Rep. Jim Watson

Urges the United States Congress to place public safety communications infrastructure and supplies at the top of their stimulus package priority list and urges the United States Department of Defense to renew and increase its supply of essential equipment to Illinois public safety officers through the 1033 Program, the LESO Program, and the U.S. General Services Administration's Donation Program (Federal Surplus).

Honors the fallen soldiers, sailors, airman, and marines from the State of Illinois who have fallen in battle in the last year.

Congratulates the Turner Lady Titans 7th grade volleyball team of Jonathan Turner Junior High School in Jacksonville on winning first place in the State volleyball tournament.

Amends the Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act. Permits a unit of local government to require homeowners who maintain a private sewage disposal system within the unit of local government to provide verification, on an annual basis, to the unit of local government of a valid contract with a licensed private sewage disposal system installation contractor. Effective immediately.

Creates the State Employees Flex-Time Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Creates an exemption from taxation under the Acts for personal property that is or is a component in a renewable-energy system. Defines "renewable-energy system" to include a geothermal-energy system, solar-powered energy system, wind-powered energy system, corn burning stove, and fuel cell. Provides that the Acts' sunset provisions do not apply to these exemptions. Effective immediately.

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 School Code to encourage school boards to implement American Sign Language (ASL) courses into school foreign language curriculum in a manner deemed appropriate by the State Board of Education. Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. In provisions concerning admissions requirements, provides that ASL constitutes a foreign language for the purposes of meeting those requirements. Requires the governing board of each public university to award academic credit for the successful completion of any ASL course offered or approved by the university, which may be applied toward the satisfaction of the foreign language requirements of the university. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning construction of the Code.

Appropriates $7,000,000 for FY 2009 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Corrections to implement P.A. 94-988 (requiring electronic monitoring of sexual predators). Effective July 1, 2008.