Creates the Green Governments Illinois Act. Provides for the creation of the Green Governments Coordinating Council and sets out the composition and responsibilities of the Council. Gives the Council the authority to solicit and receive grants to fulfill the Council's functions and to solicit, use, and publish advice and information to assist in the Council's duties. Provides that participation in the Green Governments Illinois program by units of State and local government and educational institutions is voluntary. Sets out responsibilities of State agencies under the Act. Provides that a member of the Lieutenant Governor's staff shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a Green Governments Illinois website with specified content. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall issue an annual Freestanding Emergency Center (FEC) license to any facility that is located: (A) in a municipality with a population of 75,000 or fewer inhabitants; (B) within 15 miles of the hospital that owns or controls the FEC; and (C) within 20 (instead of 10) miles of the Resource Hospital affiliated with the FEC as part of the EMS System. (Deletes a provision concerning location in a municipality that has a hospital that has been providing emergency services but is expected to close by the end of 1997 and in a county with a population of more than 525,000.) Requires the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board to waive a certificate of need or permit requirement for any proposed FEC that, no later than June 30, 2009 (instead of as of the effective date of an amendatory Act of 1996), meets certain criteria for providing comprehensive emergency treatment services. Deletes a requirement that the facility must have participated in the demonstration program in order to be issued an annual license. Effective immediately.
Creates the College Campus Press Act. Provides that all campus media produced primarily by students at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is a public forum for expression by the student journalists and editors at the particular institution. Provides that campus media, whether campus-sponsored or noncampus-sponsored, is not subject to prior review by public officials of those institutions. Provides that collegiate student editors of campus media are responsible for determining the news, opinions, feature content, and advertising content of campus media. Provides for an exception for teaching professional standards of grammar and journalism. Prohibits a collegiate media adviser from being terminated, transferred, removed, otherwise disciplined, or retaliated against for refusing to suppress protected free expression rights of collegiate student journalists and of collegiate student editors. Allows a collegiate student or collegiate media advisor to commence a civil action to obtain appropriate injunctive and declaratory relief; provides for the awarding of attorney's fees. Distinguishes campus policy. Allows for discipline for unprotected speech. Contains a severability clause. Effective immediately.
Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. In a provision prohibiting a parent or guardian from knowingly authorizing or permitting any person under the age of 21 years from using alcoholic liquor by failing to control access to either the residence or the alcoholic liquor maintained in the residence, provides that where a violation of the provision directly or indirectly results in bodily harm to any person, the person violating this provision shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony. Provides that nothing in the provision shall be construed to prohibit the giving of alcoholic liquor to a person under the age of 21 years in observation of a religious holiday (now, only a person under the age of 21 years in the performance of a religious ceremony or service). Effective immediately.
Amends the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act. Increases the lifetime benefit limitation from $1,500,000 to $2,000,000. Effective immediately.
Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer a program to educate disabled women who reside in group homes, nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, or similar institutions concerning the prevention of sexual assault. Provides that the training must include information on indications of possible occurrences of sexual assault, the rights of sexual-assault victims, and any public or private victim-assistance programs and resources available, including resources available through the Office of the Attorney General. Requires the Department to seek available federal funding for this purpose. Effective January 1, 2008.
Amends the Municipal Code. Adds a Division to the Code that allows municipalities to enact design review ordinances. Sets forth design review factors. Provides that the Division may be enforced by an administrative body designated by the municipality. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Provides that all official acts of the Authority require the approval of a majority of the members then holding office (instead of 8 members). Provides that a majority of the members of the Authority holding office constitutes a quorum (instead of 8 members). Provides that the Authority may enter into agreements with respect to its bond payment obligations. Provides that any pledge of revenues or other moneys made by the Authority shall be binding from the time the pledge is made, and that revenues and other moneys pledged shall be held outside of the State treasury and shall be subject to certain liens. Provides that "clean coal and energy projects" includes new gasification facilities. Provides that moneys in the Fire Truck Revolving Loan Fund and the Ambulance Revolving Loan Fund may also be used to reimburse the Authority for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with administering the loan programs, including reimbursement for time spent by Authority staff. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Plumbing License Law. Provides that all automatically operated lawn sprinkler systems shall have furnished and installed technology that inhibits or interrupts operation of the system during periods of sufficient moisture or rainfall. Provides that this requirement does not apply to systems operating on golf courses or agricultural lands. Effective January 1, 2009.
Creates the Thimerosal Free Vaccine Act. Contains only the short title.