Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that the Senate by resolution (instead of the General Assembly by law) shall divide the Legislative Districts into 3 groups for the election of Senators. Provides that Legislative and Representative Districts shall reflect minority voting strengths and consider political boundaries (as well as be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population). Provides that, by June 30 in the year following each Federal decennial census year, the Senate and House, each by resolution adopted by three-fifths of the members elected, shall redistrict the Legislative and Representative Districts, respectively. If a resolution is not filed with the Secretary of State by June 30, provides that a Legislative District or a Representative District Redistricting Commission shall be appointed and the Commission has until July 31 to redistrict the Legislative Districts or Representative Districts, as applicable. If a Commission fails to redistrict, requires the Chief Justice and another Judge of the Supreme Court to appoint a Special Master to redistrict by September 5. Requires districts to reflect minority voting strengths. Makes other changes. Effective upon being declared adopted.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Nursing Education Scholarship Law. Requires the Department of Public Health to provide nurse educator scholarships, to be awarded for a period of up to 3 years. Provides that within 12 months after graduation from a graduate degree in nursing program for nurse educators, a scholarship recipient shall begin meeting a nurse educator employment obligation consisting of employment in this State as a nurse educator for at least 2 years for each year of scholarship assistance received. Provides that any person who fails to fulfill the nurse educator employment obligation shall pay to the Department an amount equal to the amount of scholarship funds received per year for each unfulfilled year of the nurse educator employment obligation, together with interest at 7% per year on the unpaid balance. Requires the Department to maintain a database of all available nurse educator positions in this State. Amends the Nurse Practice Act to provide that for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009 and for each fiscal year thereafter, $2,000,000 (instead of $1,200,000) of the moneys deposited in the Nursing Dedicated and Professional Fund each year shall be set aside and appropriated for nursing scholarships. Imposes conditions on any rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.
Congratulates Terrence Bourke O'Reilly on his retirement as Assistant Principal of Robert Emmet Academy in the Chicago Public Schools.
Amends the Illinois Landscape Architecture Act of 1989. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the application of the Act.
Amends the Deposit of State Moneys Act. Provides that the State Treasurer may, with the approval of the Governor, invest State money in short-term obligations of corporations organized in the United States with assets exceeding $500,000,000 if, among other things, the obligations mature not later than 270 (instead of 180) days after the date of purchase. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. With respect to the Early Childhood Education Block Grant, provides that not less than 11% (instead of exactly 11%) of the grant shall be used to fund programs for children ages 0-3. Provides that this percentage shall increase to at least 20% by Fiscal Year 2015, except that if, in a given fiscal year, the amount appropriated for the Early Childhood Education Block Grant is insufficient to increase the percentage of the grant to fund programs for children ages 0-3 without reducing the amount of the grant for existing providers of preschool education programs, then the percentage of the grant to fund programs for children ages 0-3 may be held steady instead of increased. Effective July 1, 2009.
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.
Honors our esteemed colleague, State Representative George Scully, for his many years of dedicated service to the people of the 80th District and the State of Illinois and congratulates him on his appointment to serve as a judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Mourns the death of Michael "Malachy" Mannion of Chicago.
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title of the Telecommunications Article.