Sen. Michael W. Frerichs

Amends the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act. Adds a provision requiring that the Plan provide coverage for mammograms and prosthetic devices or reconstructive surgery incident to a mastectomy, Pap tests, prostate-specific antigen tests, colorectal cancer examination and screening, and contraceptives as required under certain Sections of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that any expense or charge for routine physical examinations or tests related to certain covered benefits are not excluded from coverage under the Plan. Deletes a provision excluding any expense or charge for oral contraceptives used for birth control or any other temporary birth control measures from coverage under the Plan.

Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the School District Property Tax Relief Fund. Requires appropriations from the Education Assistance Fund. Requires the Department of Revenue to certify property tax relief grants for school districts from the Fund. Sets forth procedures for these grants. Creates the Higher Education Operating Assistance Fund for the purpose of grants to colleges and universities. Requires annual appropriations to the Fund. Sets forth requirements for appropriating and using moneys from the Fund. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the rate of income tax for individuals, trusts, and estates from 3% to 5% and for corporations from 4.8% to 8%. Requires this additional revenue to be deposited into the Education Assistance Fund. Increases the amount of the earned income tax credit and the education expense credit. Limits the amount of the property tax credit to $30. Amends the Property Tax Code. Requires abatements of education extensions by the amount of the property tax relief grants received. Amends the School Code. Increases the foundation level of support and grant amount for supplemental general State aid. Changes the distribution of moneys from the Education Assistance Fund. Establishes the Education Assistance Fund Board to make biennial recommendations concerning appropriations from the Education Assistance Fund. Creates a continuing appropriation. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. In a Section defining "coal combustion by-product" (CCB), provides that coal combustion waste must be covered with 12 inches of soil, within 30 days after deposit of the coal combustion waste, before it may be considered as CCB. Provides that coal combustion waste may be used as CCB only if the structural fill is located no less than 500 feet from any residence and any well being used as a residential water source. Provides for Agency inspection of structural fill CCB projects. Provides that the Agency must adopt rules concerning the use of coal combustion waste and sets out requirements for those rules. Provides a cause of action for persons harmed by the violation of that provision.

Amends the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Department of Agriculture Law. Provides that the Department shall not require a premises identification number to exhibit or enter livestock or horses at any fair or exhibition in Illinois, unless required by federal law or regulation, without first receiving approval for such a requirement from the governing board of the fair or exhibition.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Creates the Methamphetamine Abusers Pilot Program at the Vermilion County Juvenile Detention Center and at the Vermilion County Jail. Provides that the Program shall be established upon adoption of a resolution or ordinance by the Vermilion County Board and with the consent of the Secretary of Human Services. Provides that a person convicted of the unlawful possession of methamphetamine under the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, after an assessment by a designated program licensed under the Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse and Dependency Act that the person is a methamphetamine abuser or addict and may benefit from treatment for his or her abuse or addiction, may be ordered by the court to be committed to the Program. Provides that the Program shall consist of medical and psychiatric treatment for the abuse or addiction for a period of at least 90 days and not to exceed 180 days.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a tax checkoff for the Crisis Nursery Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Fund. Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that, from appropriations to the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department shall make grants, in equal amounts, to the member entities of the Crisis Nursery Coalition of Illinois. Effective immediately.

In addition to any other amounts appropriated for this purpose, appropriates $7,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for the purpose of providing shelter and transitional housing and employment assistance for homeless youth. Effective July 1, 2008.

Amends the State Property Control Act. With respect to the transfer of books, serial publications, and other library materials to which the Act's transfer procedures do not apply, (i) adds those items that have been withdrawn from the transferring agency's library collection through a regular collection evaluation process and (ii) adds non-profit agencies, whether located in or outside Illinois, to the list of entities to which such items may be transferred. Authorizes an agency with withdrawn books, serial publications, or other library materials to sell those items to the public at library book sales or to book dealers or to offer those items through exchange to book dealers or to organizations. Provides that revenues generated from such sales shall be retained by the agency and used for the purchase of library materials.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning a tax credit for property taxes.