Rep. Lisa M. Dugan

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that an assault using an air rifle constitutes aggravated assault. Provides that the penalty for aggravated battery involving the use of a firearm does not include an air rifle as defined by the Air Rifle Act. Amends the Air Rifle Act. Eliminates the maximum $50 fine that may be imposed for violation of the Act by a person who is not a dealer of air rifles. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Economic Opportunity Law, the Energy Assistance Act, and the Good Samaritan Energy Plan Act. Transfers the administration of the low-income energy assistance program (LIHEAP) and the weatherization assistance program from the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Provides that the income limit for program eligibility set by the Department may not exceed the amount established by the federal Office of Management and Budget or 75% of the State median income, whichever is greater (now, may not exceed 150% of the federal nonfarm poverty level).

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the State aid formula.

Amends the School Code. Requires grantees under the Preschool for All Children program to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the appropriate local Head Start agency no later than 3 months after the award of a grantee's grant under the program and, in the case of the 2009-2010 program year, no later than the deadline set by the State Board of Education for applications to participate in the program in fiscal year 2011. Sets forth certain issues that the memorandum must address. Suspends the memorandum of understanding requirement if the local Head Start agency is unable or unwilling to enter into the memorandum. 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.

Creates the Disposition of Veterans' Cremains Act. Provides that a funeral director must make a reasonable effort to determine whether a deceased person, whose remains have been submitted for final disposition by cremation, was a veteran of the armed services ("veteran"), a spouse of a veteran, or the dependent child of a veteran. If there is uncertainty regarding the deceased person's status and no authorizing agent exists, the funeral director may allow the National Cemetery Administration's National Cemetery Scheduling Office, any veterans organization whose primary purpose is to locate, identify, and inter the unclaimed cremains of American veterans, or any federally-chartered veterans service organization to have access to the cremains and all information regarding the deceased person in the possession of the funeral director so that the deceased person's status may be determined. If the deceased person is identified as a veteran, spouse of a veteran, or dependent child of a veteran, requires the funeral director to notify the authorizing agent over the disposal of the cremains that the decedent may be eligible to be interred at a veterans' cemetery. Provides that if the cremains are not claimed by an authorizing agent after one year and the authorizing agent then fails to respond within 30 days to the funeral director's written request for disposition instructions, the funeral director must then contact any veterans organization whose primary purpose is to locate, identify, and inter the unclaimed cremains of American veterans or any federally-chartered veterans service organization so that arrangements for the disposition of the cremains of the veteran, spouse of a veteran, or dependent child of a veteran may be made in a state or national veterans' cemetery. Provides that a funeral director complying with this Act is immune from any criminal or civil liability regarding the release of information relative to the determination of the status as a veteran or any available interment as a veteran or for the release of the cremains to a veterans' cemetery. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that each school district shall require that all students in grade 7 and all high school students enrolled in a course concerning history of the United States or a combination of history of the United States and American government view the Congressional Medal of Honor film made by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Provides that this requirement does not apply if the Congressional Medal of Honor Society charges the school district a fee for the film. Effective July 1, 2009.

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 Public University Energy Conservation Act. Provides that "energy conservation measure" includes construction of a new building or facility that is designed to reduce energy consumption or operating costs.

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.