Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that public notice of the schedule of regular meetings of a board of trustees for the next calendar year, as set at the organizational meeting of the board of trustees, must be given at the beginning of that calendar year. Effective July 1, 2007.
Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that for all meetings of a board of trustees, a quorum of members must be physically present at the location of the meeting. Effective July 1, 2007.
Congratulates Reg Weaver, President of the National Education Association, on receiving induction into the Illinois Labor History Society Union Hall of Honor.
Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Subject to appropriations, requires the Department to pay veterans service organizations for services provided by veterans service officers in processing claims and other benefits for veterans and their spouses or other beneficiaries residing in Illinois. Requires payment at the rate of $0.010 for each dollar of benefits obtained for veterans or their spouses or other beneficiaries. Sets forth criteria that a veterans service organization must meet.
Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides an exemption from taxation under the Acts for tangible personal property used in the construction, maintenance, or operation of a public water supply that is operated by a not-for-profit entity. Provides that the Acts' sunset provisions do not apply to these exemptions.
Creates the Citizen Participation Act. Applies to motions in cases concerning SLAPP lawsuits (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) that have been filed to discourage citizen participation in government. Requires courts to decide those motions within 90 days. Provides that discovery is suspended pending a decision on the motion. Allows discovery on certain issues upon leave of court. Requires that the motion be granted and the claim dismissed unless the responding party produces clear and convincing evidence that the moving parties' acts are not immunized under this Act. Provides for attorney's fees and costs to be awarded to the prevailing moving party. Effective immediately.
Amends the Secretary of State Act. Makes a technical change in a Section regarding the oath of office.
Amends the State Treasurer Act to provide that moneys held in an account invested in the Illinois College Savings Pool shall be exempt from all claims of the creditors of the participant, donor, or designated beneficiary of that account, except for non-exempt College Savings Pool transfers to or from the account. Defines "participant" and "donor". Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that moneys held in an account invested in the Illinois College Savings Pool of which the debtor is a participant or donor is personal property that is exempt from judgment, attachment, or distress from rent except for: (i) contributions to the account made with the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud any creditor, (ii) certain contributions to the account made during the 365 day period prior to the date of the debtor filing for bankruptcy in excess of the annual gift tax exclusion; or (iii) certain contributions to the account made during the 730 to 366 day period prior to the date of the debtor filing for bankruptcy in excess of the annual gift tax exclusion.
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that, in the development of the individualized education program for a student who has a disability on the autism spectrum, the IEP team shall consider and shall specifically address certain factors. Provides that consideration of these factors shall result in the clarification of a school district's responsibility to deliver appropriate educational services for children with disabilities on the autism spectrum, but shall not be construed to require or mandate any specific services. Effective January 1, 2008.
Amends the School Code. With respect to the Alternative Teacher Certification program, provides that a provisional alternative teaching certificate may be issued to an applicant who has attained at least a cumulative grade average of a "B" if the individual is assigned either to a school district that has not met the annual measurable objective for highly qualified teachers required by the Illinois Revised Highly Qualified Teachers (HQT) Plan or to a school district whose data filed with the State Board of Education indicates that the district's poor and minority students are taught by teachers who are not highly qualified at a higher rate than other students (instead of just if the applicant has been employed for a period of at least 5 years in an area requiring application of the individual's education). Effective immediately.
