Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. With respect to applicants for gubernatorial appointment to boards, commissions, authorities, and task forces, requires that (i) an applicant must provide specified documents to the Governor's Office of Boards and Commissions, (ii) the Office must hold a public hearing before appointing or nominating an applicant, (iii) the Office must provide to the Senate specified information on any applicant nominated for Senate confirmation, and (iv) the Office must post specified information on its website about appointment requirements, applicants, and appointees. Requires all applicants and appointees, whether or not the position requires Senate confirmation, to file statements of economic interests (now, nominees for and appointees to positions requiring Senate confirmation must file statements). Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Provides that a person may not under any circumstances charge a fee to a claimant for assistance in completing an application form for a property tax relief grant or pharmaceutical assistance under the Act. 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 Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.
Amends the School Code. Establishes the Illinois Hope and Opportunity Pathways through Education (IHOPE) Program to develop a comprehensive system in this State to re-enroll significant numbers of high school dropouts in programs that will enable them to earn their high school diploma. Requires the State Board of Education to implement and administer the IHOPE Program. Provides that the IHOPE Program shall award grants to educational service regions and the Chicago school district from appropriated funds to assist in establishing instructional programs and other services designed to re-enroll high school dropouts. Provides that the IHOPE Program shall provide incentive grant funds for regional offices of education and the Chicago school district to develop partnerships with school districts, public community colleges, and community groups to build comprehensive plans to re-enroll high school dropouts in their regions or districts. Sets forth requirements for programs funded through the IHOPE Program. Provides for an IHOPE Plan, sub-grants, how funding is distributed, State aid, categories of programming, the evaluation of programs, and rules. Effective July 1, 2009.
Amends the School Code. Creates the Innovation, Intervention, and Restructuring Task Force for the purpose of developing strategies to allow for the innovation, intervention, and restructuring of schools, including those that need comprehensive or focused intervention. Requires the task force to submit its strategies for allowing intervention and innovation, in the form of recommendations, in a comprehensive report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the State Superintendent of Education not later than December 31, 2009. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Migrant Labor Camp Law. Provides that licenses shall be issued prior to operation (instead of upon a calendar year basis). Effective immediately.
Amends the Personnel Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
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.
Urges the members of Congress to introduce and give full consideration to a bill comparable to the Patriot Employers Act.