Rep. Esther Golar

Amends the Secretary of State Act. Makes a technical change in a Section regarding the oath of office.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that any person who uses a consumer credit report in connection with the approval of credit based on the application for an extension of credit, and who has received notification of a police report filed with a consumer credit reporting agency that the applicant has been a victim of aggravated identity theft, may not lend money or extend credit without taking reasonable steps to verify the consumer's identity and confirm that the application for an extension of credit is not the result of financial identity theft or aggravated identity theft. Adds that a consumer may place a security freeze on his or her credit report by making a request directly to the consumer credit reporting agency through a secure electronic mail connection, if an electronic mail connection is provided by the consumer credit reporting agency. Provides that a consumer credit reporting agency shall not charge a fee for placing, removing, or removing for a specific party or period of time a security freeze on a credit report, if the consumer submits to the credit reporting agency a valid copy of a police report, investigative report, or complaint that the consumer has filed with a law enforcement agency about the unlawful use of his or her personal information by another person. Allows the credit reporting agency to charge a fee of not more than $10 to a consumer for each security freeze or temporary lift of a security freeze for a specific party and a fee of not more than $8 for removal of a security freeze or temporary lift of a security freeze for a period of time. Provides that the consumer credit reporting agency shall send a written confirmation of the security freeze to the consumer within 5 (instead of 10) business days of placing the freeze on the account. Requires the Director of the Division of Financial Institutions in the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to promulgate rules necessary to allow the use of electronic media to receive and process a request from a consumer to temporarily lift a security freeze as quickly as possible, with the goal of processing a request within 15 minutes of that request. Defines "consumer", "consumer credit reporting agency", "credit report", "Director", and "security freeze". Changes references from "credit reporting agency" to "consumer credit reporting agency". Effective January 1, 2007.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning State's Attorneys' representation of the State in court proceedings.

Amends the Illinois Economic Opportunity Act, the State Finance Act, the Illinois Income Tax Act, the Illinois Municipal Code, the Public Utilities Act, the Energy Assistance Act, and the Good Samaritan Energy Plan Act. Makes provisions concerning transfers to the General Revenue Fund from other funds not applicable to the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund, the Good Samaritan Energy Trust Fund, and the Energy Assistance Program Fund. Creates an Illinois income tax checkoff whereby a taxpayer may make a contribution to the Energy Assistance Program Fund. Prohibits the termination of gas or electric utility service to residential users who participate in or are eligible for the energy assistance program, and provides for reconnection of utility service to such households. Provides for administration of the energy assistance program and the Good Samaritan Energy Trust Fund by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services instead of the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (now Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity); requires the Department to adopt rules providing for enhanced enrollment for eligible consumers to receive energy assistance, and requires gas and electric utility companies and cooperatives to assist in coordinating low-income energy assistance. Provides that the annual eligibility level for the energy assistance program may not be lower (instead of higher) than 150% of the federal poverty level. Deletes the repeal of provisions concerning the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund scheduled for December 31, 2007. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning deceptive collection practices.

Amends the Abused and Neglected Long Term Care Facility Residents Reporting Act. Requires the Inspector General to immediately notify the Department of State Police or the appropriate law enforcement entity (now, only the Department of State Police) if the Inspector General determines that a possible criminal act has been committed or that special expertise is required in the investigation. Makes corresponding changes. Provides that the Department of State Police shall investigate any report from a State-operated facility (now, any report) indicating a possible murder, rape, or other felony. Effective immediately.