Rep. Careen M Gordon

Creates the Midwifery Licensure Act. Provides for the licensure of midwives by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Grants rulemaking authority to the Department and provides that the rules shall include the establishment of criteria for licensure, professional conduct, and discipline. Creates the Illinois Midwifery Board. Sets forth provisions concerning informed consent, qualifications, licensure, title, continuing education, exemption from civil liability, and vicarious liability. Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act to set a repeal date for the new Act of January 1, 2018. Amends the Good Samaritan Act to provide for the exemption from civil liability.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning eavesdropping.

Repeals a provision providing for the collection of an annual commercial distribution fee on vehicles of the second division weighing more than 8,000 pounds. Effective July 1, 2008.

Amends the Personal Information Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Homeowners' Solar Energy Act. Provides that no bylaw or action of a homeowners' association, property owners' association, or a condominium unit owners' association shall prohibit or be interpreted to prohibit a solar energy system or other energy device based on a renewable resource. Provides that no deed restrictions, covenants, or similar binding agreements running with the land shall prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting a solar energy system or other renewable resource energy device from being installed on residential dwelling property that does not exceed 3 stories. Provides that an owners' association may determine the location of a solar energy system. Provides that solar energy systems shall be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) or another nationally recognized certification entity. Provides that an application for the installation of a solar energy system shall be processed and approved as an application for architectural modification and shall not be willfully avoided or delayed. Provides that any entity, other than a public entity, that willfully violates this Act shall be liable to the applicant or other party adversely affected for actual damages. Provides that in any litigation under this Act, the prevailing party is entitled to reasonable attorney's fees. Provides that the legislative purpose of this Act is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare by encouraging the use of renewable resource energy systems to conserve and protect land and resources and prevent measures which will drive the cost of owning residential property beyond the capacity of private owners.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders to the extent that the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders are not already covered by the policy or plan. Provides that this coverage shall be subject to a maximum benefit of $36,000 per year, but shall not be subject to any limits on the number of visits to an autism service provider. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Applies to gift cards that meet these criteria: the card is purchased at a retail establishment on a prepaid basis in a certain dollar value; a unique account or code number is printed on the card; the account or code number printed on the card is not hidden by a coating that is removed after the card is purchased; the card is honored by one or more retail establishments and also by one or more online merchants for goods or services, and the amount of the purchase is deducted from the value of the card; and purchases may be made with the card through an online merchant by entering the account or code number printed on the card without any requirement that the card itself be presented. Provides that if a consumer who purchased a gift card from a retail establishment presents to the retail establishment the gift card and the purchase receipt indicating the original value of the gift card and informs the retail establishment that part or all of the dollar value of the gift card has been deducted but was not used by the purchaser or the intended recipient of the gift card, the retail establishment shall refund to the consumer the amount so deducted. Makes violation an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.

Amends the Child Labor Law. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning restrictions on the employment of a minor under 16 years of age.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Makes a technical change to a Section concerning the Self-Insurers Advisory Board.