Sen. Ira I. Silverstein

Amends the Harassing and Obscene Communications Act. Creates the Cyberbullying Law. Provides that the offense of harassment through electronic communications also includes the use of electronic communication for making a harassing statement for the purpose of alarming, tormenting, or terrorizing a specific person on at least 2 separate occasions; or creating and maintaining an Internet website or webpage, which is accessible to one or more third parties for a period of at least 24 hours, and which contains harassing statements made for the purpose of alarming, tormenting, or terrorizing a specific person. Establishes penalties. Effective immediately.

Creates the Commission on the Eradication of Poverty Act. Provides for appointments and terms of members. Provides for funding through the Department of Human Rights. Requires meetings and reports. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Supreme Court's jurisdiction over election contests.

Amends the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of State Police to establish and administer, as a pilot program in 10 zip codes within the State, an automated wellness-check system. Provides that, under the system, senior citizens and individuals with a disability or illness may register with the Department to receive automated calls at an agreed-upon time and, if the dispatcher is unable to reach the registered person by telephone after 3 attempts in a 5-minute span, then a State or local law-enforcement officer will be sent to the person's home to check on his or her welfare. Effective immediately.

Amends the New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act. Includes vehicles purchased by a fire department, fire protection district, or township fire department in the definition of "vehicle" and includes a fire department, fire protection district, or township fire department in the definition of "consumer".

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Increases the penalties for the offense of financial exploitation of an elderly person or a person with a disability by one class.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Adds language providing that termination of gas and electric utility service to all residential users, for nonpayment of bills, is prohibited on any day when the National Weather Service forecasts that the temperature on the following 2 calendar days shall reach a 32 degree Fahrenheit temperature. Provides that the termination of gas and electric utility service to all residential users, for nonpayment of bills, where gas or electricity is used as the only source of space cooling or to control or operate the only space cooling equipment at the residence, is prohibited (1) on any day when the National Weather Service forecast for the following 24 hours covering the area of the utility in which the residence is located includes a forecast that the temperature shall be 95 degrees Fahrenheit or above, or on the following 2 calendar days during which a 95 degree Fahrenheit temperature has been reached; or (2) on any day preceding a holiday or weekend when a forecast indicates that the temperature shall be 95 degrees Fahrenheit or above during the holiday or weekend. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Provides that the Task Force on Health Planning Reform may report to the Governor and the General Assembly as may be necessary at any time and shall submit a final report by November 3, 2008 (instead of shall submit findings and recommendations by March 1, 2008). Provides that the Task Force is abolished on December 31, 2008 (instead of August 31, 2008). Extends the repeal of the Act to July 1, 2009 (instead of August 31, 2008). Effective immediately.

Amends the Podiatric Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Professional Service Corporation Act, and the Limited Liability Company Act. Replaces certain references to the practice of medicine in all of its branches with references to practice under the Medical Practice Act of 1987.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that a person 18 years of age or older convicted of unlawful sale of firearms by selling or giving a concealable firearm to a person under 18 years of age or by selling or giving a firearm of any size to a person under 18 years of age who does not possess a valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card, when the firearm that was sold or given to another person under 18 years of age was used in the commission of or attempt to commit a forcible felony, shall be fined or imprisoned, or both, not to exceed the maximum provided for the most serious forcible felony so committed or attempted by the person under 18 years of age who was sold or given the firearm. Effective immediately.