Rep. Marlow H. Colvin

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.

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 Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2010.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.

Creates the Anti-Phishing Act. Makes it unlawful for a person, by means of a Web page, e-mail message, or otherwise through use of the Internet, to solicit, request, or take any action to induce another person to provide identifying information by representing oneself to be a business without the authority or approval of the business. Provides that a person who is engaged in the business of providing Internet access service to the public, owns a Web page, or owns a trademark and is adversely affected by a violation may bring an action to recover the greater of actual damages or $500,000. Provides that an individual who is adversely affected by a violation may bring an action against a person who has directly violated the Act to enjoin further violations of the Act and to recover the greater of 3 times the amount of actual damages or $5,000 per violation. Provides that the Attorney General or a State's Attorney may bring an action against a person who violates or is in violation of the Act to enjoin further violations and to recover a civil penalty of up to $2,500 per violation. Provides that a court may increase the recoverable damages to an amount up to 3 times the damages otherwise recoverable if the defendant has engaged in a pattern and practice of violating the Act and award costs of suit and attorney's fees to a prevailing plaintiff. Provides that these remedies do not preclude the seeking of remedies, including criminal remedies, under any other applicable provision of law. Provides that multiple violations resulting from any single action or conduct shall constitute one violation.

Creates the Illinois Children's Savings Accounts Act. Creates a task force to review and make recommendations about children's savings account program options and to create a strategic implementation plan to create a savings account at birth for every child born in Illinois to Illinois residents. Provides the appointment criteria for members of the task force. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall be responsible for administrative and logistical support of the task force. Provides the factors the task force shall consider in its recommendations for the design of the program. Requires the task force to hold at least 4 public meetings at various locations throughout the State. Requires the task force to make a written report of its findings and recommendations, including a strategic implementation plan for an Illinois children's savings account program, to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity no later than September 1, 2008. Provides that on or before November 1, 2008, the Department shall present all reports issued by the task force to the Governor and the General Assembly. Effective immediately.

Amends the Vehicle Code. Provides that each school district in the State shall have in place, by January 1, 2008, a policy to ensure that the school bus driver is the last person leaving every school bus and that no passenger is left behind or remains on the vehicle at the end of a route, a work shift, or the work day. Establishes requirements for the policy. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Provides that when a sex offender registers with the appropriate law enforcement agency, he or she shall provide the law enforcement agency with all e-mail addresses, instant messaging identities, chat room identities, and other Internet communications identities that the sex offender uses or plans to use, all Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) registered or used by the sex offender, and all blogs and other Internet sites maintained by the sex offender or to which the sex offender has uploaded any content or posted any messages or information. Amends the Sex Offender Community Notification Law. Provides for disclosure of such information to the public. Effective immediately.

Amends the Energy Assistance Act. Changes the repeal date of provisions creating the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund from December 31, 2007 to December 31, 2013. Effective immediately.

Urges the members of the Illinois congressional delegation to give full consideration to the passage of the federal Savings for Working Families Act.

Creates the Smoke Free Illinois Act. Sets forth the findings of the General Assembly. Creates several definitions. Prohibits smoking in public places, places of employment, and governmental vehicles. Requires "No Smoking" signs to be posted in each public place and place of employment where smoking is prohibited. Requires ashtrays to be removed from any area where smoking is prohibited. Prohibits smoking in student dormitories, including, but not limited to, sleeping rooms, dining areas, restrooms, laundry areas, lobbies, and hallways, of a building used in whole or in part as a student dormitory that is owned and operated or otherwise utilized by a public or private institution of higher education. Provides that the Department of Public Health, State-certified local public health departments, and local law enforcement agencies shall enforce the provisions of the Act. Sets forth fines for violations of the Act. Provides that the Department, a State-certified local public health department, local law enforcement agency, or any individual personally affected by repeated violations may institute, in a circuit court, an action to enjoin violations of the Act. Prohibits discrimination against individuals who exercise their rights afforded by the Act. Provides that a home rule unit may regulate smoking in public places, but that regulation must be no less restrictive than the provisions in the Act. Prohibits smoking within a minimum distance of 15 feet from entrances, exits, windows that open, and ventilation intakes that serve an enclosed area where smoking is prohibited. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Repeals the Illinois Clean Indoor Air Act.

Reconstitutes the Commission to Study the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its Past and Present Effects on African-Americans created by SJR 31 of the 94th General Assembly.