Rep. Bill Mitchell

Amends the Compensation Review Act. Provides that it is the policy of the State to provide compensation parity between those State employees who are subject to a collective bargaining agreement and those who are not. Requires the Board to enforce that policy by evaluating the compensation of all State employees and reporting its findings and recommendations in its biennial reports. Effective immediately.

Creates the State Facility Closing Act. Requires that an economic impact statement be performed and a report submitted to the General Assembly prior to the closing of a State facility or agency or the layoff of the lesser of 50 employees or 50% of the State facility or agency's staff. Provides that a community where the closure of a State facility or agency has occurred shall have priority for construction or location of a new facility. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person is not in violation of the Code's weight limitations if he or she is transporting agricultural products from the original place of production during the period from September 1 through November 30 of any calendar year and the total weight of the vehicle and load does not exceed the permissible weight by more than 10%. Provides that the exemption does not apply to weight limits imposed for bridges or to vehicles operated on interstate highways.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that the Department of Transportation, at the request of friends or relatives of a person killed in a traffic accident on a highway in this State, shall erect and maintain a traffic accident memorial, adjacent to the portion of the highway where the accident occurred, in memory of the decedent. Provides that a memorial may not be erected within the boundaries of a municipality. Establishes requirements regarding the location, size, shape, installation, and maintenance of the memorial.

Amends the Illinois Banking Act. Provides that a State bank may amend its charter for the purpose of authorizing its board of directors to issue preferred stock; to increase, decrease, or change the par value of shares of its preferred stock; to increase, decrease, or change the preferences, qualifications, limitations, restrictions, or special or relative rights of its preferred stock, provided that the bank's capital is not diminished to the prejudice of the bank's creditors. Provides that once such an amendment is adopted and approved, the board may exercise its delegated authority by adopting a resolution specifying the actions it is taking with respect to the preferred stock. Provides that the board must submit its resolution to the Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate, who shall approve the resolution or state his or her objections to the resolution. Provides that, once a resolution is approved, it shall be incorporated as an addendum to the bank's charter. Effective immediately.

Designates the portion of Illinois Business Route 51 that runs through Decatur as the Jonathan L. Gifford Memorial Highway.

Amends the School Code. Creates the Professional Teacher Standards Board consisting of 11 members appointed by the Governor to administer the Article of the School Code governing the certification of teachers and other certificated school personnel and the approval of teacher and administrator preparation programs. Gives the Professional Teacher Standards Board all powers and duties currently exercised by the State Board of Education and the State Teacher Certification Board with respect to administration of the certification and program approval process, and abolishes the State Teacher Certification Board. Authorizes the Professional Teacher Standards Board to employ an Executive Director and such other staff members as are necessary to exercise its powers and duties and carry out its functions. Provides that a Standard Certificate may be renewed based on proof of professional development (instead of on proof of continuing education or professional development). Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2003.

Amends the State Finance Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Probation and Probation Officers Act. Prohibits a person from serving as a probation officer who has been convicted of: (1) a felony violent crime; (2) a felony violation of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act; (3) a felony violation of the Cannabis Control Act; or (4) a similar felony violation of any other jurisdiction.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that any person who has served at least 3 years as an active volunteer, paid on-call, or full-time firefighter with a fire department in a municipality with a population of less than 5,000 shall be awarded a grant to a public university or community college in this State, consisting of exemption from tuition and fees for not more than the equivalent of 4 years of full-time enrollment while he or she serves as an active volunteer, paid on-call, or full-time firefighter with that department. Allows the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to reimburse higher education institutions for the grants, subject to appropriation. Requires a grant recipient to sign an agreement under which the recipient pledges that he or she shall remain an active volunteer, paid on-call, or full-time firefighter with the fire department for a period of not less than one year for each year of grant assistance that he or she receives. Provides for repayment of the grant assistance if the recipient fails to fulfill this obligation.