Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Adds members of a school board, the Chicago Board of Education, or the governing body of a private school as mandated reporters. Provides that any person who knowingly and willfully violates any mandated-reporter provision of the Act other than a second or subsequent violation of transmitting a false report is guilty of a Class 4 felony (instead of a Class A misdemeanor) for a first violation and a Class 3 (instead of Class 4) felony for a second or subsequent violation. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Prenatal and Newborn Care Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Creates the Diabetes Initiative Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall develop a strategic plan to slow the rate of diabetes as a result of obesity and other environmental factors by the year 2010. Provides certain guidelines for the development of the plan. Provides that the Department shall deliver the plan to the Governor and to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2008. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2010. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Requires a person having custody or control of a child who is below the compulsory school age and who is enrolled in kindergarten in a public school to cause the child to attend the public school. Includes in the definition of "dropout" a child enrolled in kindergarten. Effective June 30, 2007.
Creates the Anti-Phishing Act. Makes it unlawful for a person, by means of a Web page, e-mail message, or otherwise through use of the Internet, to solicit, request, or take any action to induce another person to provide identifying information by representing oneself to be a business without the authority or approval of the business. Provides that a person who is engaged in the business of providing Internet access service to the public, owns a Web page, or owns a trademark and is adversely affected by a violation may bring an action to recover the greater of actual damages or $500,000. Provides that an individual who is adversely affected by a violation may bring an action against a person who has directly violated the Act to enjoin further violations of the Act and to recover the greater of 3 times the amount of actual damages or $5,000 per violation. Provides that the Attorney General or a State's Attorney may bring an action against a person who violates or is in violation of the Act to enjoin further violations and to recover a civil penalty of up to $2,500 per violation. Provides that a court may increase the recoverable damages to an amount up to 3 times the damages otherwise recoverable if the defendant has engaged in a pattern and practice of violating the Act and award costs of suit and attorney's fees to a prevailing plaintiff. Provides that these remedies do not preclude the seeking of remedies, including criminal remedies, under any other applicable provision of law. Provides that multiple violations resulting from any single action or conduct shall constitute one violation.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code, School Code, Child Passenger Protection Act, and Unified Code of Corrections. Makes various changes regarding: driver education requirements; graduated driver's licenses; instruction permits for minors; curfews for drivers under a specified age; the number of passengers under a specified age allowed in a vehicle driven by a newly licensed driver under a certain age; the use of seat safety belts; the use of wireless telephones by graduated driver's license holders; suspensions of driver's licenses of drivers under age 21 under specified circumstances; required appearances before the presiding judge with a parent or guardian under specified circumstances; vehicle impoundment for drivers arrested for street racing; and other matters. Repeals provisions creating the offense of drag racing. Creates the offenses of street racing and aggravated street racing, and makes conforming changes. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2008, except that the provisions amending the School Code are effective July 1, 2008.
Amends the Election Code. Permits State non-partisan civic organizations that meet certain criteria to appoint precinct pollwatchers. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that the limitation under the housing exemptions apply to buildings of 4 or fewer units occupied by the owner (at present, a building with accommodations for not more than 5 families living independently of each other if the lessor or a member of his or her family resides in one dwelling unit). Provides that the listed exemptions for private sales of single family homes and for apartments do not apply to the publication of intent to engage in unlawful discrimination. Effective immediately.
Directs the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to create an incentive-based smoking cessation program for Medicaid recipients, to be in operation by January 1, 2008, and provides that the Department may enter into an agreement with a third party to create or run the program.
Mourns the death of Ruby Pearl White of New Kensington, Pennsylvania.