Legislative Update for March 9, 2007
The following are some of the more significant disability related bills filed in the Illinois General Assembly this session which are scheduled to be heard in committee during the week of March 12, 2007:
Senate Public Health Committee
March 13, 2007, 1:00 p.m.
Room 400, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 1324, chief sponsor, Senator Jeffrey M. Schoenberg
Creates the Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Prohibition Act. Permits research involving the derivation and use of human embryonic stem cells, human embryonic germ cells, and human adult stem cells from any source, including somatic cell nuclear transplantation, and allows public funding for stem cell research programs. Requires the Department of Public Health to develop and administer the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute program to provide for the awarding of grants to Illinois medical research institutions. Creates the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute Oversight Committee. Prohibits cloning or attempts to clone a human being. Prohibits the purchase or sale of fetal tissue from embryos or cadavers for research purposes. Makes the purchase or sale of fetal tissue from embryos or cadavers for research a Class A misdemeanor for the first conviction and a Class 4 felony for subsequent convictions.
Senate Judiciary Criminal Law Committee
March 13, 2007, 2:30 p.m.
Room 212, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 386, chief sponsor, Senator William R. Haine
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 relating to defendants found unfit to stand trial. Requires the clerk of the circuit court to transmit to the Department, agency, or institution, if any, to which the defendant is remanded for treatment a copy of the arrest report, criminal charges, arrest record, jail record, and the report of the defendant's mental or physical disability and likelihood of attaining fitness. Provides that if the court receives a report from the supervisor of the defendant's treatment that he or she believes that the defendant has attained fitness, the defendant must be returned to the county jail. Provides that whenever the court receives a report from the supervisor of the defendant's treatment recommending the defendant for any off-grounds or unsupervised on-grounds privileges, or placement in a non-secure setting, the court must set the matter for a first hearing within 21 days unless good cause is demonstrated why the hearing cannot be held. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections relating to a defendant found not guilty by reason of insanity to require that a copy of the arrest report, criminal charges, arrest record, jail record, and any report of the defendant's psychiatric evaluation be sent with the court order for evaluation.
Senate Transportation Committee
March 13, 2007, 2:30 p.m.
Room 400, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 1318, chief sponsor, Senator Antonio Munoz
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that disability license plates and parking decals and devices are not transferable from person to person. Makes it a violation of the Code to park in a space reserved for persons with disabilities if the authorized holder of a disability license plate or parking decal or device does not enter or exit the vehicle at the time the special parking privileges are being used. Provides that a person who violates the provision a second time shall be fined $750 and may have his or her driving privileges revoked or suspended for a period of time to be determined by the Secretary of State. Provides that a person who violates the provision a third or subsequent time shall be fined $1,000 and may have his or her driving privileges, and the disability license plates or parking decal or device, revoked or suspended. Requires that 50% of the fine collected be distributed to the law enforcement agency or agencies that issued the citation or made the arrest. Provides that, if an officer of the Secretary of State Department of Police made the arrest, 50% of the fine shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Police Services Fund.
Senate Appropriations I Committee
March 13, 2007, 4:00 p.m.
Room 212, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
This committee is not currently scheduled to hear any legislation. However, it will hold a subject matter hearing to receive testimony on the FY 2008 budget proposals of the following agencies: Violence Prevention Authority, Deaf & Hard of Hearing Commission, Guardianship & Advocacy Commission, Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, Human Rights Commission and Sports Facilities Authority.
Senate Human Services Committee
March 14, 2007, 9:00 a.m.
Room 400, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 340, SB 381, SB 511, SB 544, SB 1245, SB 1628 (previously postponed) See: prior legislative updates for bill descriptions.
SB 130, chief sponsor, Senator Gary Forby
Creates the Blind Vendors Act. Requires that the Department of Human Services (DHS), Bureau of Blind Services, operate and promote the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind, with the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act and regulations serving as the minimum operating standards. Requires that: (1) blind vendors have priority in the operation of all vending facilities on State property; (2) vending machine income from all vending machines on State property shall be assigned to the blind vendor on the property or to the Blind Vendors Trust Fund; (3) no State agency may impose any commission, service charge, rent, or utility charge on a blind vendor operating on State property; (4) sales made at a blind vendor's vending facility are exempt from all occupation and use taxes; and (5) State agencies may not allow competition with a blind vendor. Exempts certain State property from the Act's application. Provides for the implementation, administration, and financing of the program and for the regulation and licensing of participating blind vendors. Preempts home rule powers. Repeals the Blind Persons Operating Vending Facilities Act. Amends the Use Tax Act, Service Use Tax Act, Service Occupation Tax Act, and Retailer's Occupation Tax Act by exempting personal property purchased from a blind vendor's vending facility licensed by DHS under the Blind Vendors Act from taxation.
Senate Licensed Activities Committee
March 14, 2007, 2:30 p.m.
Room 409, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
SB 1355, chief sponsor, Senator Carol Ronen
Amends the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act. Requires the Clinical Psychologists Licensing and Disciplinary Board to grant certification as medical psychologists to doctoral level psychologists licensed under the Act, which certification shall grant medical psychologists prescriptive authority to prescribe and dispense those drugs used in the treatment of mental, emotional, and psychological disorders. Sets forth provisions concerning application requirements, renewal, prescribing practices, controlled substance prescriptive authority, and State Board of Pharmacy interaction.
House Insurance Committee
March 13, 2007, 2:00 p.m.
Room D-1, Stratton Building
Springfield, IL
HB 1247 (rescheduled from last week) See: prior legislative update for bill description.
House Health Care Availability and Access Committee
March 13, 2007, 4:00 p.m.
Room 118, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
HB 385, HB 1432 (previously postponed) See: prior legislative updates for bill descriptions.
House Disability Services Committee
March 14, 2007, 4:00 p.m.
Room 122B, Capitol Building
Springfield, IL
HB 226, HB 785, HB 982, HB 1435, HB 1645, HB 1796 (previously postponed) See: prior legislative updates for bill descriptions.
HB 2002, chief sponsor, Representative Careen M. Gordon
Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Children and Family Services shall implement a project in 3 separate geographical areas of the State for the operation of 3 CILA homes for adolescents diagnosed with autism. Requires that a single service provider operate all 3 homes and have on its staff a behavior therapist.
HJR1, chief sponsor, Representative James H. Meyer
Creates a Joint Task Force on Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education Options to undertake a comprehensive and thorough review of education and services available to the deaf and hard of hearing children in Illinois with the intent of making recommendations that would recognize communication as fundamental to a deaf or hard of hearing child's most basic needs, and ensure communication driven service delivery of the early intervention system and the public education system with programs and services addressing the unique communication needs of each child through communication assessment, development, and access.
NOTE: If you wish to take any action regarding any of these bills, you may wish to attend the committee hearing and/or contact the sponsor(s) of the bill, the members of the committee hearing the bill, and/or the legislators in your home district. The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all legislators, both Representatives and Senators, can be found on the Illinois General Assembly website at: www.ilga.gov. You may also check this website to find out if any of the committee hearing dates or times have been changed (which may happen upon very short notice) and to read the full text of the bills.
