Sen. Dale A. Righter

Amends the Adoption Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning who may adopt a child.

Amends the Public Utilities Act to create a new Article concerning wind generation construction standards. Contains only an Article heading and a Section containing the short title of the Article.

Amends the Children's Health Insurance Program Act, the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that on and after July 1, 2006, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may not expand the Children's Health Insurance Program (KidCare and FamilyCare), the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Program, or the medical assistance (Medicaid) program by any means, including, but not limited to, (i) applying for waivers of federal law and regulations to cover additional services or groups of persons, (ii) increasing income eligibility limits or otherwise expanding the number of persons covered under the programs, or (iii) increasing the number or types of services covered under the programs. Effective immediately.

Amends the Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act. Defines "Off-Lot Discharging Private Sewage Disposal System". Provides that every owner of an off-lot discharging private sewage disposal systems must file a "Notice of Intent" with the Department of Public Health to allow coverage of the system under the blanket National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit of the State. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Ethanol Board Act. Establishes the Board to promote the development and use of ethanol and the implementation of air quality improvement programs. Provides for the appointment of the Board by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Provides for ex officio non-voting members from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Agriculture, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and a State university designated by the Governor. Specifies the Board's various powers and duties. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children's Health Insurance Program Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Under the Children's Health Insurance Program Act, provides that on and after July 1, 2006, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall implement the following: (1) a capitated managed care system for selected populations of persons in certain counties surrounding Cook County and in certain counties in southern Illinois, under which the State pays a fixed amount per individual per month to a third-party entity to manage the program of health care benefits and assume the risk associated with the payment of medical bills without regard to the actual medical claims incurred; (2) a primary care case management (PCCM) system for selected populations of persons in the remaining counties of the State other than Cook County, under which each participant has one health care provider who is responsible for managing all aspects of the participant's medical care; and (3) a PCCM system for selected populations of persons in Cook County. Requires the Department to file a report describing a mechanism for achieving a transition to a capitated managed care system for persons in Cook County by July 1, 2007. Requires that the populations selected for participation in the various systems must include, at a minimum, all persons eligible for benefits under the Children's Health Insurance Program Act. Provides that the Department may implement similar capitated managed care systems and primary care case management systems for Medicaid recipients under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that in State fiscal year 2007, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall implement a pilot mandatory managed care program requiring recipients to enroll with a managed care organization under contract with the Department. Provides that the program shall be implemented in at least 4 contiguous counties determined suitable for a managed care organization-based managed care system using objective criteria. Sets forth features that the program must include, including criteria for evaluating potential managed care organization contractors. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Ends the current exemption for disabled veterans with the 2005 tax year. Provides that, beginning with the 2006 tax year, the total value of property that is owned and used as a homestead by (i) a disabled veteran (or his or her spouse), (ii) a veteran confined to a wheelchair (or his or her spouse), or (iii) the surviving spouse of a veteran who died from service-connected causes while on active duty is exempt from taxation. Sets forth requirements for the exemptions. Provides that a surviving spouse may transfer the exemption to homestead property acquired after the veteran's death. Requires an annual application for the exemptions. Effective immediately.

Creates the Public Support Standards for Biomedical Research Act. Provides that the State, units of local government, school districts, and community college districts may not use or allow the use of public funds, property, or credit for certain human cloning activities. Prohibits grant recipients from acquiring, receiving, or otherwise transferring any human fetal tissue for valuable consideration. Requires the Department of Public Health to report to the General Assembly concerning grants for biomedical and stem cell research. Sets forth informed consent and other research requirements for grant recipients. Sets forth eligibility requirements for grants. Sets forth penalties for violations of the Act.

Amends the Clerks of Courts Act. For counties with a population of not more than 500,000 inhabitants: adds provisions regarding certain fees of circuit court clerks to conform to provisions of other laws; replaces certain provisions setting minimum and maximum fees with provisions setting maximum fees; increases certain maximum fees; and makes other changes. For all counties, amends provisions authorizing county boards to impose fees for automated record keeping systems and document storage systems in the offices of circuit court clerks by providing that a court automation fund or court document storage fund maintained by the county treasurer shall be audited by an outside auditor, who may be assisted by the county auditor, in accordance with other provisions of the Act regarding audits of the offices of circuit court clerks. Effective immediately.