Rep. Rita Mayfield

Mourns the death of Harvey B. Ricks.

Mourns the death of Maurice C. Houston of Chicago.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Expands the list of targeted group member classes for the Diversity in Engineering scholarship program to include national origin, ancestry, age, and disability, and modifies the definition so that classes are included as long as the percent employed by the Department is less than the percent employed statewide according to labor statistics and not a specific plan adopted by the Department. Removes the eligibility requirement that applicants be members of a targeted group, and removes the requirement that applicants be full-time students. Directs the Department to establish a process for selecting eligible students that considers obtaining a critical mass of students in the program to remedy the underutilization of targeted group members. Provides that the Department may (rather than shall) adopt rules to implement and administer the scholarship program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Provides that a local government defined as "distressed" under criteria adopted by the Department of Natural Resources through administrative rule shall be eligible for assistance up to 90% (rather than 50%) for the acquisition of open space lands and for capital development and improvement proposals, provided that no more than 10% of the amount appropriated under this Act in any fiscal year is made available as grants to distressed local governments. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code with respect to transition services. Provides that the first individualized education plan for when a student turns age 14 1/2 must include measurable post-secondary goals based upon age-appropriate transition assessments and other information available regarding the student that are related to independent living skills (instead of independent living skills where appropriate). Effective immediately.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that a Professional Educator License with a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards designation shall be automatically renewed for a period of time equal to the remaining period of validity of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification. Effective July 1, 2013.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides for the issuance of Prince Hall Freemasonry license plates. Provides that in addition to the appropriate registration fees, an applicant for the special plate shall be charged a fee of $25 at original issuance and renewal. Provides that $15 of the additional fee for original issuance and $2 of the additional fee for renewal shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Provides that $10 of the additional fee for original issuance and $23 of the additional fee for renewal shall be deposited into the Master Mason Fund.

Amends the Counties Code. In provisions concerning the expedited removal of certain buildings that are a continuing hazard to the community in which they are located, deletes the requirement that the building be residential and 2 stories or less in height. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, if requested, a school board is authorized to excuse a pupil from engaging in a physical education course if the pupil has an intellectual or physical disability, is participating in an athletic program outside of the school setting, and documents such participation as determined by the school board. Effective July 1, 2013.