Rep. Karen A. Yarbrough

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 Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that driver's licenses, State issued identification cards, social security account cards, or other government issued identification documents in possession of a county sheriff at the time a person is committed to the Illinois Department of Corrections shall be forwarded to the Department. Provides that the Department shall retain the government issued identification documents of a committed person at the institution in which the person is incarcerated and shall ensure that the documents are forwarded to any institution to which the person is transferred. Provides that the government issued identification documents of a committed person shall be made available to the person upon discharge from the Department.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for facilities licensed by the Department of Public Health under the Nursing Home Care Act as Intermediate Care for the Developmentally Disabled facilities, or facilities licensed by the Department of Human Services under the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act, in any calendar year in which there is a cost-of-living increase in federal Supplemental Security Income benefits or Social Security Administration payments, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall increase the Medicaid per diem rate paid to those facilities by an amount equal to the total amount of the increase in Supplemental Security Income benefits or Social Security Administration payments. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the Returning Veterans' Homestead Exemption, under which an exemption from the property's value is granted for residential property that is owned and occupied as a residence by a veteran for the tax year in which the veteran returns from active duty in an armed conflict involving the armed forces of the United States. In a Section concerning the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption, provides that in all counties (now, in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants), the county board may by resolution provide that if a person has been granted the homestead exemption, the person qualifying need not reapply for the exemption. In a Section concerning the alternative general homestead exemption, extends the alternative exemption by an additional 3 years. Provides that the maximum amount of the exemption is $60,000 if the general assessment year for the property is 2006 or later. Provides that the base year for counties other than Cook County is the 2005 or 2006 tax year. Provides that, to subject itself to the provisions of the alternative general homestead exemption, a county must adopt an ordinance to that effect within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Health Program Beneficiary Employer Disclosure Law. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Smoke Free Illinois Act. Provides that smoking is allowed in enclosed laboratories, not open to the public, in an accredited university or government facility where the activity of smoking is exclusively conducted for the purpose of medical or scientific health-related research. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that driver's licenses, State issued identification cards, social security account cards, other government issued identification documents, keys, and prescription drugs of a committed person that are in possession of a county sheriff at the time a person is committed to the Illinois Department of Corrections shall be forwarded to the Department. Provides that the Department shall retain the government issued identification documents, keys, and prescription drugs of a committed person at the institution in which the person is incarcerated and shall ensure that the documents, keys, and prescription drugs are forwarded to any institution to which the person is transferred. Provides that the government issued identification documents, keys, and prescription drugs of a committed person shall be made available to the person upon discharge from the Department.

Appropriates $1,200,000 to the Department of Corrections for a grant to the Cook County Sheriff's Office for programs administered through the Department of Women's Justice Services, for the Cook County Residential Treatment and Transition Center for Women. Effective July 1, 2008.

Amends the Deposit of State Moneys Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning classes of depositaries.

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.