Rep. Daniel V. Beiser

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders to the extent that the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders are not already covered by the policy or plan. Provides that this coverage shall be subject to a maximum benefit of $36,000 per year, but shall not be subject to any limits on the number of visits to an autism service provider. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Emergency Telephone System Act. Defines "high-speed channelized service". Provides that, where multiple voice grade communication channels are connected to a telecommunication carrier's public switched network through a high-speed channelized services, there shall be determined to be one network connection for each T-1 facility capable of transporting either the subscriber's inter-premises traffic to the public switched network or the subscriber's 9-1-1 calls to the public agency. Provides that a municipality imposing a surcharge at a rate per network connection shall impose 5 such surcharges per network connection where multiple voicegrade communications channels are connected between the subscriber's premises and a public switched network through a high-speed channelized service. Repeals a Section concerning certain reports and recommendations as to implementation systems. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the Downstate Police Article, provides that, until January 1, 2009, an active member of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund may transfer up to 8 years of creditable service in a police pension fund under the Article to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. In the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund Article, provides that, until January 1, 2009, a person who has become an active participant in a police pension fund may transfer up to 8 years of creditable service under the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund to that police pension fund. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code and the Wildlife Code. Provides that State residents, age 65 or older, may not be charged a fee for: (1) a non-commercial sport fishing or spearing license, (2) a salmon stamp, (3) an inland trout stamp, (4) a Deer Hunting Permit, (5) a hunting license to hunt all species, (6) a State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp, (7) a State Habitat Stamp, or (8) a sportsmen's combination license. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code and the Counties Code. Provides that it is a State's Attorney's duty to notify the State Superintendent of Education upon the conviction of any individual known to possess a certificate issued under the School Code of any of certain offenses or any other felony conviction. In the criminal history records check provisions of the School Code, makes changes concerning the offenses for which a school board may not knowingly employ a person. Provides that no one may be certified to teach or supervise in the public schools who has been convicted of certain offenses (instead of providing that in determining good character, any felony conviction of an applicant may be taken into consideration, but such a conviction shall not operate as a bar to registration). In provisions concerning suspension or revocation of a certificate, provides that the State Superintendent of Education has the exclusive authority to initiate the suspension of up to 5 calendar years or revocation of any certificate (instead of providing that a certificate may be suspended for a period not to exceed one calendar year by the regional superintendent of schools or for a period not to exceed 5 calendar years by the State Superintendent). With respect to certificate suspension and revocation, makes changes concerning an investigation, notice, a hearing, an appeal, and the offenses that are grounds for suspension and revocation. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, shall develop an initiative within the Home Services Program under which legally responsible adults may be reimbursed for providing care to eligible clients. Sets forth the components of the initiative. Provides that by November 1, 2008, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall report their findings and recommendations to the General Assembly regarding proposed rule changes to the Illinois Administrative Code and amendatory changes to the State Medicaid Plan for the purpose of implementing the initiative. Provides that by January 1, 2009, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall seek federal approval to amend the State Medicaid Plan, and the Department of Human Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Service shall submit proposed rule changes to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Allows an income tax credit for each individual taxpayer who is a teacher teaching in a school in Illinois. Provides that the amount of the credit is equal to 50% of the eligible classroom expenses made by the taxpayer during the taxable year, but the credit may not exceed $500. Defines "eligible classroom expenses" as the aggregate amount of nonreimbursed classroom expenses made by the taxpayer during the taxable year less $250. Provides that the credit may not be carried forward or back and may not reduce the taxpayer's liability to less than zero. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the amount of the earned income tax credit from 5% of the federal credit to: (i) 7.5% of the federal tax credit for taxable years ending in calendar year 2007; and (ii) 10% of the federal tax credit for taxable years ending in calendar year 2008 or thereafter. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that for each fiscal year (i) the Governor shall submit to the General Assembly a proposed budget for higher education in which for every $2 appropriated for elementary and secondary education in the State budget at least $1 is appropriated for higher education, and (ii) the General Assembly shall appropriate amounts for higher education in which for every $2 appropriated for elementary and secondary education for that fiscal year at least $1 is appropriated for higher education.

Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Under specified circumstances, allows for a maximum of 5 additional charter schools exclusively for truants or dropouts in Chicago if the limit on the number of charter schools that may operate at any one time in the rest of the State has not been reached. Provides that if any of the additional charter schools are not used exclusively for truants or dropouts, then the State Board of Education shall withhold and the charter school shall forfeit all State funding designated for that school.