Rep. Jack D. Franks

Creates the General Building Contractor Licensing Act. Provides for the licensure and regulation of general building contractors and specialty contractors by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Creates the General Building Contractor Licensing Board. Sets forth provisions concerning powers and duties of the Board, exemptions from the Act, application procedures and qualifications, license expiration, renewal, and restoration, grounds for disciplinary action, penalties for violation of the Act, administrative procedures, and other requirements. Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act to repeal the General Building Contractor Licensing Act on January 1, 2018. Effective January 1, 2008.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning terms.

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 require coverage for a child that is under 25 years of age, has the same legal residence as the parent, is unmarried, and is financially dependent upon the parent.

Proclaims February 6, 2008 as Ronald Reagan Day in the State of Illinois.

Amends the State Property Control Act. Provides that neither the Administrator, the Governor, nor any other officer or employee of the executive branch of State government may sell, convey, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any State asset with a fair market value of over $50,000,000 without the specific approval of the General Assembly by law. Further provides that the prohibition shall not be defeated by splitting a unitary asset and attempting to make the disposition in parts and that any attempted disposition that violates the prohibition is void. Effective immediately.

Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Requires the county board of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, or Will County to consent to the imposition of the tax by the Authority at the rate of 0.75% in the County. If the County does not consent, the rate is 0.50% in the County and the County receives no distribution from the proceeds. Provides that the County Boards of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties must report annually to the General Assembly, the Regional Transportation Authority, and the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability certain information regarding moneys received from a retailers' occupation tax and a service occupation tax imposed by the Regional Transportation Authority. Effective immediately.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act and the Fair Patient Billing Act. Makes the Fair Patient Billing Act applicable to vehicle service providers as defined in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act (that is, entities licensed by the Department of Public Health to provide emergency or non-emergency medical services utilizing at least ambulances or specialized emergency medical service vehicles). (Under current law, the Fair Patient Billing Act applies only to hospitals.) Provides that the obligations of vehicle service providers under these provisions take effect for services provided on or after the first day of the month that begins 180 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Makes a vehicle service provider subject to licensure sanctions under the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act for failure to comply with the standards and requirements of the Fair Patient Billing Act.

Amends the Special Service Area Tax Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that a special service area district may not be created or enlarged, a tax may not be levied or imposed nor the rate increased, nor may bonds be issued unless that action is authorized by a petition that is signed by at least 51% of the electors residing within the special service area and by at least 51% of the owners of record of the land included within the boundaries of the special service area (currently, the action may be taken unless a petition objecting to the action is filed). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Designates Illinois Route 173 be renamed as the 173rd Airborne Brigade Highway in honor of the brave men and women of the United States Army 173rd Airborne Brigade.