Rep. Careen M Gordon

Amends the School Code. Provides that each school district may make suitable provisions for instruction in bullying prevention in all grades and include such instruction in the courses of study regularly taught therein. Provides that a school board may collaborate with a community-based agency providing specialized curricula in bullying prevention whose ultimate outcome is to prevent sexual violence. Allows the State Board of Education to assist in the development of instructional materials and teacher training in relation to bullying prevention. Effective immediately.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that the taking of a doe pursuant to an either-sex permit during the first open season shall not count towards any bag or possession limit under the Act. Sets forth that no Deer Hunting Permit fee shall be assessed for an antlerless only permit in a county in which a separate harvest period was authorized by the Department in the previous season.

Amends the Stallion and Jack Service Lien Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the creation of liens.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning how the Title regarding water pollution control and public water supplies is construed.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that no later than July 1, 2007, subject to federal approval of a State Medicaid Plan amendment, which shall be sought by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services or its successor agency, persons who fail to qualify for basic maintenance under the Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD) program on the basis of need because of excess income or assets, or both, may establish prospective eligibility for that basic maintenance by paying their monthly Medicaid spend-down amount to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services or by having a third party pay that amount to the Department.

Amends the Line of Duty Compensation Act. Provides that, if no beneficiary is designated or surviving at the death of an Armed Forces member killed in the line of duty, compensation under the Act shall be paid in the following priority: to the surviving beneficiaries designated in the Armed Forces member's Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Election and Certificate; in accordance with the Armed Forces member's legally binding will; or in accordance with the provisions of the Act that apply to other line-of-duty deaths. Applies if compensation was not paid before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the Illinois National Guardsman's Compensation Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Health Care Finance Reform Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to require all ambulatory surgical treatment centers licensed to operate in the State (now, the requirement applies only to hospitals licensed to operate in the State) to adopt a uniform system for submitting patient claims and encounter data (now, patient billing data) for payment from public and private payors. Requires hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to submit billing data to the Department of Public Health no later than 60 days after the end of each calendar quarter. Requires the Department to include certain information in its "Consumer Guide to Health Care" on its website. Authorizes the Department to disclose certain information on its website. Authorizes the Department to promulgate rules concerning the provisions of the Illinois Health Care Finance Reform Act. Requires that ambulatory surgical treatment centers, organizations representing ambulatory surgical treatment centers, purchasers, consumer groups, and health plans be meaningfully involved in the development of all aspects of the Department's methodology for collecting, analyzing, and disclosing the information collected under this Act. Requires the Department to evaluate additional methods for comparing the performance of hospitals and ambulatory surgical treatment centers and report its findings and recommendations on its Internet website and to the Governor and General Assembly no later than January 1, 2006. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Attorney General Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Attorney General's oath and bond.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that any person who uses a consumer credit report in connection with the approval of credit based on the application for an extension of credit, and who has received notification of a police report filed with a consumer credit reporting agency that the applicant has been a victim of aggravated identity theft, may not lend money or extend credit without taking reasonable steps to verify the consumer's identity and confirm that the application for an extension of credit is not the result of financial identity theft or aggravated identity theft. Adds that a consumer may place a security freeze on his or her credit report by making a request directly to the consumer credit reporting agency through a secure electronic mail connection, if an electronic mail connection is provided by the consumer credit reporting agency. Provides that a consumer credit reporting agency shall not charge a fee for placing, removing, or removing for a specific party or period of time a security freeze on a credit report, if the consumer submits to the credit reporting agency a valid copy of a police report, investigative report, or complaint that the consumer has filed with a law enforcement agency about the unlawful use of his or her personal information by another person. Allows the credit reporting agency to charge a fee of not more than $10 to a consumer for each security freeze or temporary lift of a security freeze for a specific party and a fee of not more than $8 for removal of a security freeze or temporary lift of a security freeze for a period of time. Provides that the consumer credit reporting agency shall send a written confirmation of the security freeze to the consumer within 5 (instead of 10) business days of placing the freeze on the account. Requires the Director of the Division of Financial Institutions in the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to promulgate rules necessary to allow the use of electronic media to receive and process a request from a consumer to temporarily lift a security freeze as quickly as possible, with the goal of processing a request within 15 minutes of that request. Defines "consumer", "consumer credit reporting agency", "credit report", "Director", and "security freeze". Changes references from "credit reporting agency" to "consumer credit reporting agency". Effective January 1, 2007.

Amends the Department of Employment Security Law. Requires the Department of Employment Security, through its Illinois Skills Match Program, to implement and administer a central clearinghouse for information and opportunities for those seeking employment in Illinois. Requires the Department to maintain a web site that allows job seekers easy access to employment opportunities that match the skills of the person seeking employment. Requires all executive branch State agencies to use the program. Allows, and encourages, units of local government, school districts, and other public and private employers to use the program. Provides that the Department may not charge any employer or any person seeking employment a fee for using the program. Authorizes the Department to adopt rules. Effective immediately.