Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB2579

Amends the Illinois Economic Opportunity Act, the State Finance Act, the Illinois Income Tax Act, the Illinois Municipal Code, the Public Utilities Act, the Energy Assistance Act, and the Good Samaritan Energy Plan Act. Makes provisions concerning transfers to the General Revenue Fund from other funds not applicable to the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund, the Good Samaritan Energy Trust Fund, and the Energy Assistance Program Fund. Creates an Illinois income tax checkoff whereby a taxpayer may make a contribution to the Energy Assistance Program Fund. Prohibits the termination of gas or electric utility service to residential users who participate in or are eligible for the energy assistance program, and provides for reconnection of utility service to such households. Provides for administration of the energy assistance program and the Good Samaritan Energy Trust Fund by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services instead of the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (now Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity); requires the Department to adopt rules providing for enhanced enrollment for eligible consumers to receive energy assistance, and requires gas and electric utility companies and cooperatives to assist in coordinating low-income energy assistance. Provides that the annual eligibility level for the energy assistance program may not be lower (instead of higher) than 150% of the federal poverty level. Deletes the repeal of provisions concerning the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund scheduled for December 31, 2007. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause and reinserts provisions similar to those of Senate Bill 2579, but with changes that include the following: (1) deletes references to a new Energy Assistance Program Fund; (2) provides for an Illinois income tax checkoff for contributions to the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund (instead of to the Energy Assistance Program Fund); (3) deletes all amendatory changes to the Illinois Municipal Code and the Public Utilities Act; (4) restores provisions of the Energy Assistance Act concerning the authority of the Illinois Commerce Commission to regulate all aspects of the provision of public utility service, and deletes amendatory provisions added to the Act concerning enhanced enrollment for energy assistance; (5) provides that the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund is authorized to receive private corporate donations as well as contributions made in accordance with the Illinois income tax checkoff provisions; and (6) restores the provisions of the Energy Assistance Act that repeal the provisions concerning the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund on December 31, 2007. Effective immediately.

Provides that the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund is authorized to receive voluntary donations from individuals, foundations, corporations, and other sources (instead of to receive private corporate donations). Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (instead of the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (now Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity)) may establish rules to implement the provisions concerning the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund.

Further amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Includes the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund in provisions concerning tax-checkoff explanations and determinations of contributed amounts. Provides that, in any year, the individual income tax return forms may not contain explanations and spaces for more than 18 funds. Requires the Department of Revenue to maintain a reserve list of all income tax checkoffs in excess of the 18 that are placed on income tax return forms.

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