Rep. Deborah Mell

Creates the Clean Technology Task Force for Commercial Clothes Cleaning to identify barriers to using environmentally friendly alternatives to perchloroethylene in dry cleaning operations in Illinois, and to study appropriate methods for phasing out the use of perchloroethylene in dry cleaning operations in Illinois and encouraging the use of cleaner clothes cleaning technologies.

Amends the Credit Agreements Act. Provides that specified provisions shall not constitute a defense to a claim that arises out of bad faith conduct intended to unjustly benefit a creditor or a third party. Provides that the mere failure by a creditor to enter into a credit agreement with or to provide a written commitment to a debtor, without more, shall not constitute bad faith under specified provisions. Provides for the legislative intent of the General Assembly and that certain provisions apply to pending actions as well as actions commenced on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that it is a petty offense with a $500 fine for a sex offender to knowingly be present in any public library unless the offender has permission to be present from the head librarian on duty the day the offender plans to attend or the offender is a parent or guardian of a person under 18 years of age present in the library. Provides that notification includes the nature of the sex offender's visit and the hours in which the sex offender will be present in the library. Provides that the sex offender must notify the head librarian at least 2 hours prior to entering the library and again when he or she departs from the library property.

Creates the Pediatric Palliative Care Act. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall develop a pediatric palliative care pilot program under which a qualifying child may receive community-based pediatric palliative care from a trained interdisciplinary team while continuing to pursue aggressive curative treatments for a potentially life-limiting medical condition under the benefits available under the Medicaid program. Provides that the Department shall apply for a federal waiver to conduct the program. Provides that a "qualifying child" for the pilot program is a child under the age of 18 years who is enrolled in the Medicaid program and suffers from a potentially life-limiting medical condition. Sets forth certain counties to be included in the pilot program. Requires a report to the General Assembly at the end of the 3-year pilot period. Amends the Hospice Program Licensing Act; requires the Hospice and Palliative Care Advisory Board to review pediatric palliative care issues. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that every institution of higher education covered by the Act shall post in a prominent and accessible location a poster stating sexual harassment laws and policies. Provides that documents to be posted shall be retrieved from the Illinois Department of Human Rights website to satisfy posting requirements. Provides that posting of the posters shall be effectuated within 90 days of the effective date of the amendatory Act and shall occur annually thereafter. Specifies the contents of the posted sexual harassment poster. Provides that it is a civil rights violation for an institution of higher education to fail to post the sexual harassment poster. Effective August 1, 2009.

Amends the School Code. With respect to the Early Childhood Education Block Grant, provides that not less than 11% (instead of exactly 11%) of the grant shall be used to fund programs for children ages 0-3. Provides that this percentage shall increase to at least 20% by Fiscal Year 2015, except that if, in a given fiscal year, the amount appropriated for the Early Childhood Education Block Grant is insufficient to increase the percentage of the grant to fund programs for children ages 0-3 without reducing the amount of the grant for existing providers of preschool education programs, then the percentage of the grant to fund programs for children ages 0-3 may be held steady instead of increased. Effective July 1, 2009.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that if the committed person has been convicted of a felony DUI offense or a felony violation of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, a felony violation of the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, or a felony violation of the Cannabis Control Act, he or she shall be assigned to an alcoholism or drug treatment program approved by the Department of Human Services. Provides that the Department of Corrections may provide treatment to such persons in a separate institution within the Department, or the Director of the Department of Corrections may transfer such person to the Department of Human Services for treatment for a period of not more than 6 months, if the person consents in writing to the transfer. Provides that the person shall be advised of his or her right not to consent, and if he or she does not consent, such transfer may be effected only by a court commitment order. Provides that the committed person shall pay the Department that provides the treatment $100 for that treatment. Effective January 1, 2010.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act and the Illinois Income Tax Act. Authorizes the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to establish systems and programs to encourage employers to match employee contributions to prepaid programs of college savings by making donations to the Commission for prepaid programs of college savings and its programs of grants and loans to make higher education affordable for all residents of the State and to receive, hold, and disburse all such funds made available through those programs for the purposes for which they are authorized by rule or by law. Creates an income tax credit for employers who, during the taxable year, make a matching donation on behalf of an employee. Provides that the credit is 25% of the matching donation, but not to exceed $500 per employee. Provides that the credit may be carried forward for 3 taxable years. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that it is a Class 4 felony for a child sex offender to knowingly operate, whether authorized to do so or not, any vehicle or specific type of vehicle, including, but not limited to, an ice cream truck or authorized emergency vehicle, for the purpose of attracting or enticing a person under 18 years of age to be in the presence of the offender. Provides that it is a defense that the offender was the parent of the person under 18 years of age in the offender's presence. Effective immediately.