Rep. Mary Flowers

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Subject to appropriations, requires the Department to pay veterans service organizations for services provided by veterans service officers in processing claims and other benefits for veterans and their spouses or other beneficiaries residing in Illinois. Requires payment at the rate of $0.010 for each dollar of benefits obtained for veterans or their spouses or other beneficiaries. Sets forth criteria that a veterans service organization must meet.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that "person subject to involuntary admission" includes (i) a person with mental illness and who because of his or her illness is reasonably expected to engage in dangerous conduct (instead of reasonably expected to inflict serious physical harm upon himself or herself or another in the near future) and (ii) a person with mental illness who, because of the nature of his or her illness, is unable to understand his or her need for treatment and who, if not treated, is reasonably expected to suffer or continue to suffer mental deterioration or emotional deterioration, or both, to the point that the person is reasonably expected to engage in dangerous conduct. Defines "dangerous conduct" as threatening behavior or conduct that places another individual in reasonable expectation of being harmed, or a person's inability to provide, without the assistance of family or outside help, for his or her basic physical needs so as to guard himself or herself from serious harm.

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.

Amends the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997 in the Public Utilities Act. Changes the definition of "mandatory transition period" to include the period from the effective date through the date on which the Illinois Commerce Commission has approved declarations of competitive service for all classes of service offered in the service areas of all electric utilities that, on December 31, 2005, served at least 100,000 but fewer than 2 million residential customers. Requires the Commission to order certain utilities to file and implement tariffs to reinstate all 2006 rates beginning on the first day of the month immediately following the effective date. Prohibits the Commission from taking certain actions prior to 6 months after the effective date with respect to (i) initiating, authorizing, or ordering any change by way of increase or (ii) in approving an application for a merger, imposing a condition requiring any filing for an increase, decrease, or change in or other review of a utility's rates or enforcing such a condition. Provides that the Commission shall only declare the class of service to be competitive according to certain criteria (now, the Commission is required to declare the service to be competitive if the service or a reasonably equivalent substitute is available at a reasonable price from other providers other than the utility or an affiliate and the utility has lost or is reasonably likely to lose business for service to other providers). Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Autism Spectrum Disorders Reporting Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the High Blood Pressure Control Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning prohibited transactions.

Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Provides that "dental service", as the term relates to those services performed by a dental assistant under the supervision and full responsibility of a dentist and therefore exempt from the operation of the Act, does not include the administration of anesthetics, except for (A) the application of topical anesthetics and (B) the monitoring of nitrous oxide, conscious sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia (now, except for the application of topical anesthetics and monitoring of nitrous oxide), each of which may be performed after successful completion of a training program approved by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that it is unlawful for any dentist licensed under the Act to use the term "sedation dentistry" or similar terms in advertising unless the advertising dentist holds a valid and current permit issued by the Department to administer either general anesthesia or conscious sedation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code and the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Requires coverage for a mammogram at the age and intervals considered medically necessary by the woman's health care provider for women under 40 years of age and having a family history of breast cancer, prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing, or other risk factors (now, only for women under 40 years of age and having a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors). Also requires coverage for a comprehensive ultrasound screening of an entire breast or breasts if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System established by the American College of Radiology or if the woman is believed to be at increased risk for breast cancer due to family history or prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing, or other indications as determined by a woman's health care provider. Effective immediately.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act, the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the University of Illinois Hospital Act, and the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to perform certain functions in relation to the prevention and control of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs). In particular, requires the Department to: (1) adopt rules for all health care facilities subject to licensure, certification, registration, or other regulation by the Department requiring compliance with the 2006 recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the prevention and control of MDROs; (2) conduct a public information campaign for health care providers not subject to regulation by the Department; (3) create and administer a training program for health care providers; and (4) recommend and approve tests or testing procedures used in determining, preventing, and controlling MDRO infection. Requires hospitals (including the University of Illinois Hospital) and Department of Human Services mental health and developmental disability facilities to implement comprehensive interventions and routine testing procedures. Effective immediately.