Sen. Gary Forby

Mourns the death of Don "Frog" Eubanks of Benton.

Amends the Drilling Operations Act. Makes technical changes in the Section concerning the short title of the Act.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Requires all automobiles purchased from State funds to be flexible fuel vehicles. Defines "flexible fuel vehicles" as automobiles or light trucks with the ability to operate on both gasoline and alternative fuels such as E-85. Authorizes the Chief Procurement Officer to exempt certain vehicle classes from this requirement based on intended use or other reasonable considerations.

Amends the Drilling Operations Act. Makes a technical change in the Section concerning the short title of the Act.

Amends the Child Labor Law. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the determination of questions by the Industrial Commission.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that beginning January 1, 2007, the Department shall pay an additional $1.33 per hour of chore/housekeeping and homemaker service performed by a chore/housekeeping and homemaker service provider vendor to all vendors who certify that they will offer health insurance to all qualifying employees, and their dependents. Requires the amount of funding, for years after 2007, to be adjusted by the amount of which the medical component of the Consumer Price Index exceeds such component for the previous calendar year. Defines a qualifying employee as an employee that provides over 100 hours of chore/housekeeping and homemaker services per month for 3 consecutive months. Requires that chore/housekeeping and homemaker service provider vendors must certify that 50% of their workforce is eligible for coverage as a qualifying employee. Provides that the Department must set minimum standards for a qualifying health plan by rule. Sets forth that provider vendors who fail to offer coverage to all qualifying employees shall be subject to penalties up to and including the requirement to return all moneys paid under this paragraph by the State as prescribed by Department rule.

Amends the Recreational Use of Land and Water Areas Act. Provides that the definition of "recreational or conservation purpose" that applies to land that the State or a State agency owns, leases, occupies, or controls includes any activity undertaken for conservation, resource management, education, exercise, relaxation, or pleasure (in addition to the activities in this Section: hunting, recreational shooting, a combination of those, or an activity related to hunting or recreational shooting). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that on and after July 1, 2006, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall reimburse providers of home health services under the Medicaid program using a phased-in rate increase as follows: (1) for services provided from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, the rate shall be $70 per visit; and (2) for services provided on or after July 1, 2007, the rate shall be $80 per visit. Provides that these rate increases apply to skilled nursing visits, physical therapy visits, occupational therapy visits, and speech therapy visits. Provides that the rate for home health aide visits shall be $61.34 for all such services provided on or after July 1, 2006. Effective immediately.

Amends the Energy Assistance Act. Provides that no later than August 1 of each year, the Director of Revenue shall calculate the total amount of tax paid pursuant to the Gas Revenue Tax Act by persons eligible to receive assistance from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program during the 12-month period ending the previous June 30 and the total amount of Energy Assistance Charges paid by such persons during that same period. Provides that no later than September 1 of each year, the Director of Revenue shall cause an amount equal to the amount calculated under the foregoing provision in that year to be transferred from GRF to the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund.