Creates the Clean Coal FutureGen for Illinois Act for the purpose of providing the FutureGen Alliance with adequate liability protection, land use rights, and permitting certainty to facilitate the siting of the FutureGen Project in Illinois. Contain provisions concerning transfer of title to sequestered gas and associated liabilities to the State; insurance and indemnification by the State for the Operator for certain liabilities; permits; land use, including condemnation powers; and economic incentives. Contains other provisions and a severability clause. Amends: the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law concerning financial assistance; the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act concerning high impact businesses; the Court of Claims Act and the State Lawsuit Immunity Act concerning jurisdiction; and the Eminent Domain Act concerning condemnation authority. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Designates the week of August 26, 2007, as "Workforce Development Week".
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that under the Medicaid program, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall reimburse psychiatrists for mental health services they provide, as authorized by Illinois law, to recipients via telepsychiatry. Requires the Department to adopt rules establishing a method to reimburse providers for mental health services provided by telepsychiatry. Provides that the reimbursement methodology for mental health services provided by telemedicine shall be comparable to the reimbursement methodology used by the Department for other services provided by telemedicine. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State shall designate on each driver's license issued a space where the licensee may indicate whether or not the words "Do not resuscitate." shall appear.
Congratulates Gene Amberg, Superintendent of Schools for Urbana School District 116, on his retirement.
Congratulates the Urbana Park District on the 100th anniversary of its founding.
Thanks WILL-TV Channel 12, the Champaign PBS Station, on researching and presenting the documentary "10 Sisters: A True Story" and wishes the sisters the best.
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that if any of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission's student loans are sold or transferred to a private entity, then the private entity must offer the same interest and fee rate reduction plan on the loan that the Commission would have offered if the loan was held by the Commission. Effective immediately.
Creates the Textbook Pricing and Access Act. Requires publishers of textbooks to make certain price disclosures to faculty members at institutions of higher learning with whom the publisher is in discussion. Requires faculty members to provide a written statement to each publisher or college bookstore placing an order for textbooks that details (i) the textbook required for the faculty member's course and (ii) the earliest edition of the textbook that may be purchased for a particular course. Restricts the manner in which textbooks and supplemental learning materials may be bundled by the publisher or college bookstore. Requires a college bookstore to make available a listing of all textbooks and supplemental learning materials required for courses taught during each term and to post that listing on its web site or in a non-restricted area at the college bookstore. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Clean Indoor Air Act. Provides that a home rule unit of local government or any municipality in this State may regulate smoking in public places. Provides that this regulation must be no less restrictive than the regulation in the Act. Changes the home rule limitation from an absolute preemption to a limitation on the concurrent exercise of home rule power. Maintains the exemption from home rule requirements for home rule units that passed ordinances regulating smoking before October 1, 1989. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers.