Sen. Deanna Demuzio

Amends the Illinois Rural/Downstate Health Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Makes appropriations to the Auditor General for (i) ordinary and contingent expenses, from the General Revenue Fund, and (ii) audits, studies, and investigations, from the Audit Expense Fund. Effective July 1, 2007.

Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that moneys in the State Pensions Fund shall be used for the funding of the unfunded liabilities of the 5 State-funded retirement systems (rather than for payment of or repayment to the General Revenue Fund of a portion of the required State contributions to the designated retirement systems). Provides that the payments to the designated retirement systems shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any State contributions required under the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, for fiscal year 2010 and each fiscal year thereafter, as soon as may be practical after any money is deposited into the State Pensions Fund from the Unclaimed Property Trust Fund, the State Treasurer shall apportion the deposited amount to the designated retirement systems to reduce their actuarial reserve deficiencies. Provides that the amount apportioned to each designated retirement system shall constitute a portion of the amount estimated to be available for appropriation from the State Pensions Fund that is the same as that retirement system's portion of the total actuarial reserve deficiency of the systems. Makes conforming changes in the Illinois Pension Code, the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act, and the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Division of Operations of the Department of State Police may expend funds from the Sex Offender Registration Fund for education and administration of the Sex Offender Registration Act and the Sex Offender Community Notification Law. Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Deletes a provision that moneys in the Sex Offender Registration Fund shall be used to cover costs incurred by the criminal justice system to administer the Act. Deletes a provision that 50% of the moneys in the Sex Offender Registration Fund shall be allocated by the Department of State Police for sheriffs' offices and police departments. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be allocated to the Illinois State Police Sex Offender Registration Unit for education and administration of the Act. Effective January 1, 2008.

Amends the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. In connection with the pharmaceutical assistance program, provides eligibility for persons who have a maximum household income at or below 225% of the Federal Poverty Level if they qualify under certain conditions. Eliminates an Eligibility Group consisting of persons who are disabled and under age 65, or age 65 or older with incomes related to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, and who are eligible for Medicare Part D coverage. Provides that for persons who have a diagnosis of HIV or AIDS, "covered prescription drug" means those drugs covered by the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan in which the beneficiary is enrolled (eliminates a reference to drugs included in the formulary of the Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program operated by the Illinois Department of Public Health). Provides that in defining countable income for purposes of the pharmaceutical assistance program, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services or the Department on Aging must disregard the cost-of-living increase to any benefit administered by the Social Security Administration in any year that the percentage increase of the Social Security Administration cost-of-living adjustment is higher than the percentage increase in the Federal Poverty Level. Adds provisions concerning the effective date of eligibility for the pharmaceutical assistance program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act to extend the repeal date of the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987 from January 1, 2008 to January 1, 2018. Amends the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987. Replaces "Department of Professional Regulation" with "Department of Financial and Professional Regulation" and "Director of the Department of Professional Regulation" with "Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation" throughout the Act. Changes the amount of the civil penalty imposed for each offense of unlicensed practice and the maximum amount of fines that may be imposed for each violation of the Act from $5,000 to $10,000. Makes changes to provisions concerning the physician assistant advisory committee, supervision requirements, qualifications, fees, endorsement, grounds for disciplinary action, and hearing officers. Makes other changes. Repeals a Section concerning the issuance of a license. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning grants for preschool education programs.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program.

Amends the Illinois Medical District at Springfield Act. Provides that the Illinois Medical District at Springfield shall be renamed the Mid-Illinois Medical District. Provides that the training program area of the District includes the counties of Cass, Christian, Logan, Macoupin, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Sangamon, and Scott. Sets forth certain additional purposes for the District. Provides that the Governor shall appoint 2 additional members to the Mid-Illinois Medical District Commission. Amends the State Finance Act and the Eminent Domain Act to make conforming changes.

Creates the Pharmaceutical Best Price Buying Initiative Act and amends the Freedom of Information Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Creates the Pharmaceutical Best Price Buying Initiative Program. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to negotiate prescription drug discount agreements with drug manufacturers to provide discounts for drugs purchased by pharmacies and drug wholesalers participating in the program. Provides discount benchmarks. Provides that any drug manufacturer, and any individual or entity licensed under the Pharmacy Practice Act of 1987 or the Wholesale Drug Distribution Licensing Act, may participate in the program. Sets forth terms that must be included in the agreements, including provisions for rebates to participating pharmacies and drug wholesalers. Requires the Department to establish the procedures and enabling mechanisms for a program participant to obtain rebates from a prescription drug manufacturer. Provides for confidentiality of information in connection with negotiations and agreements. Provides that on August 1, 2010, the Department shall determine whether manufacturer participation in the program has been sufficient to meet certain benchmarks. Provides for a prior authorization requirement under Medicaid with respect to drugs of a manufacturer under certain conditions. Effective immediately.