Rep. Julie Hamos

Urges the Governor to present a capital budget that includes $100,000,000, on an annual basis, for the Illinois Special Places Acquisition, Conservation and Enhancement (iSPACE) Program, which includes the following: (i) a new statewide land acquisition program to protect the State's most precious natural resources and provide recreational opportunities, including matching grants to local governments; (ii) implementation of the Partners for Conservation Program (formerly Conservation 2000) through land acquisition and management grants; and (iii) implementation of the Hunting Heritage Protection Act by increasing the amount of land acreage available for hunting opportunities in Illinois.

Congratulates Mary Helt Gavin on receiving the 2007 Studs Terkel award.

Congratulates Metropolitan Family Services on the occasion of its 150th anniversary.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Makes changes concerning the identification, evaluation, and placement of children; the impartial due process hearing procedure; the expedited hearing procedure; the selection, training, evaluation, and retention of hearing officers and other matters concerning hearing officers; and the evaluation of the impartial due process hearing system.

Creates the Youth Violence Prevention Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act to require that coverage under those Acts include coverage for hearing aids for minors. Requires the coverage to include the full cost of a hearing aid for each impaired ear up to $1,400 every 36 months and related services. Allows insureds to purchase more expensive hearing aids and pay the difference in cost without penalty to the insured or provider of the hearing aid. Allows insurers to not pay the claim for hearing aid coverage if the insured filed a claim less than 3 years prior to the claim filed with the insurer and the claim was paid by any insurer.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires a public utility seeking to classify information as proprietary or confidential to (i) identify to the Illinois Commerce Commission each and every piece of information it seeks to classify in that manner and (ii) justify the withholding of that information from public inspection. Provides that the existence of competition for a particular service is not alone sufficient justification for withholding information from public inspection. Provides that certain information is not confidential or proprietary. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $4,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund as follows: (1) $3,000,000 to the Early Intervention Services Revolving Fund for a 3% cost-of-doing-business increase for physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, developmental therapy, and service coordination at the Department of Human Services for payment for early intervention services; and (2) $1,500,000 to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, for a 3% cost-of-doing-business increase for providers of each of the following services in connection with the provision of therapy services: physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy funded by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Effective January 1, 2006.

Appropriates $8,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund as follows: (1) $6,000,000 to the Early Intervention Services Revolving Fund for a 5% cost-of-doing-business increase for 16 specified early intervention services at the Department of Human Services for payment for early intervention services; and (2) $2,500,000 to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, for a 5% cost-of-doing-business increase for providers of each of the following services in connection with the provision of therapy services: physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy funded by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Effective July 1, 2006.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act and Groundwater Protection Act. Authorizes the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency to issue orders requiring an appropriate response from a potentially responsible party in the event of the release or substantial threat of release of a hazardous substance into the environment. Provides that a person may not use, cause the use of, or allow the use of (instead of "use") any site, for which a land use limitation has been imposed, in a manner that is inconsistent with that limitation unless certain conditions have been met. Establishes an internal Agency committee to recommend appropriate action for suspected or confirmed groundwater contamination and, among other things, requires the Agency to give notice of the actual or potential impact of the contamination to property owners served by the affected water system. Creates the Right-to-Know Committee to provide notice to the public about releases or suspected releases of contaminants in the State. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.