Sen. Heather A. Steans

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning seat safety belts.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning the Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD) program, eliminates a provision that financial aid for certain refugees or asylees who have become ineligible for federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) shall be available until July 1, 2009. Provides that financial aid for such refugees or asylees shall be equal to 90% of the standard monthly SSI grant (instead of shall not exceed $500 per month). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Requires the Department on Aging, in cooperation with certain agencies, to determine whether any persons (instead of only "Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders victims and persons who are deemed as blind or disabled under the Social Security Act") who are in need of long-term care may be satisfactorily cared for in their homes. Vests responsibility for pre-screening in case coordination units or any agencies designated by the Department of Human Services (instead of only in case coordination units). Requires all persons who are admitted to and remain in a nursing facility for 90 or more days to be re-screened at the end of the 90 day period to assess their continuing need for nursing facility care. Effective immediately.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates the Tobacco Dependence Coverage Law. Sets forth a definition for "tobacco use cessation program". Provides that group and individual accident and health policies and managed care plans issued to a resident of the State must provide coverage or reimbursement of at least $500 annually for a tobacco use cessation program for insureds who are 15 years of age or older. Provides that notice of the availability of coverage shall be delivered to the insured. Provides that an insurer may not deny eligibility or continued eligibility to enroll or renew coverage solely for the purpose of avoiding the requirements of the Law. Provides that an insurer may not penalize or reduce or limit the reimbursement of an attending provider or provide incentives to induce the provider to provide care that is inconsistent with the Law.

Establishes a joint legislative and gubernatorial commission to launch a review of the future financing of the State's Medicaid program.

Designates April 28, 2009 as Pay Equity Day in the State of Illinois.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that a private evaluator or expert retained by or on behalf a parent or guardian shall be afforded reasonable and unimpeded access to educational personnel, facilities, classrooms, and buildings and to the child for the purpose of conducting any appropriate interviews, observations, assessments, tests, or evaluations of the child and of the child's current or proposed educational program, placement, and educational environment. Provides that a parent or guardian shall be afforded reasonable and unimpeded access to observe the child in his or her current or proposed educational program, placement, and educational environment. Provides that a parent or guardian who is a prevailing party in an impartial due process hearing or in a civil action may recover from an opposing party reasonable expert witness costs if the expert witness contributed to the relief obtained by the parent or guardian. Effective immediately.

Amends the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act and the Radiation Protection Act of 1990. Provides that on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, no license shall be granted or renewed under the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act unless the applicant: (i) submits, and the Department of Public Health (IDPH) approves, a plan for providing service to Medicaid recipients and medically underserved populations in its service area; or (ii) submits a plan for charity care that has been approved by the Illinois Attorney General; or (iii) submits a notarized statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the organization certifying that the applicant will not refuse service to any patient because the services the patient seeks may be reimbursed under Medicaid. Provides that no person may administer radiation to a human being in a Class C or D radiation installation, other than a hospital, unless the radiation installation submits similar items to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). Provides that in addition, no ambulatory surgical treatment center license shall be granted or renewed, and radiation may not be administered in a Class C or D installation other than a hospital, if IDPH or IEMA, respectively, determines that the license applicant or radiation installation has not complied with a prior plan or notarized statement submitted pursuant to these provisions. Effective immediately.