Sen. Mattie Hunter

Amends the Business Corporation Act of 1983 and the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986. Provides that the Secretary of State shall not allow another corporation to use the name of a domestic corporation that has been administratively dissolved until the end of the 5-year reinstatement period. Provides that if the domestic corporation that has been administratively dissolved is reinstated within the 5-year period of reinstatement, the domestic corporation shall continue under its previous name without impacting its continuous legal status, unless the corporation petitions to change its name upon reinstatement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Prohibits the installation of thermostats containing mercury in new construction beginning July 1, 2008. Prohibits the installation or sale of thermostats that contain mercury beginning July 1, 2010. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2008, thermostats that contain mercury must not be disposed of in a landfill or incinerated. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Cigarette Tax Act. Provides that the definition of "retailer" does not include any person who transfers cigarettes to a not-for-profit research institution that conducts tests concerning the health effects of tobacco products and who does not offer the cigarettes for resale. Effective immediately.

Creates the Diabetes Initiative Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall develop a strategic plan to slow the rate of diabetes as a result of obesity and other environmental factors by the year 2010. Provides certain guidelines for the development of the plan. Provides that the Department shall deliver the plan to the Governor and to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2008. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2010. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Debra Kay Macon of Chicago.

Creates the Illinois Food, Farms, and Jobs Act and the Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force. Sets out the composition of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall develop a plan for expanding and supporting a State local and organic food system and for assessing and overcoming obstacles to an increase in locally grown food and local organic food production. Sets out the contents of the plan. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Illinois Local Organic Food and Farm Fund. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Mary Waller.

Resolves that each public university and community college shall undertake measures to reduce the cost of textbooks to students.

Creates the Illinois Justice Study Committee to review all non-capital wrongful conviction cases, identify the most common causes of wrongful conviction in non-capital cases, identify current law, and identify solutions.

Recognizes the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services and its work towards reducing the financial and clinical burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on the Medicaid program and the citizens of Illinois.