Proposes to amend the Suffrage and Elections Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides for initiation of recall of General Assembly members by elector petition and for the election of successor members. Effective upon being declared adopted.
Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Places the State's legislative powers and duties in a unicameral General Assembly consisting of a Senate comprised of 177 members elected 3 each from 59 districts using cumulative voting. Makes conforming changes. Provides for redistricting through the Senate's adoption of one of the 3 highest-scored maps submitted by the public to a General Assembly-appointed commission. Provides a redistricting schedule and for the Secretary of State's selection of the highest-scored map when the Senate fails to adopt a map. Imposes term limits on members and leaders. Makes changes with respect to the passage of bills, the veto authority of the Governor, and member compensation. Authorizes the judicial branch to try persons impeached by the Senate. Effective upon being declared adopted and applicable to redistricting in 2011, to the election of General Assembly members in 2012, and to the operation of the General Assembly beginning on the second Wednesday in January 2013.
Amends the Counties Code. Provides that the Cook County Board of Commissioners may override a veto by the County Board President by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of its members (instead of four-fifths). Effective immediately.
Mourns the death in Afghanistan of Elizabeth C. Hanson of Rockford.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that each school bus must display at the rear of the bus a sign indicating the telephone number of the owner of the school bus. Deletes language providing that the sign shall indicate that the number is to be called to report erratic driving by the school bus driver. Adds language requiring that the sign shall be in the form "TO COMMENT ON MY DRIVING, CALL (area code and telephone number of school bus owner)". Provides that existing school busses carrying the sign conforming to the former requirements are not required to update the sign to the new requirements until the school bus owner replaces the sign. Effective January 1, 2010.
Amends the Open Meetings Act. Permits a public body with statewide jurisdiction or with jurisdiction over more than 4,500 square miles to include members participating in a video or audio conference at specified locations when determining the physical presence of a quorum at an open meeting (now, a public body with statewide jurisdiction may include members participating in a video conference at specified locations when determining the physical presence of a quorum at an open meeting). Provides that the requirement that members of a public body with less than statewide jurisdiction be physically present at a closed meeting is limited to public bodies with jurisdiction over 4,500 or fewer square miles. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. With respect to the purchase of textbooks for children whose parents are unable to buy them and the waiver of fees assessed on children whose parents are unable to afford them, changes a reference from children eligible for free lunches or breakfasts under the Community School Lunch Program to children living in households that meet the free lunch or breakfast eligibility guidelines established by the federal government pursuant to the federal Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, subject to verification. Provides that any school board that participates in a federally funded, school-based child nutrition program and uses a student's application for, eligibility for, or participation in the federally funded, school-based child nutrition program as the basis for waiving fees assessed by the school district must follow the verification requirements of the federally funded, school-based child nutrition program. Provides that a school board that establishes a process for the determination of eligibility for waiver of fees assessed by the school district that is completely independent of a student's application for, eligibility for, or participation in a federally funded, school-based child nutrition program may provide for fee waiver verification no more often than every 60 calendar days, with conditions. Effective September 1, 2009 or immediately, whichever is later.
Amends the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act. Provides that, if the boundaries of a district are co-extensive with the boundaries of a county having a population of more than 200,000 but less than 800,000, bordering the State of Wisconsin but not adjoining any county with a population of over 2,000,000, then all commissioners of the forest preserve district shall be elected at large. Provides for the election of 7 commissioners. Specifies the terms and requirements of the commissioners. Provides the method for the filling of vacancies. Provides that the commissioners shall serve without compensation. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.
Amends the Illinois Forestry Development Act. Changes "forestry management" to "forest management". Makes other name changes and revisions. Makes changes concerning cost share amounts and eligibility. Makes other changes. Creates the Forestry Development Council. Specifies the Council's membership and duties. Effective immediately.
