Sen. Deanna Demuzio

Mourns the death of Suzanne A. Albracht of Carlinville.

Mourns the death of James C. Torricelli, Ph.D., of Rochester.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that the Illinois Department of Public Health shall have the authority to promulgate minimum standards for critical care transport through rules adopted by the Department. Defines "critical care transport" to mean an advanced level of Pre-hospital and Inter-hospital care utilizing specially trained paramedics, specially trained nurses, and other specialized healthcare providers to deliver advanced or highly specialized care above or beyond the level of current paramedic practice. Establishes minimum standards for critical care transport programs. Grants the Department the authority to suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew (rather than suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew) the license of any EMT that has been convicted by any lawful court of a felony criminal offense involving unlawful physical injury to a child under the age of 13 or an adult over the age of 65. Contains provisions concerning application, testing, certification, and licensing fees for First Responders, EMS Lead Instructors, Emergency Medical Dispatchers, Trauma Nurse Specialists, Pre-Hospital Register Nurses, and Emergency Communication Register Nurses. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2011.

Creates the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to operate as a debt settlement provider or engage in debt settlement service except as authorized by the Act and without first having obtained a license under the Act. Contains provisions concerning the (1) application for a license, (2) qualifications for licensure, (3) renewal of a license, (4) display requirements for a license, (5) temporary licensed locations, (6) denial of a license, (7) revocation or suspension of a license, (8) maintenance of records by a licensee, (9) examination of a licensee, (10) maintenance of trust funds by a licensee, and (11) other licensee businesses. With respect to the Director of Financial Institutions, contains provisions concerning the (1) adoption of rules by the Director, (2) penalties for violations of the Act, (3) procedure the Director may take to obtain an injunction, (4) review of decisions, (5) issuance of cease and desist orders. Contains provisions concerning (1) advertising practices, (2) individualized financial analysis, (3) required disclosures, (4) debt settlement contracts, (5) fees, (6) consumer settlement accounts, (7) cancellation of contracts, (8) obligations of good faith, (9) prohibited practices and noncompliance with the Act, and (10) civil remedies. Amends the Debt Management Service Act to exclude "debt settlement service" and attorneys engaged in specific practices from the Act. Amends the State Finance Act to provide that moneys collected under the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act shall be deposited into the Financial Institution Fund. Contains a severability clause. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to specify that a violation of the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act is a violation of the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Hospital Services Trust Fund Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to appropriation, in addition to any other payments authorized under the Code, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall reimburse critical access hospitals for outpatient services at an amount that is no less than the cost of providing such services, based on Medicare cost principles.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that all third-party sales representatives engaged in the marketing of retail electricity supply, including exclusive and non-exclusive agents, must, prior to the customer signing a contract, disclose in writing that they are not employed by the electric utility operating in the applicable service territory and, if applicable, that they are compensated in whole or part on a commission basis. Provides that for telephonic solicitations, the disclosure may initially be made verbally prior to the customer signing a contract, with a follow-up written disclosure required prior to any customer contract being finalized. Includes the Illinois Power Agency and its employees from being exempt as being licensed agents, brokers, and consultants engaged in the procurement or sale of retail electricity supply for third parties and changes the requirements of parties already subject to licensure. Provides that any person or entity required to be licensed under specified provisions must, among other requirements, disclose in plain language in writing to all customers, prior to the customer signing a contract, the total anticipated remuneration to be paid to it by any third party over the period of the proposed underlying customer contract. Removes provisions requiring agents, brokers, and consultants to file copies of their verified financial statements with the Commission on an annual basis. Makes changes concerning disciplinary actions against agents, brokers, and consultants. Effective immediately.

Amends the MR/DD Community Care Act. Includes the size of the facility licensed under the Act to the list of factors the Director of Public Health is to consider when making a determination as to possible penalties for a violation. Effective July 1, 2010.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act and the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act, the State of Illinois shall ensure that children with disabilities have full access to coordinated, multi-disciplinary transition support and service planning until educational services are exhausted or until such a child attains 22 years of age. Provides that transition services include educational services and all services identified as necessary to support integration and continued growth and success in the individual's post-educational, community environments. Further provides that children with disabilities who receive residential and educational services from the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Human Services shall be eligible to receive transition services provided by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) from the age of 14.5 to 22 years, notwithstanding the child's residential service arrangement. Defines "children with disabilities" to mean persons who are 22 years old or younger and are afflicted with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 that is attributable to a developmental disability, a mental illness, or a physical disability, or a combination of those. Effective immediately.

Amends the Personnel Record Review Act. Provides that an employer who receives a request for records of a disciplinary report, letter of reprimand, or other disciplinary action in relation to an employee under the Freedom of Information Act may provide notification to the employee in written form or through electronic mail, if available. Effective immediately.

Amends the MR/DD Community Care Act. Requires the Director of the Department of Public Health to appoint a MR/DD Facility Advisory Board to advise and consult with the Department on all aspects of its responsibilities under the Act. Contains provisions on the composition of the Advisory Board. Changes all references to the Long-Term Care Facility Advisory Board to the MR/DD Facility Advisory Board. Effective July 1, 2010.