Sen. Sara Feigenholtz

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Authorizes the Department of Children and Family Services to enter into intergovernmental agreements with any county on behalf of its probation and court services department to provide services for the federal Title IV-E Foster Care Reimbursement Assistance Program. Provides that the Department may limit the number of counties to no less than 10 for State Fiscal Year 2009 and must add no less than 10 counties for each succeeding fiscal year until all counties are included. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Rights for its FY09 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2008.

Amends the Local Government Acceptance of Credit Cards Act. Provides that any unit of local government and any community college district that has the authority to accept the payment of funds for any purpose shall (now, is authorized, but not required to) accept payment by credit card. Makes corresponding changes. Preempts home rule. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall select a capital improvement project related to pedestrian or vehicular facilities as a pilot project in which rubberized asphalt shall be used in place of conventional asphalt. Sets requirements for the project. Provides that the Department shall select the project within 6 months, and the project must be completed within 12 months.

Amends the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for its FY09 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2008.

Amends the Recreation Trails of Illinois Act. Provides for certain disbursements from the Off-Highway Vehicle Trails Fund notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary adopted after the effective date of the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation to appoint within the Division of Professional Regulation a Condo Oversight Officer to (i) receive complaints from condominium owners and create and maintain an electronic database of those complaints, accessible and searchable by the public, (ii) receive and investigate complaints from condominium boards, and (iii) report annually to the General Assembly, Governor, and Attorney General on recommendations for changes in condominium law. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Requires that a special government agent file his or her statement of economic interests within 60 days after assuming responsibilities as a special government agent (now, within 30 days after making an ex parte communication). Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Prohibits all State employees from obtaining State contracts (now, those earning more than 60% of the Governor's compensation). Requires that a waiver from the prohibition against obtaining State contracts must be filed within the earlier of 60 days after it is issued or when contract performance begins, and provides that the contract is voidable if the waiver is not filed within that period. Prohibits the State from entering into a contract with respect to the issuance of bonds or other securities with an entity that uses an independent consultant. Defines an independent consultant. Requires that a State contract with an entity subject to certain Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board requirements for reporting political contributions must include a certification of compliance during the contract with those requirements. Provides that violation makes the contract voidable by the State and bars the entity from State contracts with respect to issuance of bonds or other securities for 10 years. Permanently bars an entity found guilty of violating the rules’ prohibitions against obtaining or retaining securities business and making political contributions or payments. Effective immediately.

Amends "An Act making appropriations", Public Act 95-348. Increases certain appropriations to the Department of Human Services in connection with mental health services. Effective immediately.