Rep. Harry Osterman

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.

Extends the reporting deadline for the House Illinois Health Survey Task Force from January 11, 2008 to January 11, 2009.

Creates the Textbook Consumer Information Act. Provides that when contacting prospective clients, each publisher of college textbooks shall disclose to the faculty member or, where applicable, the other entity in charge of selecting textbooks for courses taught at a public institution of higher education (i) the price at which the publisher would make the textbooks and supplementary learning materials available to a college bookstore and (ii) the history of revisions for such products. Provides that any faculty member or entity in charge of selecting textbooks for courses taught at an institution must provide a written statement to the college bookstore placing an order for textbooks detailing all textbooks and supplementary learning materials required for each course, all textbooks and supplementary learning materials suggested for each course, and the earliest edition of any required textbook that may be purchased by a student for that course. Requires college bookstores to make available a listing of all textbooks and supplementary learning materials that are required for courses taught during each term, which shall include new and used textbook retail prices. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. 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 Property Tax Code. In a Section concerning the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption, provides that, for taxable year 2007 and thereafter, the amount of the exemption is the equalized assessed value of the residence in the taxable year for which application is made minus the base amount (now, the amount of the exemption is based upon the applicant's household income). Increases the income limitation, in taxable year 2007 and thereafter, from $50,000 to $55,000. Effective immediately.

Amends the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall create, maintain, and make available to the public a Hazardous Housing Registry that will provide information regarding all properties within the State for which a mitigation notice has been issued pursuant to this Act. Provides that the property shall remain on the registry until the Department issues a certificate of compliance. Sets forth the specific requirements for information that shall be made available for properties included on the registry. Provides that the Department shall make the Hazardous Housing Registry available on its Internet website, accessible through a link on the Department's home page or first entry point. Provides that the Department shall include the required information for all housing for which a mitigation notice was issued prior to the effective date of the Act. Provides that the Lead-Safe Housing Advisory Council shall develop a distribution plan for the Hazardous Housing Registry created pursuant to the Act and that the Department shall implement the distribution plan before January 1, 2009. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning a legislative declaration.

Appropriates $250,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for funding ovarian cancer research. Effective July 1, 2007.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that an offender's eligibility for a restricted driving permit depends on whether denial of all driving privileges would cause undue hardship, as defined by rules adopted by the Secretary of State. Provides that a person convicted of 4 or more offenses of driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident involving death or personal injury, or reckless homicide, or a combination of those offenses, is not eligible for a restricted driving permit. Provides that the Secretary shall revoke the driving privileges of any person under the age of 21 convicted of an out-of-state offense similar to DUI. Provides that a second suspension of a person's driving privileges for an out-of-state offense similar to DUI, or a single suspension of that type, if coupled with a summary suspension under the Code or a DUI or reckless homicide conviction, shall result in the person's being prohibited from driving a vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock device. Provides that a conviction of reckless homicide (as well as a conviction of DUI) increases the limitations that shall be imposed on a person's driving privileges.

Amends the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act. Provides that no person, firm, or corporation shall sell, have, offer for sale, or transfer toys, furniture, clothing, accessories, jewelry, decorative objects, edible items, candy, food, dietary supplements, or other articles used by or intended to be chewable by children that contain a total lead content in any component part of the item that is more than 0.004% (40 parts per million) by total weight unless that item bears a warning statement that indicates that at least one component part of the item contains lead. Provides that an entity is not required to separately warn each exposed individual. Provides that an entity is in compliance with the provision if the warning statement is provided by general methods such as on a label on the immediate container of any consumer product, posting of notices in public places in prominent locations, placing notices in public news media, and the like, provided that the warning accomplished is clear and reasonable. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.