Rep. David E. Miller

Creates the 21st Century Scholars Act to provide an incentive for low-income students in the 8th grade to improve their academic preparation for postsecondary education. Sets forth provisions concerning annual tuition scholarships to applicants who qualify; requiring the State, the participating school district, and the student to enter into a 3-part compact; rules to implement the Act; and reporting to the General Assembly on awards.

Amends the School Code. Provides that each school board shall require an annual assessment of the physical fitness levels of all students in grades 5, 7, and 9, which shall be reported on the school district's school report card (along with the average number of minutes per week of physical education for each grade level). Requires the assessment data to be reported to the State Board of Education. Requires the State Board to compile the results, including statewide averages, broken down by gender and grade level, and use the assessment data to file a summary report every other year, beginning in October of 2012, regarding the overall status of health-related fitness of Illinois public school children with the Office of the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Department of Public Health. Allows students to be excused from the physical fitness assessment. Effective January 1, 2010.

Amends the School Code. In order to provide additional funding beyond the funding awarded to specific after-school programs, requires the State Board of Education to add, in its annual budget proposal, (i) a line item equal to 5% of the After-school Programs, Mentoring and Student Support (ASPMSS) line item for out-of-school time for monitoring, administration, and technical assistance for after-school providers funded by the ASPMSS line item in the State Board of Education's budget proposal; and (ii) a line item equal to 8% of the ASPMSS line item for out-of-school time for grants to qualified, statewide, non-profit agencies to provide capacity building, system development, training, and professional development services. Provides for how the additional appropriations, if any, must be used.

Makes a supplemental appropriation of $21,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Higher Education for distribution as grants authorized by the Health Services Education Grants Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Technology Development Act. Authorizes the State Treasurer to segregate up to 2% of the Treasurer's investment portfolio in the Technology Development Account IIa. Authorizes investments from the account to provide venture capital to help attract, assist, and retain quality technology businesses in Illinois. Contains provisions concerning soliciting proposals from entities to manage and be the General Partner of Technology Development Account IIb, consisting of investments from the private sector that must invest, at the direction of the Treasurer, in tandem with TDA IIa. Sets restrictions and conditions on the use of these accounts. Effective immediately.

Amends the Technology Development Act. Authorizes the State Treasurer to segregate up to 2% of the Treasurer's investment portfolio in the Technology Development Account IIa. Authorizes investments from the account to provide venture capital to help attract, assist, and retain quality technology businesses in Illinois. Contains provisions concerning soliciting proposals from entities to manage and be the General Partner of Technology Development Account IIb, consisting of investments from the private sector that must invest, at the direction of the Treasurer, in tandem with TDA IIa. Sets restrictions and conditions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Extends the repeal date of the Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989 from January 1, 2010 to January 1, 2020. Amends the Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989. Provides that services performed by employees of a business organization engaged in telecommunications are exempt from the Act. Provides additional examples of "professional engineering practice". Changes the definition of "technical submissions" and provides additional examples. Provides that the Department may grant the title "Professional Engineer, Retired" and by rule exempt from continuing education requirements those who are granted the title. Further provides that those persons granted the title "Professional Engineer, Retired" may request restoration to active status under the applicable provisions of the Act. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Sustainable Highways Act. Requires all State-funded transportation construction projects to set aside 2% of the total funds allocated for that State construction project. Provides that a percentage of this money shall be used to address water pollution concerns for each construction project on a case-by-case basis and the rest of the money shall be used to implement sustainable stormwater management procedures and best management practices. Effective immediately.

Amends the Compensation Review Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends provisions concerning health care benefits for the Chicago Transit Authority in the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the Retiree Health Care Trust shall be solely responsible for providing health care benefits to eligible retirees and their dependents and survivors upon the exhaustion of the account established by the Retirement Plan for Chicago Transit Authority Employees pursuant to Section 401(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, but no earlier than January 1, 2009 and no later than July 1, 2009 (rather than by no later than July 1, 2009, but no earlier than January 1, 2009). Provides that health care coverage through a health maintenance organization may be provided at 100% (while certain health care benefit programs established by the Board of Trustees are limited to 90% coverage for in-network services or 70% coverage for out-of-network services). Makes changes concerning the annual assessment of the funding levels of the Retiree Health Care Trust. Provides that any retiree hired on or before September 5, 2001 who retires with 25 years or more of continuous service, shall be eligible for retiree health care benefits upon retirement in accordance with any rules or regulations adopted by the Board of Trustees. Provides that the Board of Trustees may adopt rules and regulations providing for the refund of the total contributions made by employees who are not eligible for retiree health care benefits or who elect to waive retiree health care benefits. Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.