Rep. Raymond Poe

Creates the Interpreter for the Deaf Licensure Act of 2006 to replace the Interpreters for the Deaf Act. Provides for the regulation of interpreters for the deaf through licensure by the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission. Establishes the Board of Interpreters and provides for evaluation teams. Preempts home rule. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Interpreters for the Deaf Fund. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure to add a provision concerning privileged communications involving interpreters for the hearing impaired. Repeals the Interpreters for the Deaf Act.

Amends the Counties Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the State Finance Act. Excludes moneys received by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation under the Illinois Credit Union Act from those moneys required to be deposited into the Financial Institution Fund. Makes certain provisions concerning transfers to the General Revenue Fund inapplicable to (i) any fund established under the Illinois Credit Union Act, the Illinois Banking Act, the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985, or the Savings Bank Act and (ii) the Professions Indirect Cost Fund. Limits transfers and expenditures from those funds to specified purposes. Prohibits the allocation or transfer of additional amounts generated by certain fee increases with respect to or from the Credit Union Fund. Amends the Illinois Banking Act, the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985, and the Savings Bank Act. With respect to the moneys in each of the Bank and Trust Company Fund, the Savings and Residential Finance Regulatory Fund, and the Credit Union Fund, (i) exempts those moneys from assignment or transfer except for unappropriated administrative expenses and (ii) provides that the moneys remain the property of and must be held in trust for the financial institutions from which they were collected. For FY08, requires the Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate (now, the Director of the Division of Banks and Real Estate) to adopt rules to adjust regulatory fee rates in the specified manner. Amends the Illinois Credit Union Act. Provides that the regulatory fee paid by a credit union to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall be the lesser of (i) the rate pursuant to the regulatory fee schedule or (ii) a rate established in a manner proportionately consistent with the rates in the regulatory fee schedule and that would fund the actual administrative and operational expenses of the Credit Union Section. Increases rates in the regulatory fee schedule for credit unions with total assets over $5,000,000. Requires the Director of Financial and Professional Regulation to adjust the fee schedule for the next fiscal year. Provides that the fee schedule may be increased by no more than 5% annually if necessary to defray the actual (now, estimated) administrative and operational expenses of the Credit Union Section (now, the Department). Prohibits any increase in the fee schedule if the amount remaining in the Credit Union Fund at the end of the fiscal year is equal to or greater than 25% of the actual administrative and operational expenses for the preceding fiscal year. Requires the Director to base the regulatory fee for the next fiscal year on the credit union's total assets as of December 31 of the preceding calendar year. Beginning on July 1, 2005, requires a credit union to pay the regulatory fee in quarterly installments due and payable on the due date for the call report for the preceding quarter (now, a credit union is required to pay the regulatory fee in full no later than March 1 of each calendar year). Provides for a regulatory fee cap of $125,000 (now, $187,500). Effective immediately.

Amends the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act. Provides that an applicant for licensed practical nurse licensure may have graduated from a United States Military Program that emphasized nursing. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Expands the fire truck revolving loan program to include EMS service vehicles. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the School Code. 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.

Amends the State Employees Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that an employee who participated in the University of Illinois Government Public Service Internship Program may establish creditable service for up to 2 years of that participation. Adds language concerning new benefit increases created by this amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the unlawful sale of public conveyance travel tickets to a minor.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Requires that the health benefits program include at least 2 vision plans and 2 dental plans available in each region of the State. Effective immediately.