Sen. Michael W. Frerichs

Creates the Low Carbon Fuel Standards Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Illinois Promotion Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997 in the Public Utilities Act. Changes the definition of "mandatory transition period" to include the period from the effective date through the date on which the Illinois Commerce Commission has approved declarations of competitive service for all classes of service offered in the service areas of all electric utilities that, on December 31, 2005, served at least 100,000 customers in Illinois. Requires the Commission to order certain utilities to file and implement tariffs to reinstate all rates charged to the electric utilities' customers on December 31, 2006, within 10 days after the effective date. Requires the Commission to order the electric utilities to refund to the utilities' residential customers any amounts charged to such residential customers, from January 1, 2007 until 10 days after the effective date that exceed the rates charged to the electric utilities' residential customers on December 31, 2006. Provides that the refund must be issued within 30 days after the effective date and shall include interest on the full amount of the refund, at the same interest rate the Commission requires utilities to pay on customer deposits. Prohibits the Commission from taking certain actions prior to 2010 with respect to (i) initiating, authorizing, or ordering any change by way of increase or (ii) in approving an application for a merger, imposing a condition requiring any filing for an increase, decrease, or change in or other review of a utility's rates or enforcing such a condition. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Labor Dispute Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires an electric utility to procure or obtain renewable energy resources in amounts equal to provided quantities. Requires an electric utility to report to the Illinois Commerce Commission regarding compliance with renewable energy resource standards by April 1 of each year beginning in 2008. Provides penalties for an electric utility that fails to procure or obtain the full amount of renewable energy resources as required by specified provisions. Provides that the Commission shall adopt rules as necessary within 12 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act to assist in implementing methods of procurement, accounting, tracking, and reporting in order to achieve the stated objectives. Provides that electric utilities may enter into long-term contracts of up to 20 years with providers of renewable energy resources. Provides that the provisions shall not prohibit an electric utility from issuing a competitive solicitation for renewable energy resources in order to meet the required standards. Effective immediately.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning advising and counseling the Governor.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the reading of meters.

Amends the State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires that the Governor's submitted budget include information concerning the amount and description of overdue bills and invoices under the State Prompt Payment Act. Amends the Prompt Payment Act. Accelerates the payment period from 60 days after the bill is submitted to 30 days after the bill is submitted. Increases the interest penalty from 1% to 1.5% if the payment is not made within 60 days after the bill is submitted. Effective immediately.

Creates the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Act. Creates the Broadband Deployment Council as a body corporate and politic of the State. Sets forth the powers and duties of the Council concerning telecommunications development. Provides that the Act does not limit certain activities of units of local government concerning broadband services. Amends the State Finance Act to create the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to reimburse advanced practice nurses for psychiatric services they provide, as authorized by Illinois law, to Medicaid recipients. Effective immediately.