recognition" status unless (i) the school requires all applicants for employment with the school, after July 1, 2007, to authorize a fingerprint-based criminal history records check as a condition of employment to determine if such applicants have been convicted of specified criminal or drug offenses and (ii) the school performs a check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database for each applicant for employment, after July 1, 2007, to determine whether the applicant has been adjudicated a sex offender. Provides that no non-public school may obtain recognition status that knowingly employs a person, hired after July 1, 2007, for whom a Department of State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint-based criminal history records check and a Statewide Sex Offender Database check has not been initiated or who has been convicted of certain criminal or drug offenses. Contains provisions concerning a fee for the criminal history records check and reimbursement, confidentiality, and checks of employees of persons or firms holding contracts with the school. Effective July 1, 2007.

Amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. Provides that a private development is qualified to become and is an enterprise zone and eligible for all the benefits of an enterprise zone if it (i) achieves certification using nationally recognized and accepted green building and sensible growth guidelines, standards, or systems, and (ii) is selected through a request for proposals by the Capital Development Board. Amends the Capital Development Board Act. Provides that the Capital Development Board shall issue a request for proposals by December 31, 2008 to select 3 model private developments that are designated by specified organizations as achieving certification using nationally recognized and accepted green building and sensible growth guidelines on a neighborhood scale. Provides that the model projects shall be designated as such to receive the benefits attained through Illinois Enterprise Zones for a period of 5 years.

Amends the Volunteer Emergency Worker Job Protection Act. Expands the definition of "volunteer emergency worker" to include a person who is a volunteer member of a county or municipal emergency services and disaster agency pursuant to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, an auxiliary policemen, or an auxiliary deputy appointed by a county sheriff.