Rep. Lisa Hernandez

Amends the Economic Development Area Tax Increment Allocation Act, the County Economic Development Project Area Property Tax Allocation Act, the County Economic Development Project Area Tax Increment Allocation Act of 1991, the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act in the Illinois Municipal Code, the Industrial Jobs Recovery Law in the Illinois Municipal Code, and the Economic Development Project Area Tax Increment Allocation Act of 1995. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2008, the initial equalized assessed value of all taxable real property within the economic development project area must be increased over the initial equalized assessed value of the previous year by the annual rate of increase, for the previous calendar year, of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items, published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Effective immediately.

Amends the Language Assistance Act. Makes changes in the list of things a health facility must do to ensure access to health care information and services for limited-English-speaking or non-English-speaking residents and deaf residents. Provides that a facility must do all (instead of one or more) of the following: (1) adopt and review annually a policy for providing language assistance services to patients with language or communication barriers; (2) develop and post notices that advise patients and their families of the availability of interpreters; and (3) notify the facility's employees of the language services available at the facility and train them on how to make these language services available to patients. Provides that, in addition, a facility may do one or more of the following: (i) review existing policies regarding interpreters; (ii) adopt a policy for language assistance services that includes certain procedures; (iii) identify and record a patient's primary language and dialect; (iv) prepare a list of interpreters; (v) review standardized forms and other materials; (vi) consider providing its nonbilingual staff with standardized picture and phrase sheets; and (vii) develop community liaison groups. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders to the extent that the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders are not already covered by the policy or plan. Provides that this coverage shall be subject to a maximum benefit of $36,000 per year, but shall not be subject to any limits on the number of visits to an autism service provider. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the creation of the Board.

Creates the Access to Governmental Services Act. Provides that each State agency, constitutional officer, State program, and circuit clerk shall take reasonable steps to provide equal access to public services for individuals with limited English proficiency. Provides that such reasonable steps include (1) having a sufficient number of qualified bilingual persons in public contact positions or as interpreters and (2) translating important documents ordinarily provided to the public into any language spoken by any limited-English-proficient population that constitutes at least a certain percentage of the population served. Requires the Illinois Human Rights Commission to implement a process to address disputes arising under the Act. Creates the State Language Assistance/Translator Services Clearinghouse within the Department of Central Management Services to assist in preparing, review, and approve, as to language-appropriateness, materials distributed to the public by State agencies and policy and procedure manuals used by State agencies in delivering services to the public. Amends the Language Assistance Services Act. Provides that a health facility (i) must adopt and review annually a policy for providing language assistance services and (ii) must provide its nonbilingual staff with standardized picture and phrase sheets (instead of having those 2 activities as options). Provides that a health facility must also do at least one of the remaining 7 specified activities (instead of must do one or more of 9 specified activities).

Creates the Public Health Advocates Act. Establishes the Public Health Advocates as a nonprofit membership corporation to effectively represent and protect the interests of Illinois health care consumers on certain matters and provides that members of the Corporation are Illinois residents who have contributed money to the Corporation. Provides duties and powers for the Corporation. Sets forth requirements for the board of directors of the Corporation, including qualifications for candidates, elections, appointment of officers, meetings, and duties. Permits the Corporation to prepare and furnish enclosures to State agencies to be included in agency mailings. Prohibits the Corporation and its directors, officers, and employees from accepting anything of monetary value above $100 from certain persons. Provides that the Act shall not be construed to limit the right of any person to participate in a regulatory proceeding or court action or to relieve any regulatory agency or court of any obligation to permit participation in a proceeding or action. Amends the Citizens Utility Board Act to comply with the mailing provisions of the Public Health Advocates Act. Effective immediately.

Creates the Retail Consumer Protection Act. Provides that certain businesses engaged in retail commerce shall have at least one designated employee responsible for ensuring the accuracy of posted and advertised prices and resolving customer complaints related to the accuracy of prices. Provides that any person engaged in retail commerce who is alerted by a customer of overcharging shall immediately report the overcharge to the designated employee, who shall investigate the alleged error. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall maintain a hotline to receive complaints. Provides that the Director of Agriculture shall: provide an annual written report describing activities to implement the Act and any substitute local ordinances; and adopt rules. Establishes penalties. Amends the Weights and Measures Act to grant city sealers the powers established in the Retail Consumer Protection Act.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the Returning Veterans' Homestead Exemption, under which an exemption from the property's value is granted for residential property that is owned and occupied as a residence by a veteran for the tax year in which the veteran returns from active duty in an armed conflict involving the armed forces of the United States. In a Section concerning the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption, provides that in all counties (now, in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants), the county board may by resolution provide that if a person has been granted the homestead exemption, the person qualifying need not reapply for the exemption. In a Section concerning the alternative general homestead exemption, extends the alternative exemption by an additional 3 years. Provides that the maximum amount of the exemption is $60,000 if the general assessment year for the property is 2006 or later. Provides that the base year for counties other than Cook County is the 2005 or 2006 tax year. Provides that, to subject itself to the provisions of the alternative general homestead exemption, a county must adopt an ordinance to that effect within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Creates the offense of infliction of serious physical injury or death to a vulnerable user of a public way. Provides that a person commits the offense of infliction of serious physical injury or death to a vulnerable user of a public way if the person (i) operates a vehicle upon a highway in this State in a careless or reckless manner and (ii) causes serious physical injury or death to a vulnerable user of a public way. Provides that infliction of serious physical injury or death to a vulnerable user of a public way is a Class A misdemeanor and carries a minimum fine of $12,500. Provides that any driver who is convicted of infliction of serious physical injury or death to a vulnerable user of a public way is subject to suspension of his or her driving privileges.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act and the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that beginning July 1, 2009, a person may not possess a handgun in the State unless the person has successfully completed a handgun safety course approved by the Department of State Police and has been issued a handgun possession permit by the Department. Provides that in determining the standards for approval of handgun safety courses, the Department shall consult with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board and the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that an approved course shall consist of 20 hours of training, which shall include all of the following: (1) instruction in the dangers of and misuse of handguns, and the storage, safety rules, and care and cleaning of handguns; (2) practice firing on a range with live ammunition; (3) instruction in the legal use of handguns; and (4) a presentation of the ethical and moral considerations necessary for any person who possesses a handgun. Establishes penalties for violations.