Amends the Public Utilities Act and the Energy Assistance Act to create the Percentage of Income Payment Plan. Provides for the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish a percentage of income payment plan for utility service to operate in conjunction with the energy assistance program. Provides that eligible households shall be required to pay not more than 6% of annual income for gas and electric service. Requires the Commerce Commission to establish a universal service surcharge to be imposed upon gas and electric service provided to consumers in Illinois. Provides for the moneys received under the surcharge to be deposited into the Universal Service Surcharge Fund, a special fund in the State treasury. Provides for moneys in the fund to be used, subject to appropriation, to pay a provider of gas or electricity the amount by which the cost of gas or electricity provided to consumers participating in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan exceeded the amount paid by those participants to the provider for that gas or electricity. Amends the State Finance Act to add the Universal Service Surcharge Fund to the list of special funds.
Sponsored bills
Appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for autism programs. Effective July 1, 2008.
Amends the Cook County Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Creates an alternative retirement annuity and survivor's benefit for sworn sheriff's personnel. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Children and Family Services Act and the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that when a child is the subject of an action under the "Abused, Neglected or Dependent Minors" Article of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 and the child's service plan calls for certain family preservation services, the court hearing the action under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 may order the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to provide the family preservation services set out in the plan, if those services are not provided with reasonable promptness and if those services are available. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. In provisions concerning dispositional orders with respect to abused, neglected, or dependent minors, makes changes concerning a court's findings and the service plan developed by DCFS; provides that unless otherwise specifically authorized by law, the court is not empowered to order specific placements, specific services, or specific service providers to be included in the plan. Authorizes a court to select the goal of long-term foster care as a permanency goal if certain conditions are met.
Creates the Health Care for All Illinois Act. Provides that all individuals residing in this State are covered under the Illinois Health Services Program for health insurance. Provides the specific health coverage benefits that participants are entitled to under the Program. Sets forth the requirements for the qualifications of participating health providers. Sets forth the specific standards for provider reimbursement. Provides that it is unlawful for private health insurers to sell health insurance coverage that duplicates the coverage of the Program. Provides that investor-ownership of health delivery facilities, including hospitals, health maintenance organizations, nursing homes, and clinics, is unlawful. Provides that the State shall establish the Illinois Health Services Trust to provide financing for the Program. Sets forth the specific requirements for claims billing under the Program. Provides that the Program shall include funding for long-term care services and mental health services. Provides that the Program shall establish a single prescription drug formulary and list of approved durable medical goods and supplies. Creates the Pharmaceutical and Durable Medical Goods Committee to negotiate the prices of pharmaceuticals and durable medical goods with suppliers or manufacturers on an open bid competitive basis. Provides that patients in the Program shall have the same rights and privacy in accordance with current State and federal statutes. Provides that the Commissioner, the Chief Medical Officer, public State board members, and subsequent employees of the Program shall be compensated in accordance with the current pay scale for State employees and as deemed professionally appropriate by the General Assembly and reviewed in accordance with all other State employees. Effective July 1, 2009.
Amends the Citizens Utility Board Act. Provides that the Citizens Utility Board shall represent and protect the interests of the residential utility customers and petroleum customers (now, just residential utility customers) of this State. Makes corresponding changes.
Amends the School Code. Allows children who have attended preschool and will attain the age of 5 years on or before December 31 of the year of the 2008-2009 school term and each school term thereafter to attend school upon commencement of such term (now, a child must attain age 5 on or before September 1 or, in the case of Chicago, the school age for kindergarten pupils may not be fixed at under 4 years). Makes related changes. Effective July 1, 2008.
Creates the HIV/AIDS Prevention Program for Department of Corrections Offenders, Significant Others, and Family Members Act. Provides that the Department of Corrections and the Department of Public Health shall jointly develop and implement an HIV/AIDS prevention education program targeted to offenders incarcerated in Department of Corrections facilities, significant others, and family members of adult and juvenile prison inmates. Provides for elements of the program and a report to the General Assembly. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Requires HIV testing of all inmates upon admission to and before release from a facility (rather than prior to release of inmates with a documented history of drug use and upon the written informed consent of the inmate). Deletes a provision that HIV testing and counseling is not required unless sufficient funds are appropriated for those purposes. Provides that costs of mandatory education courses taken by inmates at least 17 years of age to qualify for a GED or high school diploma shall be paid by the Department of Corrections (rather than the defendant). Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall require students who participate in an interscholastic athletic program to undergo an electrocardiogram (EKG) test. Provides that the State Board of Education shall determine how often a student must undergo EKG testing.
Amends the School Code. Provides that a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test must be included as a part of the student health examination required under the School Code, and provides for Department of Public Health rules.