Amends the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997 in the Public Utilities Act. Changes the definition of "mandatory transition period" to include the period from the effective date through the date on which the Illinois Commerce Commission has approved declarations of competitive service for all classes of service offered in the service areas of all electric utilities that, on December 31, 2005, served at least 100,000 but fewer than 2 million residential customers. Requires the Commission to order certain utilities to file and implement tariffs to reinstate all 2006 rates beginning on the first day of the month immediately following the effective date. Prohibits the Commission from taking certain actions prior to 6 months after the effective date with respect to (i) initiating, authorizing, or ordering any change by way of increase or (ii) in approving an application for a merger, imposing a condition requiring any filing for an increase, decrease, or change in or other review of a utility's rates or enforcing such a condition. Provides that the Commission shall only declare the class of service to be competitive according to certain criteria (now, the Commission is required to declare the service to be competitive if the service or a reasonably equivalent substitute is available at a reasonable price from other providers other than the utility or an affiliate and the utility has lost or is reasonably likely to lose business for service to other providers). Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Creates the Internet Safety Education Act to inform and protect students from inappropriate or illegal communications and solicitation and to require school districts to provide education about Internet threats and risks. Creates the Internet Safety Education Alliance under the authority of the Office of the Attorney General. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Internet Safety Education Fund. Amends the School Code to mandate the provision by every public school of instruction and discussion on effective methods by which students may recognize and report inappropriate, illegal, or threatening communications on the Internet on or before the start of the 2008-2009 school year.
Amends the Energy Assistance Act. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services is authorized to institute an outreach program directed at low-income minority heads of households and heads of households age 60 or older. Provides that the program shall be consistent with the purposes and objectives of the Act and with all other specific requirements set forth in these provisions. Provides that as part of the program, the Department shall permit Case Coordination Units, under contract with the Department on Aging, to prepare and submit applications for energy assistance in the names of their clients in accordance with procedures established by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Provides that the Department shall establish a web-based application for use by applicants for energy assistance, their families, or someone acting on their behalf. Effective immediately.
Amends the Prenatal and Newborn Care Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
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 School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning alternative public schools.
Amends the School Code. Provides that a non-public elementary or secondary school may not obtain "Non-public School Recognition" status unless (i) the school requires all applicants for employment with the school, after July 1, 2007, to authorize a fingerprint-based criminal history records check as a condition of employment to determine if such applicants have been convicted of specified criminal or drug offenses and (ii) the school performs a check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database for each applicant for employment, after July 1, 2007, to determine whether the applicant has been adjudicated a sex offender. Provides that no non-public school may obtain recognition status that knowingly employs a person, hired after July 1, 2007, for whom a Department of State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint-based criminal history records check and a Statewide Sex Offender Database check has not been initiated or who has been convicted of certain criminal or drug offenses. Contains provisions concerning a fee for the criminal history records check and reimbursement, confidentiality, and checks of employees of persons or firms holding contracts with the school. Effective July 1, 2007.
Amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. Provides that a private development is qualified to become and is an enterprise zone and eligible for all the benefits of an enterprise zone if it (i) achieves certification using nationally recognized and accepted green building and sensible growth guidelines, standards, or systems, and (ii) is selected through a request for proposals by the Capital Development Board. Amends the Capital Development Board Act. Provides that the Capital Development Board shall issue a request for proposals by December 31, 2008 to select 3 model private developments that are designated by specified organizations as achieving certification using nationally recognized and accepted green building and sensible growth guidelines on a neighborhood scale. Provides that the model projects shall be designated as such to receive the benefits attained through Illinois Enterprise Zones for a period of 5 years.