Appropriates the sum of $300,000, or so much of that amount as may be necessary, from the General Revenue Fund to the Mid-Illinois Medical District for its ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2008.
Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Illinois Medical District at Springfield Act. Provides for a continuing appropriation of $300,000 from GRF to the District in each of fiscal years 2008 through 2017. Effective July 1, 2007.
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 Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Increases the death benefit from $3,000 to $5,000. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the State Finance Act. Provides for the issuance of Lincoln Bicentennial license plates. Provides for a $25 fee for original issuance in addition to the appropriate registration fee, of which $10 shall be deposited into the Lincoln Legacy Scholarship Fund and $15 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Provides for a $25 fee for each registration renewal period, in addition to the appropriate registration fee, of which $23 shall be deposited into the Lincoln Legacy Scholarship Fund and $2 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Creates the Lincoln Legacy Scholarship Fund as a special fund in the State treasury and provides that all money in the Lincoln Legacy Scholarship Fund shall be paid, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly and approval by the Secretary of State, as grants to the Illinois Community College System Foundation for scholarships to students at public and private Illinois colleges and universities. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code and the Counties Code. Provides that it is a State's Attorney's duty to notify the State Superintendent of Education upon the conviction of any individual known to possess a certificate issued under the School Code of any of certain offenses or any other felony conviction. In the criminal history records check provisions of the School Code, makes changes concerning the offenses for which a school board may not knowingly employ a person. Provides that no one may be certified to teach or supervise in the public schools who has been convicted of certain offenses (instead of providing that in determining good character, any felony conviction of an applicant may be taken into consideration, but such a conviction shall not operate as a bar to registration). In provisions concerning suspension or revocation of a certificate, provides that the State Superintendent of Education has the exclusive authority to initiate the suspension of up to 5 calendar years or revocation of any certificate (instead of providing that a certificate may be suspended for a period not to exceed one calendar year by the regional superintendent of schools or for a period not to exceed 5 calendar years by the State Superintendent). With respect to certificate suspension and revocation, makes changes concerning an investigation, notice, a hearing, an appeal, and the offenses that are grounds for suspension and revocation. Makes other changes.
Amends the School Code. Subject to appropriation, requires a tax-equivalent grant to be paid to any school district where a State-owned institution is located (now, a school district is entitled to a grant only if the State owns 45% or more of the total land area of the district). Effective immediately.
Recognizes October 15, 2008 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.
Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Under specified circumstances, allows for a maximum of 5 additional charter schools exclusively for truants or dropouts in Chicago if the limit on the number of charter schools that may operate at any one time in the rest of the State has not been reached. Provides that if any of the additional charter schools are not used exclusively for truants or dropouts, then the State Board of Education shall withhold and the charter school shall forfeit all State funding designated for that school.
