Rep. Roger L. Eddy

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes it unlawful for a child sex offender to be knowingly present in a licensed child care facility or to knowingly loiter on a public way within 500 feet of a licensed child care facility. Makes it unlawful for a child sex offender to reside within 500 feet of a licensed child care facility. Provides that a violation is a Class 4 felony.

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Exempts from the extension limitation those extensions made for contributions to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund under the Illinois Pension Code or for contributions to any other pension fund under the Illinois Pension Code. Effective October 1, 2006.

Amends the Illinois Renewable Fuels Development Program Act and State Finance Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall create and operate an E85 Vehicle Encouragement Program that provides pro rata grant moneys from the E85 Vehicle Encouragement Fund to purchasers of flexible fuel vehicles. Provides that Program grants shall not exceed 10% of the purchase price of the vehicle and that only one Program grant shall be made to the owner of any vehicle during the life of that vehicle. Creates the E85 Vehicle Encouragement Fund. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the State aid formula.

Amends the School Code. Provides that teachers and other school employees are required to work on certain legal school holidays, provided that appropriate instruction is given to students on that day or that day is used for other activities, including without limitation teachers' institutes or parent-teacher conferences. Makes technical changes.

Amends the School Code. For school districts having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants, provides that, subject to referendum, the maximum tax rate for certain recently formed community unit school districts that have a combined rate of more than 4% is as follows: for 2 years, the same as the actual combined rate of the previous elementary and secondary district; and in each subsequent year the rate shall be reduced by 0.10% or reduced to 4.00%, whichever is less. The school board may seek to increase the reduced rate by referendum. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code and School Code. Provides a notice form that must be used by school districts (other than Chicago) proposing a tax increase (now, all taxing districts use the same form). Excludes from the definition of "aggregate extension," a special purpose extension made for mandate shortfall relief under the School Code. Changes the definition of "debt service extension base" for school districts (other than Chicago). Requires a school district's annual financial statement to include a report showing the receipts and disbursements for special educational and transportation purposes. Provides that any shortfall in those funds permits the school board to levy (i) a mandate shortfall relief tax for special education mandates and (ii) a mandate shortfall relief tax for transportation mandates. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district's school report card assessing the performance of its schools and students must include for the school district (i) the percentage of teachers in contractual continued service or who have achieved permanent appointment status, (ii) the number of minutes the district's schools are in session during the school year (minimum of 880 hours), and (iii) the percentage of students in grades 9 through 12 who elect to take an advanced math or advanced science course. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Ethanol Board Act. Establishes the Board to promote the development and use of ethanol and the implementation of air quality improvement programs. Provides for the appointment of the Board by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Provides for ex officio non-voting members from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Agriculture, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and a State university designated by the Governor. Specifies the Board's various powers and duties. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code and the School Code. Makes changes to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law concerning excluding bonds issued by school boards for fire prevention and safety purposes from the definition of "debt service extension base" and the exclusion of certain extensions for fire prevention and safety purposes from the aggregate extension for a school district. Repeals a provision in the Law concerning not reducing a school district's State aid. In the Section of the School Code concerning the power of a school board to levy a tax or to borrow money and issue bonds for fire prevention, safety, energy conservation, disabled accessibility, school security, and specified repair purposes, provides that the tax rate limit otherwise specified in the Section may be increased to 0.15% (instead of 0.10%) upon referendum approval. Provides that if additional alterations or reconstructions are required to be made because of surveys conducted by an architect or engineer after bonds are issued as provided in the Section, then the district may levy a tax at a rate not to exceed 0.10% (instead of 0.05%) per year.