Sen. Shane Cultra

Congratulates the Village of Ashkum on the occasion of its sesquicentennial.

Congratulates the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Project Ignition Team on winning the national Best of the Best award at the National Youth Leadership Council's 17th Annual National Service-Learning Conference.

Congratulates the Village of Buckley on the occasion of its 150th anniversary.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that 25% the proceeds collected under the tax imposed for the sale, use, or possession of alcoholic liquor must be available to the Department of Human Services for grants to public and private entities for the purpose of funding alcohol problem prevention and recovery programs. Effective immediately.

Amends the Ticket Scalping Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning service charges.

Amends the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act. Allows the Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Board to establish conditions and procedures under which the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan may discount or subsidize premiums for unemployed or retired coal miners who are federally eligible and whose employer-provided health insurance coverage was terminated on September 28, 2004, and to accept funds appropriated for this purpose. Allows unemployed or retired coal miners who are federally eligible and whose employer-provided health insurance coverage was terminated on September 28, 2004 to be eligible for the Plan even though their premiums may be discounted or subsidized. Requires federally eligible unemployed or retired coal miners whose employer-provided health insurance coverage was terminated on September 28, 2004 to pay the discounted or subsidized premiums established by the Board. Effective immediately.

Amends the Recreational Use of Land and Water Areas Act. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to encourage owners of land to make land and water areas available to any individual or, on state-owned or managed lands and waters, members of the public (rather than to the public) for recreational or conservation purposes by limiting their liability toward persons entering thereon for such purposes. Provides that residential buildings are not included in the definition of "land". Changes the definition of "recreational or conservation purpose" to include hunting, hiking, recreational shooting, operation of an off-highway vehicle, rock climbing, trapping, horseback riding of an entrant's own horse or horses, fishing, swimming, boating, camping, picnicking, water or snow skiing, sledding, and snowmobiling. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning Medicaid payment rates for nursing homes, provides that the transition period for implementing the new MDS payment methodology for the nursing component of the rate may not exceed 3 (instead of 2) years. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Authorizes any gas utility to enter into a long-term contract with any company for synthetic natural gas produced from coal through the gasification process. Provides guidelines for determining if the cost for the synthetic natural gas is reasonable and prudent and recoverable through the purchased gas adjustment clause.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.