Rep. Julie Hamos

Amends the Election Code. With respect to the requirement that a political committee ensure that it is clearly identified in any communication aimed at voters for which it pays any part, imposes the requirement when the communication mentions the name of a candidate in an upcoming election without the candidate's permission or advocates for or against a public policy question (now, when the communication mentions the name and advocates for or against the question).

Congratulates University of Chicago professor Roger Myerson on the occasion of winning the 2007 Nobel Prize in Economics for his work on mechanism design theory.

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act to change the repeal date of the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act from January 1, 2008 to January 1, 2018. Amends the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act. Replaces "Department of Professional Regulation" with "Department of Financial and Professional Regulation" and "Director of the Department of Professional Regulation" with "Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation" throughout the Act. Adds a provision concerning an applicant's or licensee's change of address. Provides that a civil penalty of $10,000 (rather than $5,000) shall be imposed upon an individual for each offense of unlicensed practice. Makes changes to provisions concerning licensure, licensure by endorsement, grounds for disciplinary action, rehearing, and the appointment of a hearing officer. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Health Information Network Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to establish a not for profit corporation to plan the creation of a state-level network for the electronic exchange of medical patients' records among health care providers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Permits a State agency to renew or extend a lease of real property or capital improvements without using the request for information selection process if it is in the State's best interest and the Procurement Policy Board does not object (now, permitted only for renewal or extension of leases in effect before July 1, 2002). Effective July 1, 2007.

Creates the Illinois Stem Cell Initiative of 2007. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the use of DES.

Creates the Illinois Food, Farms, and Jobs Act and the Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force. Sets out the composition of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall develop a plan for expanding and supporting a State local and organic food system and for assessing and overcoming obstacles to an increase in locally grown food and local organic food production. Sets out the contents of the plan. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Illinois Local Organic Food and Farm Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Whistleblower Act. Provides that "employer" includes the State or any political subdivision of the State, and a unit of local government, school district, or authority including a department, division, bureau, board, commission, or other agency of these entities; any person acting within the scope of his or her authority express or implied on behalf of those entities in dealing with its employers: a school district, combination of school districts, or governing body of a joint agreement of any type formed by two or more school districts; a community college district, State college or university, and any State agency whose major function is providing educational services (at present, the definition excludes any governmental entity). Provides that the State is preempting home rule units from the exercise of power in this area. Amends the Whistleblower Reward and Protection Act. Provides that "State" includes any unit of local government, school district, community college district, State college or university, or any entity created by an intergovernmental cooperation agreement (at present, the State, any State agency, and other governmental entities that adopted provisions of the Act). In both Acts, provides that it is unlawful for an employer to knowingly take an adverse action against an employee for disclosing information in a court or administrative hearing, legislative proceeding, or other type of proceeding if the employee has reasonable cause to believe the information discloses a violation of State or federal law or regulation.

Creates the Smoke Free Illinois Act. Sets forth the findings of the General Assembly. Creates several definitions. Prohibits smoking in public places, places of employment, and governmental vehicles. Requires "No Smoking" signs to be posted in each public place and place of employment where smoking is prohibited. Requires ashtrays to be removed from any area where smoking is prohibited. Prohibits smoking in student dormitories, including, but not limited to, sleeping rooms, dining areas, restrooms, laundry areas, lobbies, and hallways, of a building used in whole or in part as a student dormitory that is owned and operated or otherwise utilized by a public or private institution of higher education. Provides that the Department of Public Health, State-certified local public health departments, and local law enforcement agencies shall enforce the provisions of the Act. Sets forth fines for violations of the Act. Provides that the Department, a State-certified local public health department, local law enforcement agency, or any individual personally affected by repeated violations may institute, in a circuit court, an action to enjoin violations of the Act. Prohibits discrimination against individuals who exercise their rights afforded by the Act. Provides that a home rule unit may regulate smoking in public places, but that regulation must be no less restrictive than the provisions in the Act. Prohibits smoking within a minimum distance of 15 feet from entrances, exits, windows that open, and ventilation intakes that serve an enclosed area where smoking is prohibited. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Repeals the Illinois Clean Indoor Air Act.