Rep. Monique D. Davis

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning audits of public utilities.

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 until January 1, 2014. Provides that all of the rights, powers, duties, and functions vested by law in the State Board of Education (except the State Board of Education's duty under the Illinois Constitution to appoint a chief State educational officer), the State Superintendent of Education, the Board of Higher Education, and the Illinois Community College Board are transferred to the Department of Education on January 1, 2014; abolishes the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board on that date. Provides for the transfer of personnel and property. Makes other changes.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that if a defendant is charged with a non-violent crime, the court shall not impose bail in an amount that exceeds 10% of the annual salary of the defendant. Provides that if the court determines that a defendant charged with a non-violent crime is indigent, the court shall release the defendant on his or her own recognizance. Defines "non-violent crime".

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

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

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning playgrounds, recreation grounds, and athletic fields.

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

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

Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, beginning in State fiscal year 2013, the State shall make annual contributions to the Fund. For State fiscal year 2013, the contribution shall be $270,347,800. For each year thereafter, the Board shall certify to the Governor by December 15th the amount of the required State contribution for the coming fiscal year. The certified contribution shall be equal to 10% of the certified State contribution to the downstate Teachers' Retirement System. In a provision that reduces the required annual Board of Education contribution to the Fund by the amount of any State contribution, makes the reduction apply only if the Board has certified in the previous fiscal year that the total assets of the Fund are at least 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Requires that in the event that no family can reasonably be found, a coroner must wait at least 60 days before causing a body or remains to be buried, cremated, or donated for medical science purposes. Effective immediately.