Rep. Monique D. Davis

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Repeals a Section that gives a principal, with employee concurrence, the right to declare waived and superseded a provision of a teachers' collective bargaining agreement as it applies in or at the attendance center to the bargaining unit's employees; makes a related change. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the members of the State Board of Education.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and the State Finance Act. Grants the Illinois Department of Transportation the power to enter into agreements to make direct grants and low-interest loans to minority-owned businesses, female-owned businesses, and disadvantaged business enterprises certified by the Department for participation on Department-procured construction and construction-related contracts. Provides that grant and loan funds shall be expended, subject to appropriation, from the Working Capital Loan Repayment Fund. Specifies permissible uses of funds and provides that funds may be loaned with or without interest. Provides that the Department shall establish the requirements for eligibility and criteria for grant and loan applications, approved use of funds, amount of loans or grants, interest rates, collateral, and terms. Creates the Working Capital Loan Repayment Fund and provides that the State Comptroller shall order and the State Treasurer shall transfer $10,000,000 from the Road Fund to the Working Capital Loan Repayment Fund.

Creates the Reduce Illiteracy Advisory Commission Act. Provides that the Reduce Illiteracy Advisory Commission shall consist of 10 members. Sets forth the appointment of the members. Directs the Commission to study literacy rates throughout the State in order to determine the areas of the State with the highest rates of illiteracy. Requires the Commission to report its findings to the General Assembly and the Governor by December 31, 2012 and each December 31 thereafter. Amends the Illinois Literacy Act and the State Finance Act. Provides that the authority of the Secretary of State to award grants that develop, expand, or support adult literacy programs through community programs administered by education agencies, libraries, or volunteer or community-based organizations is transferred to the Commission on January 1, 2012. Provides that the awarding of grants must be based on documented literacy rate needs in communities. Provides that moneys in the Secretary of State Special Services Fund and the Live and Learn Fund may be transferred to the Reduce Illiteracy Grant Fund (created as a special fund in the State treasury) for use by the Commission for literacy grants. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Higher Education for its FY12 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2011.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Department of Education Act and amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the School Code, the Board of Higher Education Act, and the Public Community College Act. Creates the Department of Education, with a Secretary of Education as its head. Provides that, in order to create continuity between all levels of education, the Department shall oversee the State Board of Education, the Board of Higher Education, and the Illinois Community College Board and coordinate and streamline the functions of these boards. Requires the Department to create an Elementary and Secondary Education Division and a Vocational Education Division within the Department. Requires the State Board of Education, the Board of Higher Education, and the Illinois Community College Board to report directly to the Department, to comply with all requests from the Department, and to exercise those powers and perform those duties assigned to whichever board by the Department, with the Elementary and Secondary Education Division being the appropriate authority with respect to matters regarding elementary and secondary education and the Vocational Education Division being the appropriate authority with respect to matters regarding vocational education.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the creation of the Board.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.

Amends the Illinois Banking Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.