Appropriates $8,200,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Veterans' Affairs for staffing at the Illinois Veterans' Home at LaSalle. Effective July 1, 2008.
Amends the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act. Adds a provision requiring that the Plan provide coverage for mammograms and prosthetic devices or reconstructive surgery incident to a mastectomy, Pap tests, prostate-specific antigen tests, colorectal cancer examination and screening, and contraceptives as required under certain Sections of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that any expense or charge for routine physical examinations or tests related to certain covered benefits are not excluded from coverage under the Plan. Deletes a provision excluding any expense or charge for oral contraceptives used for birth control or any other temporary birth control measures from coverage under the Plan.
Amends the Illinois Renewable Fuels Development Program Act. Provides that facilities that produce ethanol for gasohol or majority blended ethanol fuel shall receive a grant equal to 10 cents per gallon of annual production capacity, not to exceed $10,000,000 for each facility. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity must establish the Renewable Fuels Majority Blended Ethanol Infrastructure Program for the purpose of providing grants to units of local government and gasoline stations or service stations offering to the public retail sales of motor fuel. Creates the Renewable Fuels Competitive Commercialization Grant Oversight Committee. Sets forth the membership of the Committee. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity must establish the Renewable Fuels Rail Infrastructure Assistance Program. Provides that grants awarded from the Renewable Fuels Development Program Fund are subject to certain limitations. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Cook County Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Deletes provisions concerning the expense reserve, county contribution reserve, employee's contribution reserve, annuity payment reserve, prior service annuity reserve, child's annuity reserve, duty disability reserve, ordinary disability reserve, gift reserve, investment and interest reserve, supplementary payment reserve, and optional contribution reserve. Makes corresponding changes. Provides that an adequate system of accounts and records shall be established to report the financial condition of the County Employees' and Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund and that such additional data as is necessary for required calculations, actuarial valuations, and operation of the fund shall be maintained. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates a new Article establishing the Insurance Consumer Advocate Law. Provides that the Lieutenant Governor shall serve as the Insurance Public Advocate. Provides that if the position of Lieutenant Governor is vacant, a competent individual appointed by the Governor for the duration of the unexpired term shall fill the Insurance Public Advocate position. Sets forth the powers and duties of the Insurance Public Advocate. Provides that the Insurance Public Advocate may hire professional and non-professional employees as he or she finds necessary for the full and efficient discharge of the powers and duties of the Office. Provides that the Insurance Public Advocate shall, prior to beginning the discharge of duties of that office, take a Constitutional oath of office and give bond. Provides that the Insurance Public Advocate shall have access to all files, records, and documents of the Division of Insurance as outlined within the Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the reading of meters.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Illinois Insurance Code, and other Acts. Provides that on and after July 1, 2008, screening and diagnostic mammography shall be reimbursed under the medical assistance program at the same rate as the Medicare program's rates, including the increased reimbursement for digital mammography. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to take certain actions in relation to breast cancer screening and treatment, including establishment of bonus payments to mammography facilities meeting certain standards, a rate methodology for certain providers, and a performance goal for primary care providers; also requires the Department to establish a case-management or patient-navigation pilot program. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of this amendatory Act must provide coverage for all medically necessary pain medication and pain therapy related to the treatment of breast cancer on the same terms and conditions that are generally applicable to coverage for other conditions. Provides that mandatory insurance coverage relating to mammography shall be provided at no cost to the insured and shall not be subject to an annual or lifetime maximum benefit. Makes other changes in relation to mammography coverage, and makes these changes to the Illinois Insurance Code also applicable to the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, and other Acts. Sets forth a statement of legislative intent and provides that the bill's provisions may be referred to as the Reducing Breast Cancer Disparities Act. Effective immediately.
Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for its FY09 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2008.
Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Requires the Illinois Gaming Board to award owners licenses to applicants whose plans (i) generate the highest amount of revenue to the State and (ii) provide for the least amount of cannibalization of existing licensees' revenues generated pursuant to this Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.
