Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that the minimum surviving spouse award is $20,000 (instead of $10,000) with an additional minimum award of $10,000 (instead of $5,000) for a surviving minor child or an adult dependent child. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Deletes language providing that before July 1, 2006 and after June 30, 2010, the State Board of Education shall provide the primary source of funding through appropriations for the grants for preschool educational program and the funds shall be distributed for the benefit of children who because of their home and community environment are subject to such language, cultural, economic and like disadvantages that they have been determined as a result of screening procedures to be at risk of academic failure. Deletes language that provides that screening procedures shall be based on criteria established by the State Board of Education. Removes the date restrictions of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2010 on the requirement that the State Board of Education shall provide the primary source of funding through appropriations for the program. Effective immediately.
Amends the War on Terrorism Compensation Act. Includes recipients of the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal to the list of veterans entitled to receive compensation in the amount of $100 for their military service. Effective immediately.
Congratulates the citizens of Lindenwood on the community's 175th anniversary.
Amends the Clerks of Courts Act. Provides that a person fined under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act for violating an order concerning custody or visitation, or fined under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 for violating a portion of an order of protection concerning custody or visitation, shall pay the fine to the circuit clerk who shall remit to the State Treasurer for deposit the amount of the fine, less 10% to defray administrative costs, into the Domestic Violence Victims Assistance Fund in the State treasury. Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act and the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 to direct that a court that finds that a person violated a portion of an order of protection concerning custody or visitation or an order concerning custody or visitation shall fine the person $100, unless waived by the court because the fine would place an undue burden on another party who did not violate the order. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Domestic Violence Victims Assistance Fund from which, subject to appropriation, grants are made by the Attorney General to public or private nonprofit entities that provide free legal assistance or domestic abuse advocacy to victims of domestic violence in legal proceedings related to domestic violence. Provides that the Attorney General shall adopt rules concerning the grants.
Congratulates former Northern Illinois University President John E. La Tourette on the renaming of the Faraday West building on the campus of Northern Illinois University. The building will now be named the John E. La Tourette Hall, as a tribute to his service and successful pursuit and defense of the University's doctoral mission.
Resolves that the Board of Higher Education shall establish a commission to study ways in which the Illinois Procurement Code may be revised so that purchases by public universities can be completed more efficiently.
Establishes a Blue Ribbon Committee on Higher Education Mandates within the Board of Higher Education to review State mandates on public universities.
Congratulates the members of the Hinckley-Big Rock women's basketball team on winning the Class 1A IHSA State basketball championship.
Amends the Higher Education Veterans Service Act. Provides that within one year after returning from deployment, a veteran of the armed forces who (i) was enrolled at a public college or university within one year prior to deployment, (ii) has returned from that deployment, and (iii) is seeking re-enrollment at that public college or university must be granted preference for re-enrollment by the public college or university and be reinstated as soon as possible during the current or next academic semester. Effective immediately.
