Rep. Patricia Reid Lindner

Amends the Property Tax Code. Includes disabled persons within the provisions granting an assessment freeze homestead exemption to senior citizens. Changes the name to the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption (now Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption). Makes corresponding changes to a cross-reference to the exemption. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $75,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for a pilot program to make women's self-preservation classes part of the high school curriculum. Effective July 1, 2007.

Appropriates $300,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for Kendall County to enable the county to administer mental health services. Effective July 1, 2008.

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish a 3-year pilot program to make women's self-preservation classes part of the high school curriculum. Provides that the program must be established in school districts located in Cook, Will, and Champaign Counties. Provides that after the pilot program has been in effect for 3 years, the State Board of Education shall report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on whether the program should be expanded to other school districts in the State. Effective July 1, 2007.

Amends the Violent Crime Victims Assistance Act. In provisions requiring imposition of a $25 or $20 penalty upon conviction of or placement on supervision for certain offenses, deletes language providing that the penalty shall be imposed only if no other fine is imposed, and adds language providing that the penalty shall be imposed in addition to any other penalty or fine imposed by the court.

Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides a definition of "short-term military service guardian". Provides for a Short-term Military Service Guardian. Provides that a parent, adoptive parent, or adjudicated parent in active military service who has physical custody of a child and who does not share joint custody may appoint in writing, with notice to the other living parent of the child and to the court, a short-term military service guardian of the minor child. The written instrument appointing a guardian shall be (i) dated and identify the appointing parent, other living parent, minor, and the guardian; and (ii) signed and witnessed by 2 witnesses unrelated to the parent or the guardian. Provides that a parent shall not appoint a guardian if the child has another living parent, adoptive parent or adjudicated parent (i) who has joint custody of the child, (ii) whose parental rights have not been terminated, (iii) whose whereabouts are known, and (iv) who is willing and able to make and carry out day-to-day child care decisions, unless the non-appointing parent consents. Provides that no later than 2 days after the written instrument was completed the parent must send copies by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to: (1) the other living parent;(2) the court that awarded custody; (3) the court which issued the last order concerning the child, or (4) the circuit court clerk in the county where the child resides. Provides that the guardianship is effective immediately, unless a later date is selected. Provides that no court approval is required. The short-term military service guardian shall have authority to act as guardian of the minor for 180 days. Provides that a reappointment or designating a successor short-term military service guardian may be completed similarly. Provides that the appointment of a short-term military service guardian does not affect the other parent's rights.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a municipality with 15,000 or more inhabitants may adopt, either by ordinance or by resolution, at least 180 days before the first municipal election following the municipality's receipt of the new federal decennial census results "or any other official census results, including but not limited to special census results", a specified number of aldermen (less than the number required elsewhere in the Act). Now, such a municipality may adopt such an ordinance or resolution only following the receipt of the new federal decennial census results. Effective immediately.

Amends the Circuit Courts Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the courts' powers.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders to the extent that the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders are not already covered by the policy or plan. Provides that this coverage shall be subject to a maximum benefit of $36,000 per year, but shall not be subject to any limits on the number of visits to an autism service provider. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Early Intervention Services System Act. Provides that "eligible infants and toddlers" means infants and toddlers under 48 (instead of 36) months of age with certain conditions. Effective immediately.