Rep. Lisa Hernandez

Amends the Health Services Education Grants Act. Provides that, in addition to grants to medical, dental, pharmacy, optometry, and nursing schools and physician assistant programs, grants may be made to psychology and other physical and mental health-related schools and programs (instead of to other health-related schools and programs). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that dental services authorized under the medical assistance program include preventive, diagnostic, or corrective procedures. Provides that dental services provided to persons who are participating in education, training, or employment programs operated by the Department of Human Services must be provided by an individual licensed to practice dentistry or dental surgery; also provides that such "dental services" mean diagnostic, preventive, or corrective procedures provided by or under the supervision of a dentist in the practice of his or her profession (eliminates a reference to prosthodontics).

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Allows an income tax credit for each individual taxpayer who is a teacher teaching in a school in Illinois. Provides that the amount of the credit is equal to 50% of the eligible classroom expenses made by the taxpayer during the taxable year, but the credit may not exceed $500. Defines "eligible classroom expenses" as the aggregate amount of nonreimbursed classroom expenses made by the taxpayer during the taxable year less $250. Provides that the credit may not be carried forward or back and may not reduce the taxpayer's liability to less than zero. Effective immediately.

Creates the Textbook Consumer Information Act. Provides that when contacting prospective clients, each publisher of college textbooks shall disclose to the faculty member or, where applicable, the other entity in charge of selecting textbooks for courses taught at a public institution of higher education (i) the price at which the publisher would make the textbooks and supplementary learning materials available to a college bookstore and (ii) the history of revisions for such products. Provides that any faculty member or entity in charge of selecting textbooks for courses taught at an institution must provide a written statement to the college bookstore placing an order for textbooks detailing all textbooks and supplementary learning materials required for each course, all textbooks and supplementary learning materials suggested for each course, and the earliest edition of any required textbook that may be purchased by a student for that course. Requires college bookstores to make available a listing of all textbooks and supplementary learning materials that are required for courses taught during each term, which shall include new and used textbook retail prices. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the amount of the earned income tax credit from 5% of the federal credit to: (i) 7.5% of the federal tax credit for taxable years ending in calendar year 2007; and (ii) 10% of the federal tax credit for taxable years ending in calendar year 2008 or thereafter. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 and the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that in addition to any term of imprisonment that may be imposed by the court, a gang member under 21 years of age who has been convicted of or placed on supervision for a gang-related offense and who has not previously been convicted of or placed on supervision for a gang-related offense shall, upon completion of any term of imprisonment, be required: (i) to perform community service, the type and number of hours of community service to be determined by the court; (ii) if the gang member does not have a high school diploma or a GED certificate, to attend and complete educational courses designed to prepare the gang member to pass the high school level Test of General Educational Development (GED), or if the gang member is enrolled in high school to complete high school and attain a high school diploma; and (iii) to comply with a curfew (A) between 10:00 p.m. on Friday and 6:00 a.m. on Saturday; (B) between 10:00 p.m. on Saturday and 6:00 a.m. on Sunday; and (C) between 9:00 p.m. on Sunday to Thursday, inclusive, and 6:00 a.m. on the following day.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that an offender's eligibility for a restricted driving permit depends on whether denial of all driving privileges would cause undue hardship, as defined by rules adopted by the Secretary of State. Provides that a person convicted of 4 or more offenses of driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident involving death or personal injury, or reckless homicide, or a combination of those offenses, is not eligible for a restricted driving permit. Provides that the Secretary shall revoke the driving privileges of any person under the age of 21 convicted of an out-of-state offense similar to DUI. Provides that a second suspension of a person's driving privileges for an out-of-state offense similar to DUI, or a single suspension of that type, if coupled with a summary suspension under the Code or a DUI or reckless homicide conviction, shall result in the person's being prohibited from driving a vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock device. Provides that a conviction of reckless homicide (as well as a conviction of DUI) increases the limitations that shall be imposed on a person's driving privileges.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code; provides that in any calendar year in which there is a cost-of-living increase in federal Supplemental Security Income benefits or Social Security Administration payments, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall increase the per diem Medicaid rate by an amount equal to the increase for total Supplemental Security Income benefits or Social Security Administration payments for intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled. Amends the Community Services Act; provides that in any calendar year in which there is a cost-of-living increase in federal Supplemental Security Income benefits or Social Security Administration payments, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall increase the per diem Medicaid rate by an amount equal to the increase for total Supplemental Security Income benefits or Social Security Administration payments to community providers of developmental disability, mental health, and alcohol and substance abuse services and supports. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning grants for research and development in high technology and service sectors.