Rep. Will Davis

Amends the Illinois Housing Development Act. Authorizes the Illinois Housing Development Authority to develop and implement a program of financial assistance to recently hired Illinois teachers purchasing their first primary residence. Limits the program to teachers employed by school districts defined by the State Board of Education as financially needy or experiencing a teacher shortage. Limits eligibility to public school teachers with no more than 2 years of employment as teachers who commit to teach in their school district for at least 3 years after their closing date. Effective July 1, 2003.

Creates the Childhood Hunger Relief Act and amends the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act. Requires the board of education for certain school districts to utilize available federal funding to establish a school breakfast program and a summer food service program. Provides that applications for participation in the school food programs shall be filed with the State Board of Education and information about the child's status shall be provided by the Department of Human Services upon written request. Makes changes concerning the breakfast incentive program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a tax checkoff for the American Diabetes Foundation Research Fund. Further amends the State Finance Act to create the Fund. Amends the Department of Human Services Act to provide that the Department shall provide grants to the American Diabetes Foundation for diabetes research from appropriations to the Department from the American Diabetes Foundation Research Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Labor Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Department of Labor.

Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. Allows a school board to provide free transportation for a pupil residing within one and one-half miles from school if conditions are such that walking constitutes a serious hazard to the safety of the pupil (now allowed only if the hazard is due to vehicular traffic or rail crossings). Provides that guidelines as to what constitutes a serious safety hazard shall be adopted by the regional superintendent of schools (in consultation with the Department of Transportation with regard to vehicular traffic or rail crossings). Provides that the regional superintendent of schools, in consultation with the Department of Transportation with regard to vehicular traffic or rail crossings, shall review and approve or disapprove a school board's determination that a serious safety hazard exists (now, the Department of Transportation makes the review and approves or disapproves the determination). Makes related changes.

Amends the School Code. Creates the Professional Teacher Standards Board consisting of 11 members appointed by the Governor to administer the Article of the School Code governing the certification of teachers and other certificated school personnel and the approval of teacher and administrator preparation programs. Gives the Professional Teacher Standards Board all powers and duties currently exercised by the State Board of Education and the State Teacher Certification Board with respect to administration of the certification and program approval process, and abolishes the State Teacher Certification Board. Authorizes the Professional Teacher Standards Board to employ an Executive Director and such other staff members as are necessary to exercise its powers and duties and carry out its functions. Provides that a Standard Certificate may be renewed based on proof of professional development (instead of on proof of continuing education or professional development). Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2003.

Mourns the death of Samuel A. Patch.

Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. Provides that a school board may provide free transportation for any pupil residing within 1 1/2 miles from the school attended where conditions are such that walking constitutes a serious hazard to the safety of the pupil (now the hazard to the safety of the pupil must be due to vehicular traffic or rail crossings).

Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that no transfers may be made, in order to help defray the State's operating costs for the fiscal year, from the Road Fund or the State Construction Account Fund on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Effective July 1, 2004.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that an offender who has not been convicted more than once for a felony may apply to the court or the Prisoner Review Board to seek a certificate of relief from disabilities as relates to bars to employment or licensure or forfeiture of property imposed as a result of the offender's conviction. Establishes procedures and criteria for seeking and obtaining that relief. Also permits the Prisoner Review Board to issue certificates of good conduct to relieve an offender of a disability or bar to employment imposed by law by reason of the offender's conviction. Effective January 1, 2004.