Rep. Charles E. Jefferson

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.

Amends the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986. Limits the liability of a volunteer board member serving without compensation, other than reimbursement for actual expenses, for damages resulting from any action of the executive director concerning the false reporting of or intentional tampering with financial records of the organization, where the actions of the executive director result in legal action.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the Clerks of Courts Act. Provides that, except in cases relating to anti-theft laws and abandoned vehicles, any person who knowingly provides false information to the Secretary of State on an application for vehicle title or registration is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $500. Provides that a person who commits the offense for purposes of obtaining or renewing a special license plate designating military decorations, military service, or status as a military veteran is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $1,000, to be deposited into the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, in any sheriff's office with a collective bargaining agreement covering the employment of department personnel, disciplinary measures shall be reviewable through arbitration, and the Sheriff may act to remove, demote, or suspend department personnel without filing charges with the Merit Commission.

Creates the Clean Coal FutureGen for Illinois Act for the purpose of providing the FutureGen Alliance with adequate liability protection, land use rights, and permitting certainty to facilitate the siting of the FutureGen Project in Illinois. Contain provisions concerning transfer of title to sequestered gas and associated liabilities to the State; insurance and indemnification by the State for the Operator for certain liabilities; permits; land use, including condemnation powers; and economic incentives. Contains other provisions and a severability clause. Amends: the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law concerning financial assistance; the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act concerning high impact businesses; the Court of Claims Act and the State Lawsuit Immunity Act concerning jurisdiction; and the Eminent Domain Act concerning condemnation authority. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Justice Study Committee to review all non-capital wrongful conviction cases, identify the most common causes of wrongful conviction in non-capital cases, identify current law, and identify solutions.

Mourns the death of Cheryl Marie "Chip" Box of Rockford.

Creates the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Law and amends the State Finance Act. Provides that the Lieutenant Governor, with the advice of the Broadband Deployment Council, shall enlist a nonprofit corporation to implement a comprehensive, statewide high speed Internet deployment strategy and adoption initiative. Specifies the duties of the nonprofit organization. Provides that nothing in the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Law shall be construed as giving the Lieutenant Governor, the Broadband Deployment Council, the nonprofit organization, or other entities any additional authority, regulatory or otherwise, over providers of telecommunications, broadband, and information technology. Creates the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Fund as a special fund in the State treasury, to be used, subject to appropriation, by the Lieutenant Governor for purposes of providing grants to the nonprofit organization enlisted under the Law. Provides that on the effective date of the Law, all moneys in the Digital Divide Elimination Infrastructure Fund which have not already been distributed or ordered distributed by the Illinois Commerce Commission shall be transferred to the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Fund. Contains other provisions concerning local governmental entities who undertake local broadband projects. Amends the Universal Telephone Service Protection Law of 1985 in the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a telecommunications carrier that is not subject to regulation under an alternative regulation plan pursuant to specified provisions may reduce the rate or charge for a noncompetitive service, service element, feature, or functionality offered to customers on a separate, stand-alone basis or as part of a bundled service offering by filing with the Commission a tariff that shows the reduced rate or charge and all applicable terms and conditions of the noncompetitive service, service element, feature, or functionality or bundled offering. Provides that provisions concerning basic local exchange service quality and the consumer complaint resolution process do not apply to telephone cooperatives. Changes the repeal date of the Universal Telephone Service Protection Law of 1985 from July 1, 2007 to July 1, 2009.

Reconstitutes the Commission to Study the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its Past and Present Effects on African-Americans created by SJR 31 of the 94th General Assembly.

Congratulates the Rockford IceHogs on winning the 2007 Colonial Cup and becoming champions of the United Hockey League.