Sen. James T. Meeks

Amends the Illinois Mortgage Insurance Fund Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning homeless persons.

Creates the Tobacco Control Act. Provides definitions. Prohibits any person from selling tobacco without obtaining a license. Requires retailers without a license to keep all tobacco products and paraphernalia from public view and prohibits the display of any tobacco-related advertisement that would lead a person to believe tobacco could be obtained from the retailer. Prohibits certain sales or dispersals of tobacco products. Requires an application for a tobacco retailer's license to be submitted in the name of the proprietor to the Illinois Liquor Control Commission and provides that a license issued in error or on the basis of false or misleading information shall be revoked. Sets forth the information to be provided in applications for new or renewal licenses. Requires the Commission to issue a license upon receipt of an application except for certain circumstances. Provides that a license is nontransferable and that violations accumulated against a location or business will continue to be counted against that location or business unless the location or business has been transferred in an arm's length transaction. Requires a retailer to pay a fee set by the Commission for a new or renewal license. Requires retailers to display the license and to display a sign at each point of sale, including on each vending machine. Provides for violations and compliance checks. Provides for penalties. Provides for severability. Effective July 1, 2006.

Amends the Illinois Affordable Housing Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Urban Community Conservation Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Task Force on Employment of Persons with Past Criminal Convictions to examine barriers faced by person with past criminal convictions with respect to obtaining employment.

Mourns the death of Idella Green of South Holland.

Creates the Law Enforcement Camera Grant Act. Creates the Law Enforcement Camera Grant Fund to be used for the installation of video cameras in law enforcement vehicles and training of law enforcement officers in the operation of the cameras. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall administer the program. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Creates an additional penalty of $1 for every $40 fine imposed for a criminal or traffic offense, not including parking or registration offenses, to be deposited into the Law Enforcement Camera Grant Fund. Contains other provisions. Amends the State Finance Act to create the special fund. 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 Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage for the treatment of pervasive developmental disorders. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code to provide that certain mental health coverages apply to health maintenance organizations and individual policies of accident and health insurance. Effective immediately.

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that "school personnel" who are mandated reporters of child abuse or neglect include administrators and both certified and non-certified school employees. Provides that any school board member who has actual knowledge that a child enrolled in the school district of which he or she is a board member is an abused child as defined in the Act shall immediately report that knowledge to DCFS or cause such a report to be made to DCFS. Provides that within one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act or within one year after becoming a mandated reporter, whichever is later, a person mandated to report suspected abuse or neglect under the Act must do one of the following: (1) read the requirements of the Act concerning mandated reporters, or read a document prepared by or approved by DCFS concerning child abuse and neglect and the making of reports under the Act; or (2) sign a statement, on a form prescribed by or approved by DCFS, to the effect that the person understands his or her responsibilities as a mandated reporter. Makes it a Class 4 felony to fail to make a report to DCFS after receiving 2 or more reports of the same act, incident, or occurrence of child abuse or neglect. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code; provides that a municipality that violates provisions prohibiting the stoppage of gas or electricity in connection with a service member who is on active duty is subject to a civil penalty of $10,000. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code; provides that an insurance company that violates provisions prohibiting the lapse or forfeiture of a life insurance policy insuring the life of a service member who is on active duty is subject to a civil penalty of $10,000. Amends the Public Utilities Act; provides that a gas or electric company or electric cooperative that violates provisions prohibiting the stoppage of gas or electricity in connection with a service member who is on active duty is subject to a civil penalty of $10,000. Amends the Interest Act; provides that a creditor who violates provisions limiting the interest rate that may be imposed on a service member who is on active duty is subject to a civil penalty of $10,000. Amends the Military Personnel Cellular Phone Contract Termination Act; provides that a cellular telephone company that violates provisions authorizing termination of a cellular phone contract in the case of a service member who is on active duty is subject to a civil penalty of $10,000. Amends the Motor Vehicle Leasing Act; provides that a lessor who violates provisions authorizing termination of a lease in the case of a service member who is on active duty is subject to a civil penalty of $10,000. In each case, authorizes the Attorney General to impose the civil penalty after an administrative hearing and to enforce collection of any civil penalty imposed. Provides that the proceeds from the collection of any such civil penalty shall be deposited into the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund. Effective immediately.