Rep. La Shawn Ford

Amends the State Finance Act, the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Act. Extends the duration and increases the amounts of deposits of certain use and occupation tax proceeds into the McCormick Place Expansion Project Fund. Increases certain bond authorization limits of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority from $2,107,000,000 to $2,457,000,000 and makes changes to the required maturity dates of the bonds. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In connection with the medical assistance program, provides that on and after July 1, 2008, the minimum inpatient per diem rate to be paid to a hospital for psychiatric services shall be no less than the highest per diem base rate established by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for any hospital that newly qualifies to deliver psychiatric inpatient services on or after December 31, 2006. Effective immediately.

Urges Congress to enact a 2-year moratorium on interest rate reset increases under sub-prime adjustable rate mortgage home loans.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. With respect to the Monetary Award Program, provides that the maximum grant amount must not exceed $5,468 for fiscal year 2009, $5,968 for fiscal year 2010, and $6,468 for fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter (instead of $4,968). Provides that the maximum grant amount for students not subject to this provision must be increased by the same percentage as any increase made by law to such provision. Removes the provision that limits the grant amount to an amount that equals 2 semesters or 3 quarters tuition and fees. Effective July 1, 2008.

Amends the School Code. Adds homeownership, including the basic process of obtaining a mortgage and the concepts of fixed and adjustable rate mortgages, subprime loans, and predatory lending, as part of the financial literacy component of consumer education.

Amends the Real Estate License Act of 2000. Provides for the transfer by a licensee under the Act to the Office of the State Treasurer of escrow moneys, prior to the consummation or termination of a transaction, at the end of a 6-month time period when, in the absence of the filing of any claim in a court of competent jurisdiction, the principals to the transaction have remained in a continuous and uninterrupted dispute during that 6-month period.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes a technical change in a Section regarding the short title of the Article concerning mortgage foreclosures.

Amends the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disabilities Act. Extends the repeal date of the Act from September 6, 2008 to June 30, 2010. Effective immediately.

Creates the State Employment Application Act. Provides that an application for State employment may not contain any question as to whether the applicant was convicted of or placed on supervision for a non-violent criminal offense but must contain a question as to whether the applicant for State employment has ever been convicted of a violent offense that is classified as a felony. Requires each applicant for State employment to undergo a criminal background check. Provides that if a federal or State law disqualifies a person convicted of certain offenses from holding a position, an application for that position may inquire as to whether the applicant has been convicted of a disqualifying offense. Provides that if an applicant is applying for a position of peace officer, an application for that position may inquire as to whether the applicant has been convicted of a disqualifying offense. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits a decision to refuse to hire on the basis that the applicant has been convicted of a criminal offense. Effective immediately.