Rep. James H. Meyer

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that, in the development of the individualized education program for a student who has a disability on the autism spectrum, the IEP team shall consider and shall specifically address certain factors. Provides that consideration of these factors shall result in the clarification of a school district's responsibility to deliver appropriate educational services for children with disabilities on the autism spectrum, but shall not be construed to require or mandate any specific services. Effective January 1, 2008.

Amends the State Forest Act. Provides that all revenue from the sale of timber from State forests shall be deposited into the Wildlife and Fish Fund. Effective July 1, 2007.

Amends the State Treasurer Act. Requires the Treasurer to post information on his or her official website concerning the investment of public funds. Sets forth the required information. Does not require posting of information that is exempt from inspection and copying under the Freedom of Information Act.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, for purposes of the Department of Human Services' disability database, "developmental disabilities" include autism spectrum disorders. In connection with Medicaid, provides that a person diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder shall be considered a person with a "developmental disability" or a "person with a related condition" for purposes of determining eligibility for services under Home and Community-Based Services Waivers for persons with developmental disabilities, without regard to whether that person is also diagnosed with mental retardation and without regard to that person's IQ level, so long as the person otherwise meets applicable level-of-care criteria under those waivers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sex Offender Community Notification Law and the Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act. Provides that the local law enforcement agencies having jurisdiction shall disclose to libraries located within their jurisdictions the name, address, date of birth, place of employment, school attended, and offense or adjudication of all sex offenders and violent offenders against youth required to register in their jurisdictions under the Acts. Effective immediately.

Creates the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Law and amends the State Finance Act. Provides that the Lieutenant Governor, with the advice of the Broadband Deployment Council, shall enlist a nonprofit corporation to implement a comprehensive, statewide high speed Internet deployment strategy and adoption initiative. Specifies the duties of the nonprofit organization. Provides that nothing in the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Law shall be construed as giving the Lieutenant Governor, the Broadband Deployment Council, the nonprofit organization, or other entities any additional authority, regulatory or otherwise, over providers of telecommunications, broadband, and information technology. Creates the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Fund as a special fund in the State treasury, to be used, subject to appropriation, by the Lieutenant Governor for purposes of providing grants to the nonprofit organization enlisted under the Law. Provides that on the effective date of the Law, all moneys in the Digital Divide Elimination Infrastructure Fund which have not already been distributed or ordered distributed by the Illinois Commerce Commission shall be transferred to the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Fund. Contains other provisions concerning local governmental entities who undertake local broadband projects. Amends the Universal Telephone Service Protection Law of 1985 in the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a telecommunications carrier that is not subject to regulation under an alternative regulation plan pursuant to specified provisions may reduce the rate or charge for a noncompetitive service, service element, feature, or functionality offered to customers on a separate, stand-alone basis or as part of a bundled service offering by filing with the Commission a tariff that shows the reduced rate or charge and all applicable terms and conditions of the noncompetitive service, service element, feature, or functionality or bundled offering. Provides that provisions concerning basic local exchange service quality and the consumer complaint resolution process do not apply to telephone cooperatives. Changes the repeal date of the Universal Telephone Service Protection Law of 1985 from July 1, 2007 to July 1, 2009.

Designates the part of Interstate Route 355 in Illinois as the Veterans Memorial Tollway.

Creates a Joint Task Force on Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education Options.

Mourns the death in Iraq of Captain Kevin Landeck of Wheaton.

Urges the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (i) to inform employers of members of the armed forces who are called to active duty of the employment rights of those service members as veterans upon their return from active duty and (ii) to inform those employers of the consequences of not following the law in regard to the employment rights of returning veterans.