Rep. Robyn Gabel

Amends the Criminal Identification Act, the Criminal Code of 1961, the Cannabis Control Act, the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, and the Unified Code of Corrections. Creates Offender Initiative Probation. Provides that whenever any person who has not previously been convicted of, or placed on probation or conditional discharge for, any felony offense, other than a violent offense, under the laws of this State, the laws of any other state, or the laws of the United States, pleads guilty to, or is found guilty of, a probationable felony offense of theft, retail theft, forgery, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, burglary, possession of burglary tools, possession of cannabis, possession of a controlled substance, or possession of methamphetamine, the court, with the consent of both the defendant and the State's Attorney, may, without entering a judgment, sentence the defendant to probation. Establishes the terms and conditions of the probation. Provides that upon fulfillment of the terms and conditions of probation, the court shall discharge the person and dismiss the proceedings against the person. Provides that upon violation of a term or condition of probation, the court may enter a judgment on its original finding of guilt and proceed as otherwise provided by law.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the licensing requirements.

Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that criminal records sealed by the Department of State Police may be disseminated by the Department only to the arresting authority, the State's Attorney, and the court upon a later arrest for the same or similar offense or for the purpose of sentencing for any subsequent felony. Strikes provision that permitted the dissemination to other parties of criminal records sealed as required by law.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, on or before December 1 of each year, every public school district and registered nonpublic school shall make publicly available the immunization data they are required to submit to the State Board of Education by November 15; defines "publicly available". Provides that the immunization data made publicly available must be identical to the data the school district or school has reported to the State Board of Education. Effective January 1, 2013.

Creates the Benefit Corporation Act. Provides that a corporation may elect to become a benefit corporation by amending its articles of incorporation. Provides that in addition to its purposes under the Business Corporation Act of 1983 and any specific purpose set forth in its articles of incorporation, a benefit corporation shall have a purpose of creating general public benefit. Requires the preparation of an annual report for specified distribution and filing with the Secretary of State. Defines key terms and contains provisions concerning accountability and transparency.

Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Provides that the Illinois Finance Authority may (rather than shall) develop and maintain a list of firms located within the State that are available for purchase, merger, or acquisition. Provides that the Authority may (rather than shall) identify and study any laws or regulations that it finds handicaps or bars a needed health facility from participating in the benefits of the Act and may (rather than shall) recommend to the General Assembly actions to remedy any handicaps or bars to participation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department shall cause to be established an easily accessible online database for the purpose of compiling research expertise, intellectual property, and ongoing sponsored research projects at academic institutions across the State.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Sets forth provisions concerning health care cooperatives. Provides that in addition to all other provisions of the Article concerning domestic mutual companies, a company seeking to organize as a health care cooperative shall meet certain requirements. Sets forth provisions concerning the naming of and applications for entities seeking to organize as health care cooperatives. Amends the Co-operative Act. Exempts domestic mutual insurance companies licensed as health care cooperatives by the Director of Insurance from the prohibition against using the term "Co-operative" as part of a corporate or other business name or title without complying with the provisions of the Co-operative Act. Sets forth provisions concerning health benefit purchasing cooperatives. Provides that the purpose of a health benefit purchasing cooperative is to provide health care benefits for certain eligible individuals under a single group health care policy or plan through a contract between the health benefit purchasing cooperative and an insurer authorized to do health insurance business in the State. Sets forth provisions concerning the design, the articles, the membership basis and capital stock, the membership criteria, the health care benefits, and the annual progress report of health benefit purchasing cooperatives. Effective immediately.

Creates the Hospital Infant Feeding Act. Provides that every hospital that provides birthing services must adopt an infant feeding policy that promotes breastfeeding. Requires a hospital to routinely communicate the infant feeding policy to staff in the hospital's obstetric and neonatal areas; authorizes posting of the policy on the hospital's Internet or Intranet web site or on the Internet or Intranet web site of the health system of which the hospital is a part. Requires that the policy apply to all mother-infant couplets in the hospital's obstetric and neonatal areas. Effective January 1, 2013.

Amends the State Universities Civil Service Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning temporary appointments.