Sen. Deanna Demuzio

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. To the general provisions that, for purposes of the Act, "long-term care facility" does not include a "supportive living facility" established under the Illinois Public Aid Code or an assisted living or shared housing establishment, adds an exception for purposes of provisions concerning the nurse aide registry and the employment of persons as a nursing assistant, habilitation aide, or child care aide. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that when a child who is eligible for special education reaches the majority age of 18 years, rights accorded to the child's parents transfer to the child. Provides that rights shall not transfer from the parents to the child if the child has been determined to be incompetent under State law or the child has not been determined to be incompetent, but does not have the ability to provide informed consent with respect to the child's educational program. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules establishing criteria for school districts to determine if a child lacks the ability to provide informed consent and uniform procedures for allowing the parents of the child, another adult caregiver, or another responsible adult to exercise rights on behalf of the child. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. In a Section concerning educational support personnel employees, provides that if the hours the employee works are reduced for certain reasons, then written notice must be given to the employee. Provides that if a reduction in hours is due to an unforeseen reduction in the student population, then the written notice must be mailed and given to the employee at least 5 days (instead of 30 days) before the hours are reduced. With respect to educational support personnel employees removed or dismissed for certain reasons, provides that if a school board has any vacancies for the following school term or within one calendar year from the beginning of the following school term, the positions thereby becoming available within a specific category of position shall be tendered to the employees who were removed or dismissed from that category or any other category of position (now, just from that category), so far as they are qualified to hold the positions. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code and the State Finance Act. Extends the technology immersion pilot project established by the State Board of Education for another 3 years. Extends the repeal of provisions concerning the technology immersion pilot project to August 31, 2010 (instead of August 31, 2007). Effective August 30, 2007.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the State Finance Act. Authorizes special license plates designated as Boy Scout and Girl Scout plates. Provides that the Secretary of State may issue Boy Scout plates bearing the Eagle Scout badge only to an applicant who submits written proof of Eagle Scout rank, by way of documentation from the National Boy Scout Council. Provides that the Secretary may issue Girl Scout plates bearing the symbol of the Gold Award only to an applicant who provides written proof of Gold Award status, by way of documentation from the National Office of the Girl Scouts of America. Provides that the Secretary shall make Eagle Scout Boy Scout plates and Gold Award Girl Scout Plates available to qualified applicants. Provides for increased fees for all Boy Scout and Girl Scout plates, to be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund and the Boy Scout and Girl Scout Fund. Creates the Boy Scout and Girl Scout Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that all moneys in the Boy Scout and Girl Scout Fund shall, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly and approval by the Secretary, be paid as grants, to be divided between the Illinois divisions of the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of America on a pro rata basis, according to the number of each type of plate sold. Effective January 1, 2008.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Authorizes municipalities and counties to aggregate customers for the purchase of electricity. Provides for approval of aggregation by the voters. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to review aggregation plans.

Amends the School Code with respect to special education classes for children from orphanages, foster family homes, children's homes, or in-State housing units. In a provision that allows reimbursement for the costs of educating a disabled student who is placed residentially by a State agency or the courts for care or custody, welfare, medical or mental health treatment, rehabilitation, and protection, provides that it is the intent of that provision that school districts be reimbursed for the eligible costs of educating all disabled students residentially placed by a State agency or the courts or placed and paid for by a State agency for any of the reasons listed. Provides that reimbursements under the provision shall first be provided for claims made for the 2007-2008 school year payable in fiscal year 2008. Effective immediately.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that a person may not operate, provide, sell, use, or offer to operate, provide, sell, or use any computer software or service that allows a person not physically present at the hunt site to remotely control a weapon that could be used to take wildlife by remote operation, including, but not limited to, weapons or devices set up to fire through the use of the Internet or through a remote control device. Provides that a violation is a Class B misdemeanor. Provides that a person who facilitates the use of software or services to hunt by remote control is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987. Makes changes to the definition of "ocular pharmaceutical agents". Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Includes optometrists in the definitions of "practitioner", "prescriber", and "prescription" and in a provision concerning the scope of the Act.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a board of education may enter into a contract with a third party for non-instructional services currently performed by an employee or bargaining unit member or lay off those educational support personnel employees upon 90 (instead of 30) days written notice. Adds conditions on the entering of such a contract, including providing that: (1) a contract must not be entered into during the term of a collective bargaining agreement; (2) any third party that submits a bid to perform the services shall provide comparable liability insurance, a comparable benefits package, a list of the number of employees who will provide the services and the wages the third party will pay those employees, a minimum 3-year cost projection, and information about the criminal and disciplinary records of the employees; (3) a contract must not be entered into unless the school board provides a cost comparison; (4) a minimum of 2 public hearings to discuss the school board's proposal to contract with a third party must be held; (5) a contract shall contain provisions requiring the contractor to offer available employee positions pursuant to the contract to qualified school district employees whose employment is terminated because of the contract; and (6) a contract shall contain provisions requiring the contractor to comply with a policy of nondiscrimination and equal employment opportunity. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.