Rep. Cynthia Soto

Urges the State Board of Education to make a formal request to the U.S. Department of Education that the results from the Illinois Standards Achievement Test and Prairie State Achievement Examination scores for those students with limited proficiency in English who would otherwise have been eligible to take the Illinois Measure of Annual Growth in English (IMAGE) Test in 2008 and 2009 not be used to calculate Annual Yearly Progress for the next 2 years.

Amends the Mercury Fever Thermometer Prohibition Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the manufacture of mercury fever thermometers.

Resolves that the State Superintendent of Education shall appoint a task force on community partnerships to recommend strategic steps to establish effective community partnerships with local schools.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that the assault or battery of a person known to be a utility worker, while the utility worker is engaged in the execution of his or her duties, or to prevent the utility worker from performing his or her duties, or in retaliation for the utility worker performing his or her duties is enhanced to aggravated assault or aggravated battery. Establishes penalties.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning school district financial oversight panels.

Creates the Courtroom Camera Prohibition Act. Provides that it is unlawful for any person to film, videotape, televise, or photograph, including the taking of a digital photograph by use of a cellular telephone or other electronic device, a courtroom proceeding in the circuit court during court sessions or recesses between proceedings without the consent of the judge who presides over that courtroom. Provides that if a circuit court judge or associate judge presiding over a courtroom proceeding has knowledge that a violation has occurred, he or she shall punish the offender by finding the offender in contempt of court. Provides that the Act does not prohibit the photographing, broadcasting, or televising of proceedings of the Illinois Supreme Court or Illinois Appellate Court.

Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act and the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that an animal control officer or a humane society investigator with reasonable cause to suspect or believe that a child is being abused or neglected or is in danger of being abused or neglected must immediately make a written or oral report to the Department of Children and Family Services. Provides that any person required to report suspected child abuse or neglect under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act must also immediately report suspected animal abuse or neglect or danger of animal abuse or neglect to the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal Welfare. Preempts the exercise of home rule powers. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.

Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Deletes language providing that an employee under 18 years of age may be paid up to 50¢ less than the wage required to be paid to employees who are at least 18 years of age. In provisions allowing an employer to pay an employee during the first 90 days of employment a wage that is not more than 50¢ less than the minimum wage, adds language requiring an employer to pay not less than the full minimum wage to a day or temporary laborer who is 18 years of age or older and to an employee who is 18 years of age or older and whose employment is occasional or irregular and requires not more than 90 days to complete. Effective July 1, 2007.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services must establish and implement a program to monitor the minor children of incarcerated parents. Sets forth the objectives of the program.

Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that the Board of the Regional Transportation Authority shall ensure the existence and operation of a single searchable website that includes information regarding expenditures of more than $5,000 by the Authority and each of its Service Boards. Provides that the website must contain certain information. Provides that each of the Service Boards must report its expenditures to the Authority within 30 days after the funds are disbursed. Provides that the website must be updated at least monthly. Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.