Sen. Don Harmon

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

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Establishes a time frame within which an initial agreement must be reached or conciliation and arbitration attempted.

Amends the Downstate Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that any benefit to be received by or paid to a dependent beneficiary may be received by or paid to a trust established for such dependent beneficiary if the dependent beneficiary is living at the time such benefit would be received by or paid to such trust. Effective immediately.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health shall develop a working group to advise the Department on Primary Stroke Center Systems; that this work group shall have representation from the following groups: EMS Medical Directors; hospital administrators; neurologists from accredited Primary Stroke Centers; EMS Coordinators; stroke advocates; fire chiefs in Illinois; private ambulance providers; and a representative from the State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council; and that this group shall also develop and submit a statewide stroke assessment tool to the Department for final approval, a copy of which shall be disseminated to all EMS Systems for adoption no later than January 15, 2011. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission, in cooperation with a local law enforcement agency, may establish in any county or municipality a system for automated enforcement of railroad crossing violations. Establishes requirements for the system. Provides that local authorities desiring the establishment of an automated railroad crossing enforcement system must initiate the process by enacting a local ordinance requesting the creation of such a system. Provides that local authorities and the Commission must agree to a plan for obtaining, from any combination of federal, State, and local funding sources, the moneys required for the purchase and installation of any necessary equipment. Deletes language pertaining to a pilot project to establish such a system. Provides for automated recording of vehicles that enter a railroad crossing against the signal or that obstruct traffic at a railroad crossing. Provides for the issuance of a notice of violation to the owner of the recorded vehicle. Establishes procedures for contesting the violation. Provides for civil adjudication of violations, in the same manner as automated red light violations. Provides that a civil fine of $250 shall be imposed for a first violation. Provides that a civil fine of $500 shall be imposed for a second or subsequent violation. Provides that the Secretary of State shall suspend the driving privileges of the registered owner of a vehicle that is involved in 5 of these violations for which the fine imposed has not been paid. Repeals the provision currently providing for the establishment of these systems. Makes other changes.

Amends the School Code. With respect to the Early Childhood Education Block Grant, provides that not less than 11% (instead of exactly 11%) of the grant shall be used to fund programs for children ages 0-3. Provides that this percentage shall increase to at least 20% by Fiscal Year 2015, except that if, in a given fiscal year, the amount appropriated for the Early Childhood Education Block Grant is insufficient to increase the percentage of the grant to fund programs for children ages 0-3 without reducing the amount of the grant for existing providers of preschool education programs, then the percentage of the grant to fund programs for children ages 0-3 may be held steady instead of increased. Effective July 1, 2009.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Requires all elected and appointed trustees of downstate police and fire pension funds to participate in a mandatory trustee certification training seminar that must consist of at least 32 hours of initial trustee certification at a training facility that is accredited and affiliated with a State of Illinois certified college or university. Provides guidelines for the training. Provides that, in addition to the initial trustee certification training, those elected and appointed trustees shall also participate in a minimum of 16 hours of continuing trustee education each year thereafter. Requires the employer to pay for the training. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Alternative Gas Supplier Law in the Public Utilities Act. Provides that "single billing" means the combined billing of the services provided by both a natural gas utility and an alternative gas supplier to any customer who has enrolled in a customer choice program.

Amends the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997 in the Public Utilities Act. Provides that an alternative retail electric supplier shall be responsible for procuring cost-effective renewable energy resources as required under specified provisions of the Act in a specified manner. Provides that an alternative retail electric supplier shall comply with the renewable energy portfolio standards by any one or a combination of specified means. Contains provisions concerning the use of renewable energy certificates. Contains provisions concerning alternative compliance payments for alternative retail electric suppliers. Provides that each alternative retail electric supplier shall, by September 1, 2011 and by September 1 of each year thereafter, prepare, and submit to the Illinois Commerce Commission a report that provides information certifying compliance by the alternative retail electric supplier with specified provisions. Provides that upon complaint or the Commission's own motion, the Commission may conduct a contested case to review allegations that the alternative retail electric supplier has violated specified provisions. Contains an exemption from specified requirements for electric utilities that meet certain criteria. Provides that biennially, the Commission shall submit to the General Assembly a report that discusses the status of renewable energy in the State and the effect of certain provisions on electricity prices and retail and wholesale electric markets.