MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE PASSES
SB 1268 passed both houses and will be sent to the Governor. The bill increases the State minimum wage to $7.50/hour effective July 1, 2007, and requires an increase to $7.75/hour on July 1, 2008, $8.00/hour on July 1,2009 and $8.25/hour on 2010. This bill does not tie the minimum wage increases to the Consumer Price Index. This legislation also permits an employer to pay a new employee not less than 50 cents/hour below the minimum wage for the first 90 consecutive days of employment after the employee is hired.

EFFORTS TO FREEZE ELECTRIC RATES CONTINUE
The Illinois Senate passed a bill during the veto session that would allow Commonwealth Edison and Ameren to phase in a rate increase over 3 years. Under the bill, Com Ed's phase in would be 7% increase in each of the first 2 years and 8% the 3rd year. Ameren's increase would be 14% in each of the next 3 years. The bill, HB 2197, has not been called in the House.

Meanwhile, a bill that would freeze electric rates for the next 3 years fell short of the supermajority of 71 votes needed for passage in the House.

This issue will very likely be on the agenda when the 94th General Assembly finishes its work on January 7, 8, 9 and 10, 2007. Note that beginning January 1, 2007, bill passage requires only a simple majority of members in each house.

SPECIAL EDUCATION BILLS GO TO THE GOVERNOR
SB 2796 (del Valle), a bill to amend the School Code regarding special education due process hearings, passed the Senate during the veto session and will go to the Governor for consideration. The bill incorporates provisions to align the School Code with the Individuals with Disabilities Educational Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEIA 2004).

In addition to the alignment with IDEIA 2004, the bill retains the State's current 120 day statute of limitations for filing a civil action for judicial review of a due process hearing decision, retains the 60 school day evaluation timeline but folds the development of the IEP into that timeframe, states a preference that hearings take no longer than 7 days and that hearings should be completed within 30 days from start to finish, both subject to good cause exceptions and the sound discretion of the hearing officer, and adds language not required by IDEIA 2004 regarding amendments to the due process hearing request.

Another special education bill, SB 2762 (Hunter), which modifies School Code language that was added in 2005 regarding excusal from physical education, also passed the Senate and will go to the Governor. SB 2762 provides that a child in grades 3 through 12 (current law applies only to high school students) may be removed from PE if necessary to receive special education supports and services. The bill urges school districts to reach agreement with the child's parent regarding removal from PE. Further, it provides that if agreement cannot be reached with the parent, the child's IEP team must determine whether removal from PE is necessary in order for the child to receive special education supports and services. Finally, it states that any agreement or IEP determination regarding removal from PE must be memorialized in the child's IEP.

SPRING 2007 SESSION CALENDAR
The Spring 2007 session calendar is now available online at www.ilga.gov. Click on "schedules" under either the House or the Senate menu. The calendar is in PDF format, so Adobe Reader is needed to download the calendar. You must download each month separately. An overview is provided below.

As you read the calendar, you will note a number of deadlines. These are established in order to make the process run as smoothly as possible. Bill introduction deadlines mean that bills must be introduced by the deadline dates in order to be considered. Committee deadlines mean a bill has to be approved by a committee and sent to the full chamber for consideration by that deadline date or else it no longer is considered a "live" bill. The "LRB" that is mentioned in the calendar is the Legislative Reference Bureau. This is the office of the legislature that drafts all bills, resolutions and amendments for legislators.

The month of January is relatively light except for the week of January 8. Things start to get very busy in February, although there is a rumor that the House may cancel a lot of its scheduled dates in February if renovations now underway in the Capitol are not completed.

There is a break for Easter and Passover from April 1-16. However, March, April and May will otherwise by very busy months. The scheduled adjournment date is May 31. Both houses are scheduled to be in session during the entire Memorial Day holiday weekend.

109th CONGRESS ADJOURNS

No Additional Appropriations Bills Passed
The 109th Congress adjourned early on Saturday, December 9, 2006, without passing any additional appropriations bills for the fiscal year that began on October 1, 2006. Congress passed a Continuing Resolution that funds federal programs through February 15, 2007. Under the CR, most disability programs will be funded at FY 2006 levels. As a result of this inaction, the new 110th Congress, under new Democratic leadership, will have to tackle both the FY 2007 budget and the FY 2008 budget.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit Extended for 2 Years
Both houses passed an extension of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) for two years retroactive to December 31, 2005, when it expired. The WOTC gives employers a tax credit when they hire certain population groups targeted by the law, including persons with disabilities. These provisions are part of a larger tax and trade bill, H.R. 611.

Lifespan Respite Care Act Passes
H.R. 3248 authorizes $289 million through FY 2011 for grants to states to work in collaboration with non-profit groups to develop lifespan respite care at the state and local level, provide respite care services for family caregivers, recruit and train respite workers and volunteers, provide public information about respite care and assist caregivers in accessing respite services.

SCHIP Shortfalls Temporarily Deferred
Prior to adjournment Congress passed a measure that would allow for the redistribution of unspent FY 2004 and 2005 funds for the State Children's Health Insurance Program to defer shortfalls in state programs until May 2007. The funds will be distributed to states that are expected to run out of SCHIP funds in 2007. Illinois is one of the states that would have been hardest hit if the redistribution had not been approved. The new Congress will have to take further action to prevent future funding shortfalls in a large number of states, including Illinois. Illinois' program is now called "Covering All Kids". It was formerly known as "Kid Care". SCHIP provides a $2 to $1 federal match.

Combating Autism Act of 2006
S.843 authorizes additional funding for research, coordination, education, early detection and intervention, in regard to autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. It passed both houses and will go to the President for consideration.