Amends the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority Acts. Provides that the total outstanding bonds and notes of the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority shall not exceed $250 million (now, $100 million).
Creates the P-20 Longitudinal Education Data System Act. Requires the State Board of Education, the Illinois Community College Board, and the Board of Higher Education to jointly establish and maintain a longitudinal data system by entering into one or more agreements that link early learning, elementary, and secondary school student unit records with institution of higher learning student unit records. Subject to appropriation, requires the State Board of Education to establish a data warehouse that integrates data from multiple student unit record systems and supports all of the uses and functions of the longitudinal data system. Provides that the data warehouse must be developed in cooperation with the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education and must have the ability to integrate longitudinal data from early learning through the postsecondary level. Sets forth provisions concerning the collection and maintenance of data, data sharing, privacy protection laws, and the performance of an evaluation and submission of a report. Makes changes to the Charter Schools Law of the School Code concerning not being exempt from the Act and the Illinois School Student Records Act concerning the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Creates the Innovation, Intervention, and Restructuring Task Force for the purpose of developing strategies to allow for the innovation, intervention, and restructuring of schools, including those that need comprehensive or focused intervention. Requires the task force to submit its strategies for allowing intervention and innovation, in the form of recommendations, in a comprehensive report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the State Superintendent of Education not later than December 31, 2009. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Provides that the Act applies to certain projects located outside of the State, if the project involves property or facilities that are owned, operated, leased, or managed by an entity located within the State. Sets forth criteria for approving out-of-State projects. Provides that the Authority shall not provide financing for any project, or portion of a project, located outside of the United States. Provides that the Authority shall not provide financing that constitutes an indebtedness of the State for any project, or portion of a project, located outside of the State. Provides that the Illinois Finance Authority may approve an application to finance or refinance a project located outside of the State only if the Authority has the ability to issue at least another $1,000,000,000 of bonds after giving effect to the financing or refinancing or the out-of-state project. Proposes that the Authority shall not provide financing that uses State volume cap under Section 146 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for a project located outside of the State. Effective immediately.
Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the application of the Act.
Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Increases the authorization for certain agricultural assistance by $150,000,000. Authorizes bonds for "renewable energy resources projects" (in addition to clean coal and energy projects), including electric transmission lines and equipment and plants that produce renewable fuels. Allows clean coal projects to include transportation of carbon, clean coal facilities, and SNG facilities. Provides that bond authorization for these purposes is in addition to and not limited by other bond limitations in the Act. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Migrant Labor Camp Law. Provides that licenses shall be issued prior to operation (instead of upon a calendar year basis). Effective immediately.
Amends the Personnel Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. Provides that businesses that intend to establish a new wind power facility in Illinois may be considered "high impact businesses" and qualify for certain occupation tax exemptions. Exempts businesses that intend to establish new wind power facilities from provisions of the Act requiring applicants for designation as high impact businesses to provide the Department with (i) the prospective plan for which 1,500 full-time jobs would be eliminated if the business is not designated and (ii) proof of alternative non-Illinois sites which would receive the proposed investment and job creation if the business is not designated, and from provisions of the Act concerning revocation of high impact business status. Requires payment of prevailing hourly wages.
Expresses the General Assembly's support for the "25x'25 Vision" and its goal of having agriculture provide renewable energy and safe and affordable food and fiber.
