Rep. James H. Meyer

Amends the Adoption Act. Provides, in the definition of "unfit parent", that evidence of the parent's intent to forgo his or her parental rights is manifested by his or her failure for a period of 6 months (instead of 12 months) to visit the child or to have significant and meaningful contact with the child or agency (instead of to communicate with the child or agency). Provides that evidence of the parent's intent to forgo his or her parental rights is manifested by his or her continued chronic abuse of the minor. Defines "chronic abuse of a minor" and "significant and meaningful contact". Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Changes the Code's revolving door provision to a prohibition against a State officer or employee accepting compensation for work in the State procurement field for 2 years after leaving State service if that officer or employee, during the last 2 years of State service, (i) negotiated or administered a State contract with that employer, (ii) was a procurement officer, or (iii) was an executive appointee confirmed by the Senate.

Amends the Capital Crimes Litigation Act. Eliminates the July 1, 2004 repealer of the Act. Effective immediately.

Creates the Joint Task Force on Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education Options to study services available to the deaf and hard of hearing and make recommendations that would ensure that one public entity would be responsible for the entire deaf and hard of hearing population in the State and that all groups would be non-biased and consistent in the information they provide to parents and families of the deaf and hard of hearing.

Amends the Campus Demonstrations Policy Act. Prohibits the regulation of the time, place, and manner of speech and assembly by the administration of a State-supported institution of higher learning from being more restrictive than necessary to protect normal academic and institutional activities. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the payment of support to the State Disbursement Unit.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Provides that the tuition rate for a member or dependent of a member of the Illinois National Guard, United States Coast Guard, or United States Armed Forces must not exceed the tuition rate for Illinois residents if the member is on active duty for a period of more than 30 days and the member's domicile or permanent duty station is in this State. Requires a university's board of trustees to adopt a policy governing the tuition rate for persons who no longer qualify for the tuition rate established in these amendatory provisions but who remain continuously enrolled at the university and to report this policy to the Board of Higher Education. Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Department of Public Aid and the federal Parent Locator Service.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Allows an income tax credit in an amount equal to 15% of the premium costs paid for a qualified long term care insurance contract covering the individual taxpayer or the taxpayer's spouse, parent, or dependent. Provides that the credit may not exceed $200 or the taxpayer's liability, whichever is less. Prohibits the carry forward of an excess tax credit to a succeeding year's tax liability. Exempts the credit from the sunset provisions. Effective immediately.