Congratulates the community of Germantown on receiving a Governor's Home Town Award for their efforts to build a permanent veteran's memorial.
Congratulates the City of Breese on receiving the Governor's Home Town Award for their work on the community sesquicentennial project in 2006.
Congratulates Mayme Goestenkors on the occasion of celebrating her 100th birthday on October 13, 2007.
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.
Congratulates Dr. Steven Light of Salem on being nominated into the 2007 Healthy Smile Heroes.
Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Classifies community college districts as units of local government that must adopt resolutions regulating the political activities and the solicitation and acceptance of gifts by their officials and employees (now, classified as State agencies subject to the entire Act's regulation and enforcement by the Executive Ethics Commission and the Governor's Executive Inspector General). Effective immediately.
Congratulates Dr. Yagnesh Oza on the occasion of being the recipient of the 2007 Illinois Rural Physician of Excellence Award.
Mourns the death of Earl Struck of Springfield.
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.
