Sen. James T. Meeks

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning debt limitations of school districts.

Creates the Individual Market Fairness Reform Law. Provides that a managed care entity shall (1) fairly and affirmatively offer all of its managed care plans that are sold to all individuals in each service area in which the managed care entity provides or arranges for the provision of health care services and (2) may not reject an application for an individual managed care plan if certain requirements are met. Provides that the Division of Insurance of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall develop a system to categorize all managed care plans offered and sold to individuals pursuant to this Law into 5 coverage choice categories. Creates the Minimum Medical Loss Ratio Law. Provides that any company selling a health benefit plan in the individual or small group market shall expend in the form of health care benefits no less than 85 percent of the aggregate dues, fees, and premiums received by the company. Creates the Health Sure Illinois Law to establish a program for the purpose of making managed care plans affordable and accessible to small employers and individuals. Provides that the program is limited to active managed care entities. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates new Articles in the Code establishing the Office of Patient Protection and the Illinois Health Carrier External Review Law. Amends the Small Employer Health Insurance Rating Act, Illinois Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act in provisions concerning small employers, individuals, review, and rates. Repeals a provision of the Small Employer Health Insurance Rating Act concerning establishment of a class of business. Makes other changes.

Mourns the death of Ray Michael Williams of Peoria.

Amends the School Code, the Childhood Hunger Relief Act, the School Safety Drill Act, and the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Makes changes concerning a teacher supply and demand report, school standards, recognition levels, academic early warning and watch status, a Data Division, truants' alternative and optional education programs, the School Technology Revolving Loan Program, the inspection and review of school facilities, programs concerning services to at-risk children and their families, the inspection of schools, a report of teacher dismissals, the tuition of children from orphanages and children's homes, dates for filing State aid claims, truant data, safety education, driver education, the evaluation of charter school proposals, a summer food service program, a school safety review, and the administration of certain federal scholarship programs. Repeals provisions concerning discontinued institutions, racial reports, and a course on the Illinois Vehicle Code. Repeals the Educationally Disadvantaged Children Article of the School Code. Repeals the Sex Education Act and the Recognized Normal School Act. Effective July 1, 2009.

Creates the Local Farm and Food Products Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Encourages the General Assembly to promptly review and evaluate the Report on Waiver of School Code Mandates filed by the State Board of Education to determine if the Report should be disapproved in whole or in part.

Amends the Municipal Code. Provides that, whenever a partial census is conducted by a municipality, the Secretary of State shall certify the number of inhabitants of the municipality as the number of inhabitants reflected by the last complete municipal census adjusted by the net increase or decrease reflected by the partial census. Effective immediately.

Amends the Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Find Our Children Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Respite Program Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the establishment of respite projects.