Sen. Chapin Rose

Amends the Gasoline Storage Act. Provides that a retailer of ethanol blended gasoline that owns an ethanol aboveground storage tank having a capacity of greater than 6,000 gallons shall register the tank with the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Provides that each retailer required to register an ethanol aboveground storage tank shall pay the Office of the State Fire Marshal a registration fee. Expands the rulemaking authority of the Office of the State Fire Marshal to regulate ethanol aboveground storage tanks.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act to provide coverage for habilitative services, including, but not limited to occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy for children under the age of 19 with congenital or genetic defects existing at or from birth or with a defect acquired at a young age. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Amends the State Finance Act. In fiscal year 2014 and in each fiscal year thereafter, requires the transfer from the General Revenue Fund to the Agricultural Premium Fund and the Fair and Exposition Fund of amounts equal to 100% of the total statutory payments required from those special funds for that fiscal year to county fairs and fair and exposition authorities under the Agricultural Fair Act. In each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2013, requires transfer of an amount equal to a lower, specified percentage of those total statutory payments. Provides that the required transfer amounts are the maximum amounts to be transferred in each fiscal year, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary. Amends the Agricultural Fair Act. With respect to the distribution formula for premiums to county fairs, uses either of the 2 previous fiscal years (now, either fiscal year 1984 or 1985).

Appropriates $10,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Community College Board for manufacturing curricula and workforce development. Effective July 1, 2008.

Designates Illinois Route 150 from Turkeyfarm Road through the Village of Mahomet to Prairieview Road as Veterans Parkway.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning Medicaid rates for nursing homes, provides that for facilities licensed by the Department of Public Health under the Nursing Home Care Act as skilled nursing facilities or intermediate care facilities, the support component of the rates taking effect on July 1, 2008 shall be computed using the most recent cost reports on file with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services no later than April 1, 2006, updated for inflation to January 1, 2007. Provides that facilities shall have the support component of their Medicaid rate computed every year using the most recent cost reports on file with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services no later than April 1, 2 years prior to the year in which the new rate takes effect, updated for inflation to January 1 of the year prior to the year in which the new rate takes effect. Effective immediately.

Amends the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Provides that to become a beneficiary under the pharmaceutical assistance program, a person must have a maximum household income not exceeding 350% of the Federal Poverty Level (instead of have a maximum household income of specified amounts based on household size or not more than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level). Effective January 1, 2008.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning credits and creditable service.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section concerning the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption, provides that the definition of "base amount" does not include the value of any improvement after the base year that is necessary due to destruction of the property by an act of God. Effective immediately.

Creates the Burden of Proof Act and the Illinois Citizens' Grievance Panel Act of 2008 and amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the burden of proof is on the State in any circuit court proceeding or administrative adjudication in which the State or a State agency is an adversary of a United States citizen or legal resident. Establishes the Citizens' Grievance Panel as an independent State agency to hear grievances brought against the State or a State agency by a United States citizen. Provides that the Panel's decisions may be introduced as evidence in subsequent administrative and judicial actions. Authorizes the Panel to negotiate grievances and to make its decision public when negotiation fails.