Rep. JoAnn D. Osmond

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 Township Code. Provides that the city council of any coterminous city may authorize the township supervisor to preside over portions of city council meetings when the city council is exercising powers that would ordinarily be exercised by the township board. Provides that, if the township supervisor is authorized to preside over city council meetings, then the township supervisor has one vote and the mayor has no vote. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates a property tax exemption for property that is owned and used as a homestead by a disabled veteran who has, at least, a 50% disability. Sets forth requirements for the exemption. Requires an annual application for the exemption. Provides that a current exemption for disabled veterans does not apply if the taxpayer receives an exemption created by this amendatory Act.

Amends the Physical Fitness Facility Medical Emergency Preparedness Act, the Automated External Defibrillator Act, and the Good Samaritan Act. Deletes a provision requiring a person, unit of state or local government, or school district operating a physical fitness facility to adopt a medical emergency plan, to have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) at the facility, and maintain the AED in accordance with certain standards in order to avoid civil liability. Deletes provisions requiring a person who acquires an AED to take reasonable measures to ensure that the AED is used by only trained AED users and that the AED is registered with the EMS system hospital in the vicinity of where the AED will primarily be located. Adds a provision requiring that a person who acquires an AED take reasonable measures to ensure that any person considered to be an anticipated rescuer or user will have successfully completed a course of instruction in accordance with the standards of a nationally recognized organization or a course of instruction in accordance with the rules adopted under the Act to use an AED and to perform cardiovascular resuscitation (CPR). In a Section involving exemption from civil liability, deletes provisions mandating the requirements of the Act to be met in order for certain persons to avoid civil liability in relation to an act or omission involving an AED. Provides that any person who in good faith, not for compensation, renders emergency medical care involving the use of an AED in accordance with his or her training is not liable for any civil damages as a result of any act or omission, except for willful and wanton misconduct, by that person in rendering that care (now, any person who has successfully completed the training requirements of a course in basic emergency care of a person in cardiac arrest that included training in the operation and use of an AED and was conducted in accordance with the standards of the American Heart Association). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that if an employer fails to provide the insurance carrier or self-insurer in which it has its workers' compensation insurance policy with reasonable access to payroll records for a payroll verification audit when requested by the insurance carrier or self-insurer, the employer shall pay a premium to the insurance carrier or self-insurer not to exceed 3 times the most recent estimated annual premium owed to the insurance carrier or self-insurer.

Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act. Provides that no person may transport any equidae in a vehicle or trailer containing 2 or more levels of equidae, one on top of the other. Sets out penalties for the illegal transport of equidae. 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 Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that insurers providing a commercial general liability policy that includes automobile liability for hired or non-owned vehicles are neither required to provide, nor are they prohibited from offering or making available, coverages conforming to uninsured and hit and run motor vehicle coverage required by the Code. Removes a reference to coverage on a supplemental basis. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that insurers providing a commercial general liability policy that includes hired automobile and non-owned automobile liability are neither required to provide, nor are they prohibited from offering or making available, uninsured and hit and run vehicle coverage. Provides that insurers providing a commercial automobile policy shall offer and provide such coverage as required by the Illinois Vehicle Code to contract carriers transporting employees in the course of their employment. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that a municipality that is located partially or wholly in a county with a population greater than 500,000 but less than 3,000,000 under specified conditions may expend Motor Fuel Tax street or road funds (except Federal-aid funds) on streets or highways or sections of highways without prior review or approval of the Department of Transportation for routine maintenance activities as determined by the Department, including without limitation snow plowing, street cleaning, crack-sealing, and road patching; and routine and periodic roadway resurfacing activities (including grinding off the surface course of roads, but not involving expansions or reconstruction of more than 20% of the affected road bed). Effective immediately.