Amends the School Code. Creates the Illinois School Choice Program, which shall be administered by the State Board of Education. Provides that any State-recognized, non-public school wishing to enroll eligible students and be reimbursed for vouchers available under specified provisions shall notify the State Board of Education in writing of its intent. Specifies the eligibility for reimbursement of vouchers. Specifies reporting requirements for non-public schools that are participating in the Program. Contains provisions concerning the calculation of vouchers and how they may be used by parents. Contains provisions concerning the verification of the household income of participating parents. Provides that the State Board of Education shall adopt rules for implementation of the Program. Amends the State Finance Act to create the School Choice Fund as a special fund in the State treasury and provides that permitted fees collected by the State Board of Education shall be deposited into the Fund and shall be used by the State Board of Education to cover the administrative costs of the Program. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Local Records Act. Requires a unit of local government or school district with an annual budget of $1 million or more to maintain an Internet website and post to that website, for the current calendar or fiscal year, as the case may be, the following information: (1) contact information for elected and appointed officials; (2) notice of and materials prepared for regular and emergency meetings; (3) procedures for requesting information from the unit of local government or school district; (4) annual budget; (5) ordinances under which the unit of local government or school district operates; (6) procedures to apply for building permits and zoning variances; (7) financial reports and audits; (8) information concerning employee compensation; (9) contracts with lobbying firms; (10) taxes and fees imposed by the unit of local government or school district; (11) rules governing the award of contracts; (12) bids and contracts worth $25,000 or more; (13) campaign contributions made by a vendor; (14) a debt disclosure report; and (15) public notices. Sets forth requirements concerning a searchable expenditure and revenue database. Provides that any citizen who is a resident of the unit of local government or school district may bring a mandamus or injunction action to compel the unit of local government or school district to comply with the Internet posting requirements. Provides a posting in perpetuity clause. Limits home rule powers. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Contains a severability clause. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides statutory exemption for any electronic copy of a record or information maintained on the website of a unit of local government or school district. Effective immediately.
Congratulates Bob "Doc" Adams for his outstanding leadership and expresses appreciation for his efforts in support of veterans.
Congratulates the members of the Wheaton Warrenville South High School Tigers Girls Golf team on the occasion of winning the 2016 IHSA Class AA Girls Golf Team Championship.
Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 and the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that a minor who was under 18 at the time of the commission of an offense must be represented by counsel throughout the entire custodial interrogation. Provides that an oral, written, or sign language statement of a minor made without counsel present throughout the entire custodial interrogation of the minor shall be inadmissible as evidence in any juvenile court proceeding or criminal proceeding against the minor. Provides that in a proceeding under the Criminal Code of 2012, a minor who was under 18 at the time of the commission of the offense must be represented by counsel throughout the entire custodial interrogation of the minor and an oral, written, or sign language statement made without counsel present shall be inadmissible in any criminal proceeding against the minor.
Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that, beginning 60 days prior to the Tuesday following the first Monday of April in odd-numbered years until the first organizational meeting of a new board of trustees of a community college district, no addendum to modify and amend an employee agreement between a district and another party may be agreed to or executed, nor may an employment contract be made and entered into between the board of an established district and another party. Provides that if the current board must take such action at any time during the 60 days prior to the Tuesday following the first Monday of April in odd-numbered years until the first organizational meeting of the new board due to a reasonable emergency (a defined term), then that action must be terminated within 30 days after the first organizational meeting, unless the new board, by resolution, reaffirms the agreed-upon addendum or new employment contract.
Amends the Public Community College Act. With regard to all community college districts with elected board trustees who are elected after the effective date of the amendatory Act or appointed to fill a vacancy of at least one year's duration of an elected trustee after the effective date of the amendatory Act, provides that every voting member of a community college district's board elected or appointed for an elected trustee for a term beginning after the effective date of the amendatory Act, within a year after the effective date of the amendatory Act and during the third and fifth year of his or her term, shall complete a minimum of 4 hours of professional development leadership training. Provides that the community college district shall maintain on its Internet website, if any, the names of all elected voting trustees of the community college district's board who have successfully completed the training. Provides that the training may be provided by an association established for the purpose of training community college district board trustees or by other qualified providers approved by the Illinois Community College Board. Effective January 1, 2017.
Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois and the Public Community College Act. Sets forth provisions governing employment contracts entered into, amended, renewed, or extended after the effective date of the amendatory Act, excluding collective bargaining agreements. Requires the governing board of a university or community college district to complete an annual performance review of the president and any chancellors of the higher education institution. Provides that such annual performance review must be considered when the board contemplates a bonus, raise, or severance agreement for the president or chancellor.
Amends the Illinois State Auditing Act. Provides that the Auditor General shall annually conduct or cause to be conducted a financial and compliance audit of one-third of community colleges such that every community college is audited by the Auditor General every 3 years. Sets forth provisions concerning the filing, public inspection, and costs of the audit. Requires a community college to make available to the Auditor General its books and records and any other documentation necessary to conduct the audit as required. Provides that certain audits under the Public Community College Act shall not be prohibited in years a community college is not audited by the Auditor General. Amends the Public Community College Act. Makes a related change.
Amends the Open Meetings Act. Requires that any and all available minutes and verbatim recordings of meetings closed to the public prior to a newly elected official's term in a public body shall be available to that official for review, regardless of whether those minutes or verbatim recordings are confidential. Effective immediately.