Rep. Kurt M. Granberg

Creates the Pension Funding Task Force.

Amends the Recreational Trails of Illinois Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that an employer or group of employers and the representative of its employees may agree to establish binding obligations and procedures relating to workers' compensation. Provides that the agreement must be limited to, but need not include: an alternative dispute resolution system to supplement, modify, or replace the procedural or dispute resolution provisions of the Act; a list of providers of medical treatment that may be the exclusive source of all medical and related treatment; a list of providers that may be the exclusive source of impartial medical examinations; creation of a transitional or modified return to work program; a list of individuals and companies for the provision of vocational rehabilitation or retraining programs; the establishment of safety committees and safety procedures; and the adoption of a 24 hour health care coverage plan. Provides that a copy of the agreement shall be filed with the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. Provides that the new provisions do not allow any agreement that diminishes an employee's entitlement to benefits under the Act, an agreement does not diminish an employee's entitlement to benefits, and an agreement that diminishes the employee's entitlement to benefits is void. Provides that an employer insured under the Act shall provide notice to its insurance carrier of its intent to enter into an agreement with its employees and obtain consent from its insurance carrier to enter into an agreement. Effective immediately.

Directs the Department of Central Management Services to determine if the State could reduce travel costs of State employees by purchasing airfare and hotel accommodations from online companies such as Priceline and Hotwire.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning territory not included in a community college district.

Amends the Illinois Renewable Fuels Development Program Act. Provides that a recipient of Program grants must be constructing, modifying, altering, or retrofitting an (i) ethanol plant (now, just plant) that has annual production capacity of no less than 30,000,000 gallons of renewable fuel per year or a (ii) biodiesel plant. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to establish and administer grant programs including: the Illinois Renewable Fuels Majority Blended Ethanol Program, the Illinois Corn Grain to Fuel Research Consortium Assistance Program, the Illinois Renewable Fuels Corn-to-Hydrogen Fuel Cell Research Program, the Illinois Renewable Fuels Biodiesel Infrastructure Grant Program, the Illinois Renewable Fuels Ethanol Development Intergovernmental Assistance Program. Sets forth the purposes and conditions for these grant programs. Provides that subject to appropriation (now, subject to appropriation from the Build Illinois Bond Fund), the Director is authorized to award Renewable Fuels Development Program Fund grants. Sets forth that the annual aggregate amount for these grants shall not exceed $25,000,000 in Fiscal year 2007 and 2008 and $15,000,000 thereafter (now, may not exceed $15,000,000). Specifies how these grant funds shall be allocated. Sets forth certain limitations on spending on the various Program grants including for research conducted at the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Facility at SIU-Edwardsville not to exceed $1,000,000 annually, and a one-time grant in FY 2007 not to exceed $3,000,000 for construction, remodeling, and expansion of the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Facility at SIU-Edwardsville. Provides that normal operating and execution of renewable fuels programs in existence on January 1, 2006 within the Department from the Renewable Fuels Development Program Fund shall not exceed $5,000,000 annually. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Renewable Fuels Development Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury to fund these grant programs. Sets forth certain conditions for the operation of this Fund. Provides for certain annual payments from the General Revenue Fund to the Renewable Fuels Development Program Fund. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, to provide that on or after July 1, 2006 and on or before June 30, 2016, those tax rates apply to 90% of the proceeds of sales made on gasohol (now, apply to 80% of the proceeds of sales made on gasohol). Amends the Motor Fuel and Petroleum Standards Act to provide that beginning January 1, 2008 a minimum of 10% of all motor fuel sold or offered for sale in Illinois must be denatured ethanol and that beginning January 1, 2012 a minimum of 15% of all motor fuel sold or offered for sale in Illinois must be denatured ethanol. Effective July 1, 2006.

Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that, with respect to post-season tournaments, the Illinois High School Association may receive no more than 15% of the gross receipts from the tournament, with the remainder going to the host school. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning rate changes based on changes in fuel costs, provides that the costs of fuel shall include the cost for synthetic natural gas pursuant to a gas utility's long-term supply contract with a company for the synthetic natural gas. Provides guidelines for determining if the cost for the synthetic natural gas is reasonable and prudent. Provides that aggregate long-term supply contracts for the purchase of synthetic natural gas shall not exceed 30% of the system supply annual requirements of the utility at the time of the contract.

Directs the Auditor General to perform a financial audit of the Illinois High School Association.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning rates.