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, and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act to provide coverage for habilitative services, including, but not limited to occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy for children under the age of 19 with congenital or genetic defects existing at or from birth or with a defect acquired at a young age. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Amends the Municipal Code. Provides that the corporate authorities of a municipality may enact an ordinance declaring retail theft to be unlawful. Provides that the ordinance shall not apply to any offense that is considered a felony under the Criminal Code of 1961. Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that any person who violates a municipal retail theft ordinance shall be civilly liable to the merchant. Effective immediately.

Amends the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Provides that, for grant years 2009 and thereafter, "income" means federal taxable income (now, "income" means federal adjusted gross income modified by adding thereto income received from any of a list of sources).

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person who enters a railroad grade crossing and obstructs the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians or of a train or railroad equipment shall have his or her driver's license suspended for a period of one month, in addition to the imposition of a mandatory $500 fine or 50 hours of community service. Provides that a person who receives a disposition of court supervision for this violation is also subject to a mandatory fine of $500 or 50 hours of community service. Provides that upon a second violation, the person shall have his or her driving privileges suspended for a period of 3 months, in addition to the imposition of a fine of $500 and 50 hours of community service. Provides that, in imposing the suspension, the court may grant the person a restricted driving permit for the duration of the suspension, subject to stated conditions.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that services provided, under the program established by the Department on Aging to prevent unnecessary institutionalization of persons age 60 and older in need of long term care or who are established as persons who suffer from Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder, shall be consumer directed and client focused. Effective immediately.

Amends the Harassing and Obscene Communications Act. Creates the offense of harassment by Internet. Prohibits various forms of obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, or indecent communications with the intent to offend by use of the Internet or any abusive, threatening, or harassing communications by use of the Internet. Establishes penalties.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a deduction for individual taxpayers who are 62 years of age or older in an amount equal to the amount the individual pays for Medicare Part B benefits during the taxable year. Provides that the deduction is available in taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2007. Exempts the deduction from the sunset provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Allows an income tax credit for each individual taxpayer who is a teacher teaching in a school in Illinois. Provides that the amount of the credit is equal to the eligible classroom expenses made by the taxpayer during the taxable year, but the credit may not exceed $500. Defines "eligible classroom expenses" as the aggregate amount of nonreimbursed classroom expenses made by the taxpayer during the taxable year less $250. Provides that the credit may not be carried forward or back and may not reduce the taxpayer's liability to less than zero. Effective immediately.

Amends the Attorney General Act. Requires the Attorney General to establish and operate a Foreclosure and Mortgage Questions Hotline. Requires Hotline counselors to provide information and counseling concerning mortgages and mortgage foreclosures and to act as facilitators for communication between lenders and borrowers.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that the charge for copies of patient records held by a health care facility or health care practitioner shall not exceed $1.25 per page for copies made from an electronic record, as that term is defined in the Electronic Commerce Security Act.