Rep. Rosemary Mulligan

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in the short title Section.

Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Department of Human Services.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Increases the maximum income limitation by $25,000 for the senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption for an applicant who (i) qualified for an exemption under this Section in the taxable year before he or she turned 70 1/2 years old, (ii) is 70 1/2 years of age or older during the taxable year, and (iii) receives certain income from an individual retirement account.

Directs the Auditor General to conduct a management audit of the administration of John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County.

Amends the Children's Health Insurance Program Act. Creates the Children's Health Insurance Task Force. Sets forth membership requirements and voting procedures for the Task Force. Requires the Task Force to gather information and make recommendations relating to access to quality, affordable health insurance for children in Illinois. Requires the Task Force to conduct public hearings at locations throughout the State at least every other month during the first year after the appointment of a majority of its voting members and as determined by a majority of its voting members in each year thereafter. Requires the Task Force to serve as an official forum for discussions concerning the implementation and oversight of current health insurance programs, including discussion on administrative rules needed to administer the programs. Requires the Task Force to submit an annual report to the General Assembly. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to provide for the administrative expenses of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force is abolished and the Section is repealed on January 1, 2012. Effective immediately.

Urges the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to seek out better research and data collection pertaining to drug use during pregnancy and to do an informational campaign to provide scientifically accurate information to both pregnant and lactating women regarding the hazards of taking prescription and over the counter medications, along with the potential impact on their child.

Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Under specified circumstances, allows for a maximum of 5 additional charter schools exclusively for truants or dropouts in Chicago if the limit on the number of charter schools that may operate at any one time in the rest of the State has not been reached. Provides that if any of the additional charter schools are not used exclusively for truants or dropouts, then the State Board of Education shall withhold and the charter school shall forfeit all State funding designated for that school.

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act and the State Finance Act. Creates the Homeless Veterans Special Purpose Trust Fund as a special fund in the State treasury, to be used by the Department of Veterans' Affairs for the purpose of supporting veterans programs. Provides that unexpended moneys in the Fund shall not be transferred or allocated by the Comptroller or the Treasurer to any other fund, nor shall the Governor authorize the transfer or allocation of those moneys to any other fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Check Cashing Act. Limits the amount of the penalty that a casino-based electronic check cashing service may recover from a person who writes a check that is dishonored.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act to require coverage for audiological services and hearing aids for children up to 18 years of age. Provides that this coverage shall only apply to hearing aids that are prescribed, filled, and dispensed by a licensed audiologist. Provides that a policy or plan may limit the hearing aid benefit payable for each hearing-impaired ear to every 38 months. Provides that a policy or plan may provide for up to 4 additional ear molds per year for children up to 2 years of age.