Rep. Elizabeth Coulson

Amends the School Code. Creates the Innovation, Intervention, and Restructuring Task Force for the purpose of developing strategies to allow for the innovation, intervention, and restructuring of schools, including those that need comprehensive or focused intervention. Requires the task force to submit its strategies for allowing intervention and innovation, in the form of recommendations, in a comprehensive report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the State Superintendent of Education not later than December 31, 2009. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Central Management Services, in cooperation with the Department of Human Services, to develop and implement plans to increase the number of individuals with a disability employed by State government and to submit an annual report. Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in cooperation with not-for-profit groups and community partners, to develop and implement an education and outreach campaign designed to increase statewide awareness of issues that affect individuals with a disability. Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to collect information during the period of July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010 regarding employers claims of the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit and to submit an annual report. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that a chief procurement officer may, as part of any solicitation, encourage prospective vendors to consider hiring qualified individuals with a disability and to notify them of any available financial incentives or other advantages associated with hiring such persons. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. With respect to sick leave for teachers (other than in the Chicago school district), provides that a school board may require a certificate from a physician, advanced practice nurse, physician assistant, or spiritual adviser or practitioner as a basis for pay during leave after an absence of 30 days for birth. Provides that for paid sick leave for adoption or placement for adoption, the school board may require that the teacher or other employee provide evidence that the formal adoption process is underway, and such leave is limited to 30 days unless a longer leave has been negotiated with the exclusive bargaining representative. Imposes conditions on any rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.

Amends the Elevator Safety and Regulation Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act. Requires the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to adopt comprehensive storm water management rules that meet certain requirements by July 1, 2012. Requires the Agency, beginning in 2010, to implement a storm water permit fee program adequate to support the adoption and implementation of State storm water regulations as required by the Act. Requires the Agency to establish a Statewide standard for storm water management programs in order to transition toward the use of green infrastructure as the predominant storm water management strategy. Requires the Agency to review its rules on the distribution of money from the Water Revolving Fund and to endeavor to establish new criteria which prioritize the use of green infrastructure in all projects involving storm water management and water efficiency.

Amends the Public University Energy Conservation Act. Provides that "energy conservation measure" includes construction of a new building or facility that is designed to reduce energy consumption or operating costs.

Creates the Abuse and Neglect Investigatory System Work Group to study and recommend how Illinois' investigatory system to address the abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disabilities should be changed to provide a comprehensive, cohesive system that provides maximum protection for the safety and well-being of people with disabilities of all ages and in all settings.

Creates the Illinois Part C Early Intervention Taskforce to partner with the Department of Human Services to undertake a comprehensive and thorough review of the Early Intervention system and develop recommendations and an action plan to address issues related to workforce, financing, monitoring and evaluation, service delivery, and transitions.

Request that the State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services School Health Program and the Department of Public Health Division of Chronic Disease Prevention and Control establish a task force to study and compile a report on 1) Identification of current student health needs and the level of health services required to address such needs; 2) Regulatory conflicts that limit delivery of school health services to students in need along with possible solutions; and 3) Needed support for and monitoring of school health services.

Resolves that the appropriate State agencies should take the necessary steps to secure federal funds available under the federal Comprehensive Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006 for respite care development and implementation as soon as such funds are appropriated by the Congress and made available.