Rep. Mike Fortner

Congratulates Mike Hamlin on his retirement from the West Chicago Fire Protection District.

Congratulates Joseph V. Jedlovec, Jr. of Warrenville on receiving the Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device.

Urges the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs to continue to provide technical and financial services to the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans so that the shelter may continue to provide essential services to homeless veterans of the United States military.

Congratulates the Treudt family and the West Chicago Printing Company on 100 years of business.

Congratulates the Marmion Academy Catholic College Preparatory Wrestling Team, the Cadets, on winning five individual State Championships at the Class 2A State Wrestling Finals.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Higher Education for its FY 10 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2009.

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning contractual continued service in school districts other than the Chicago school district, adds an exception to the probationary period of 4 consecutive school terms for a teacher who is first employed as a full-time teacher by a school district on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act but who, prior to employment with the district, already entered upon contractual continued service in another school district, in which case the probationary period is 2 consecutive school terms. Makes a similar change with respect to a teacher employed in a program of a special education joint agreement. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011. Provides that Legislative Districts and Representative Districts shall be drawn to create majority-minority districts, crossover districts, coalition districts, or influence districts. Defines "majority-minority district", "crossover district", "coalition district", and "influence district". Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed, applied, or implemented in a way that imposes any requirement or obligation that conflicts with the United States Constitution, any federal law regarding redistricting Legislative Districts or Representative Districts, or the Illinois Constitution. Provides that, if there is a violation of the Act, the redistricting plan shall be redrawn to the least extent necessary to remedy the violation. Creates the Redistricting Transparency and Public Participation Act. In the year following each federal decennial census year, provides for the Senate and House of Representatives to each establish a committee, or to establish a joint committee, to consider proposals to redistrict the Legislative Districts or Representative Districts, as applicable. Provides for notices and hearings. Effective immediately.