Rep. Sandy Cole

Amends the School Code. Provides that a vision examination must be included as a part of the health examination required within one year prior to entering kindergarten or the first grade, whichever grade the child first enters, of any public, private, or parochial elementary school. Makes related changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective January 1, 2008.

Amends the Public Library District Act. Provides that the balance in the working cash fund may not exceed 0.2% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property in the district (instead of 0.2% of the equalized assessed value of taxable property for the year the fund was established or, for funds established after January 1, 1979, for the year 1978). Provides that the library district board may invest temporarily idle moneys from the district's working cash fund. Provides that the interest earned from the investments may be transferred to the general fund or may remain in the working cash fund, provided that the balance of the working cash fund does not exceed the statutory maximum. Provides that, if a working cash fund is abolished, it may be reestablished in the same manner as the fund was originally created. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Reinstates, for taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2007, the tax credit for start-up costs for providing employee child care. Exempts the credit from the sunset provisions of the Act. Effective immediately.

Congratulates Dave Brown on the occasion of his retirement as a Park District Commissioner for Grandwood Park.

Creates the National Guard Veterans Exposure to Hazardous Materials Act. Provides that on and after October 1, 2007, the Adjutant General shall assist any member of the Illinois National Guard who served in the Persian Gulf War or in an area designated as a combat zone by the President of the United States during Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom who (i) has been assigned a risk level I, II, or III for depleted uranium exposure by his or her branch of service, (ii) is referred by a military physician, or (iii) has reason to believe that he or she was exposed to depleted uranium during such service, in obtaining federal treatment services, including a best practice health screening test for exposure to depleted uranium. Provides that no State funds shall be used to pay for such tests or other federal treatment services. Requires the Adjutant General to submit a report to the General Assembly by October 1, 2007. Creates a task force to: (1) initiate a health registry for veterans and military personnel returning from Afghanistan, Iraq, or other countries in which depleted uranium or other hazardous materials may be found; (2) develop a plan for outreach to and follow-up of military personnel; (3) prepare a report for service members concerning potential exposure to depleted uranium and other toxic chemical substances and the precautions recommended under combat and noncombat conditions while in a combat zone; and (4) make other recommendations. Requires the task force to submit a report to the General Assembly by January 31, 2008, and terminates the task force on the date that it submits the report or on January 31, 2008, whichever is earlier. Effective immediately.

Creates the Veterans Assistance Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the State and Regional Development Strategy Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Teacher Homebuyer Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Housing Development Authority to establish and administer a program to provide down payment assistance to public school teachers who teach in hard-to-staff schools or hard-to-staff positions for purchasing residences within the school district. Provides that the assistance shall be in the form of a deferred payment, low-interest subordinate mortgage loan with a term not longer than the term of the first mortgage loan, with interest accruing at a rate of up to 5% per annum. Provides that if the borrower has continuously been a teacher for the 5-year period immediately following the date of recordation of the loan deed of trust, then repayment of the loan shall be forgiven and considered a grant. Provides that repayment of the principal and accrued interest is due and payable upon the occurrence of certain events. Effective immediately.

Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Children and Family Services shall implement a project in 3 separate geographical areas of the State for the operation of 3 CILA homes for adolescents diagnosed with autism. Requires that a single service provider operate all 3 homes and have on its staff a behavior therapist. Effective July 1, 2007.

Amends the School Construction Law. Provides that the grant index may be increased by 0.05 for school construction projects that receive certification from the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System, the Green Building Initiative's Green Globes Green Building Rating System, or green building standards approved by the Capital Development Board. Effective July 1, 2007.