Rep. Sidney H. Mathias

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 Property Tax Code. In a Section concerning the alternative general homestead exemption, deletes provisions ending the alternative exemption after certain tax years. Sets forth requirements for ordinances by counties concerning the homestead exemption. Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailer's Occupation Tax Act. Provides that 0.4% of the net revenues realized for the preceding month from the State's portion of the general rate of tax imposed under the Acts shall be paid by the Department of Revenue into the Local Government Distributive Fund (reverting to the distribution in place prior to State fiscal year 2003). Effective July 1, 2008.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the alternative general homestead exemption applies on a permanent basis and increases the amount of the exemption to $60,000 for taxable year 2007 and thereafter. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code and the Counties Code. Provides that it is a State's Attorney's duty to notify the State Superintendent of Education upon the conviction of any individual known to possess a certificate issued under the School Code of any of certain offenses or any other felony conviction. In the criminal history records check provisions of the School Code, makes changes concerning the offenses for which a school board may not knowingly employ a person. Provides that no one may be certified to teach or supervise in the public schools who has been convicted of certain offenses (instead of providing that in determining good character, any felony conviction of an applicant may be taken into consideration, but such a conviction shall not operate as a bar to registration). In provisions concerning suspension or revocation of a certificate, provides that the State Superintendent of Education has the exclusive authority to initiate the suspension of up to 5 calendar years or revocation of any certificate (instead of providing that a certificate may be suspended for a period not to exceed one calendar year by the regional superintendent of schools or for a period not to exceed 5 calendar years by the State Superintendent). With respect to certificate suspension and revocation, makes changes concerning an investigation, notice, a hearing, an appeal, and the offenses that are grounds for suspension and revocation. Makes other changes.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the maximum reduction under the Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption shall be $4,000 for 2008, $4,500 for 2009, and $5,000 for 2010 and thereafter in all counties. Provides that the maximum reduction under the General Homestead Exemption shall be $5,500 for 2007, $6,000 for 2008, $6,500 for 2009, and $7,000 for 2010 and thereafter in all counties. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the amount of the earned income tax credit from 5% of the federal credit to: (i) 7.5% of the federal tax credit for taxable years ending in calendar year 2007; and (ii) 10% of the federal tax credit for taxable years ending in calendar year 2008 or thereafter. Effective immediately.

Amends the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, and the Service Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, during the period from August 22, 2008 through September 1, 2008 and again from the first Friday in August through the Sunday that occurs 9 days later in 2009 and each year thereafter, the tax imposed under the Acts on the selling price of certain school supplies, clothing, computers, and computer software shall be imposed at the rate of 1.25%. Sets forth the distribution of the proceeds. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to survey all school districts that are partly or wholly contained within Cook County and that billed owners of real property in 2007, for tax year 2006, under the alternative general homestead exemption provisions of the Property Tax Code. Provides that the survey shall request each of these school districts to certify, by affidavit signed by the superintendent of the district, the losses suffered by the school district in certain areas. Requires the State Treasurer, by non-appropriated statutory transfer, to transfer to each school district, from general revenue funds, the amounts certified by the school district in its survey response, if that response has been certified by the State Board of Education. Effective immediately.

Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Under specified circumstances, allows for a maximum of 5 additional charter schools exclusively for truants or dropouts in Chicago if the limit on the number of charter schools that may operate at any one time in the rest of the State has not been reached. Provides that if any of the additional charter schools are not used exclusively for truants or dropouts, then the State Board of Education shall withhold and the charter school shall forfeit all State funding designated for that school.