Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning financial exploitation of an elderly person.
Congratulates the members of the City Colleges of Chicago academic team for earning national honors by capturing first place in the "Know Your Heritage: Hispanic College Quiz Bowl".
Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act to change the repeal date of the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act from January 1, 2008 to January 1, 2018. Amends the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act. Replaces "Department of Professional Regulation" with "Department of Financial and Professional Regulation" and "Director of the Department of Professional Regulation" with "Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation" throughout the Act. Adds a provision concerning an applicant's or licensee's change of address. Provides that a civil penalty of $10,000 (rather than $5,000) shall be imposed upon an individual for each offense of unlicensed practice. Makes changes to provisions concerning licensure, licensure by endorsement, grounds for disciplinary action, rehearing, and the appointment of a hearing officer. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Attorney General Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning appointment of substitute attorneys.
Creates the Green Governments Illinois Act. Provides for the creation of the Green Governments Coordinating Council and sets out the composition and responsibilities of the Council. Gives the Council the authority to solicit and receive grants to fulfill the Council's functions and to solicit, use, and publish advice and information to assist in the Council's duties. Provides that participation in the Green Governments Illinois program by units of State and local government and educational institutions is voluntary. Sets out responsibilities of State agencies under the Act. Provides that a member of the Lieutenant Governor's staff shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a Green Governments Illinois website with specified content. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Provides that a vision examination must be included as a part of the health examination required within one year prior to entering kindergarten or the first grade, whichever grade the child first enters, of any public, private, or parochial elementary school. Makes related changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective January 1, 2008.
Amends the Public Community College Act. Requires the Illinois Community College Board to establish and administer a We Want to Learn English Initiative to provide resources for immigrants and refugees in this State to learn English in order to move towards becoming full members of American society. Provides that each fiscal year, the Board shall include in its budget proposal $25,000,000 in funding for the Initiative. Provides that no less than half of the funds appropriated for the Initiative each fiscal year shall be disbursed to community-based, not-for-profit organizations, immigrant social service organizations, faith-based organizations, and on-site job training programs. Effective immediately.
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 Illinois Procurement Code. Permits a State agency to renew or extend a lease of real property or capital improvements without using the request for information selection process if it is in the State's best interest and the Procurement Policy Board does not object (now, permitted only for renewal or extension of leases in effect before July 1, 2002). Effective July 1, 2007.
Amends the Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Emerald Ash Borer Revolving Loan Program and the Emerald Ash Borer Revolving Loan Fund. Provides that the program shall provide low-interest or zero-interest loans to units of local government for the reforestation of trees on public lands that are within quarantine areas infested by the emerald ash borer. Provides that a loan for the reforestation of trees on public lands within quarantine areas infested by the emerald ash borer may not exceed $5,000,000 to any one unit of local government. Sets out other terms of the loans awarded under the program. Provides that any loan under this Section made to a unit of local government may not exceed the moneys that the unit of local government expends or dedicates for the reforestation project for which the loan is made. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Emerald Ash Borer Revolving Loan Fund in the Act.
