Amends the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act. Increases the lifetime benefit limitation from $1,500,000 to $2,000,000. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Under the Medicaid program, authorizes the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to provide for the services of persons licensed as a clinical social worker in supplying medical assistance. Prohibits the Department's rules from requiring that services for a specific Medicaid recipient provided by a licensed clinical social worker be recommended by a physician. Effective immediately.
Creates the School Health Center Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to initiate 20 new school health centers over a 5-year period beginning July 1, 2007, and build capacity with existing school health centers in the State. Effective immediately.
Creates the Internet Safety Education Act to inform and protect students from inappropriate or illegal communications and solicitation and to require school districts to provide education about Internet threats and risks. Creates the Internet Safety Education Alliance under the authority of the Office of the Attorney General. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Internet Safety Education Fund. Amends the School Code to mandate the provision by every public school of instruction and discussion on effective methods by which students may recognize and report inappropriate, illegal, or threatening communications on the Internet on or before the start of the 2008-2009 school year.
Amends the Energy Assistance Act. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services is authorized to institute an outreach program directed at low-income minority heads of households and heads of households age 60 or older. Provides that the program shall be consistent with the purposes and objectives of the Act and with all other specific requirements set forth in these provisions. Provides that as part of the program, the Department shall permit Case Coordination Units, under contract with the Department on Aging, to prepare and submit applications for energy assistance in the names of their clients in accordance with procedures established by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Provides that the Department shall establish a web-based application for use by applicants for energy assistance, their families, or someone acting on their behalf. Effective immediately.
Creates the Teacher Homebuyer Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Housing Development Authority to establish and administer a program to provide down payment assistance to public school teachers who teach in hard-to-staff schools or hard-to-staff positions for purchasing residences within the school district. Provides that the assistance shall be in the form of a deferred payment, low-interest subordinate mortgage loan with a term not longer than the term of the first mortgage loan, with interest accruing at a rate of up to 5% per annum. Provides that if the borrower has continuously been a teacher for the 5-year period immediately following the date of recordation of the loan deed of trust, then repayment of the loan shall be forgiven and considered a grant. Provides that repayment of the principal and accrued interest is due and payable upon the occurrence of certain events. Effective immediately.
Creates the Diabetes Initiative Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall develop a strategic plan to slow the rate of diabetes as a result of obesity and other environmental factors by the year 2010. Provides certain guidelines for the development of the plan. Provides that the Department shall deliver the plan to the Governor and to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2008. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2010. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that a person who falsely represents himself or herself to be a public officer or a public employee or an official or employee of the federal government commits a Class A (rather than a Class B) misdemeanor. Provides that if the false representation is made in furtherance of the commission of a felony, the penalty for a violation of this provision is a Class 4 felony.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Deletes the provision that refunds with respect to the earned income tax credit are subject to the availability of funds from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant and the State's ability to meet its required Maintenance of Effort. Effective immediately.
