Rep. Constance A. Howard

Creates the Good Samaritan Computer Program Act and amends the State Finance Act. Directs the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to solicit voluntary contributions for the purpose of assisting low-income individuals and families in purchasing computers. Creates the Good Samaritan Computer Program Trust Fund, and provides that contributions under the Good Samaritan Computer Program Act shall be deposited into the fund. Provides that subject to appropriations, DCEO may use moneys in the fund to assist low-income individuals and families to purchase computers. Requires DCEO to make an annual report on the use and effectiveness of the fund. Effective January 1, 2008.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Public Aid to provide coverage of comprehensive and appropriate substance abuse treatment services to persons who are eligible for Medicaid. Provides that a person who is eligible for Medicaid is entitled to receive comprehensive and appropriate substance abuse treatment services on demand, without being placed on a waiting list other than as required by the schedule of the provider of the services. Provides that the services may be provided by a local substance abuse treatment provider licensed by the Department of Human Services or by a licensed hospital that provides substance abuse treatment services. Effective January 1, 2008.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the expungement of juvenile law enforcement and court records.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Makes a technical change in a Section requiring the Department of Corrections to designate those institutions and facilities that are maintained for persons assigned as adults and as juveniles.

Amends the Digital Divide Law. Creates the Non-profit Digital Divide Foundation to succeed the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in managing the Digital Divide Elimination Fund. Sets forth various provisions for the formation and operation of the Foundation. Provides that the Foundation is authorized to accept and solicit funds from a variety of sources. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Judicial Campaign Reform Act and amends the Election Code, the State Finance Act, the Illinois Income Tax Act, and the Clerks of Courts Act. Creates a voluntary program of public financing of election campaigns for the offices of judges of the Illinois Supreme Court and Appellate Courts, administered by the State Board of Elections. Establishes funding mechanisms and provides penalties for violations. Sets mandatory contribution limits with respect to all judicial election campaigns. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2009.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections relating to relief from disabilities automatically imposed by law. Provides that the court may grant relief from forfeitures. Defines "eligible offender" for the purposes of relief from disabilities and forfeitures as a person who has been convicted of a crime that does not include an offense or attempted offense that would subject the person to registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act, the Arsonist Registration Act, or the Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act (rather than an offense that is not a crime of violence, a Class X or a nonprobationable offense, or a violation of the Sex Offenses or Bodily Harm Articles of the Criminal Code of 1961, but who has not been convicted more than twice of a felony). Provides that "eligible offender" does not include a person who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit first degree murder. Provides that a certificate of good conduct may be granted to relieve an eligible offender of any employment-related disability, or to remove any bar to his or her employment, automatically imposed by law by reason of his or her conviction of the crime or of the offense specified in the certificate. Provides that the certificate may be limited to one or more enumerated disabilities or bars or may relieve the individual of all disabilities and bars. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law, a conviction of a crime or of an offense specified in a certificate of good conduct may not be deemed to be a conviction within the meaning of any provision of law that imposes, by reason of a conviction, a bar to any employment, a disability to exercise any right or a disability to apply for or to receive any license, permit, or other authority or privilege covered by the certificate. Provides that a certificate of good conduct does not relieve an offender of any employment-related disability imposed by law by reason of his or her conviction of a crime that would prevent his or her employment by the Department of Corrections. Effective June 1, 2008.

Amends the State Finance Act, the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Act. Extends the duration and increases the amounts of deposits of certain use and occupation tax proceeds into the McCormick Place Expansion Project Fund. Increases certain bond authorization limits of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority from $2,107,000,000 to $2,457,000,000 and makes changes to the required maturity dates of the bonds. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Congratulates Rose Marie Wilson on her retirement from the Social Security Administration.

Amends the Shaken Baby Prevention Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.