Rep. Calvin L. Giles

Amends the Property Tax Code. Prohibits the transfer of a certificate of purchase obtained from a scavenger sale unless certain conditions are met. Provides that a purchaser of property at a scavenger sale may extend the period of redemption for a period of 2 years in the case of a purchase at a scavenger sale by a person other than a governmental unit (now, 3 years in the case of all purchasers). Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a prisoner who is serving a sentence for a crime committed as a result of the use of, abuse of, or addiction to alcohol or a controlled substance shall receive no good conduct credit until he or she participates in and completes a substance abuse treatment program that is approved by the Department of Corrections. Effective immediately.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that an applicant for a Merit Recognition Scholarship must complete at least 40 hours of volunteer service as of the end of the 6th semester of high school in order to be eligible. Effective immediately.

Amends the General Obligation Bond Act and the School Construction Law. Increases by $1,000,000,000 the amount of General Obligation Bonds authorized to be sold for grants to school districts for school improvement projects authorized by the School Construction Law. Distributes the increased authorization in year 8 of the schedule. Requires the State Board of Education to submit an annual capital plan to the General Assembly, based on the 5-year capital needs of school districts. Effective immediately.

Amends the Teacher Certification Article of the School Code. Makes technical changes in a provision concerning the validity period of teaching certificates.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning physical education and training.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions that authorize a partial exemption from property taxes for homestead properties that have been improved and residential structures on homestead property that have been rebuilt following a catastrophic event, changes the limit to $75,000 per year for that homestead property beginning January 1, 2004 and thereafter (now, $45,000 per year). Provides that the exemption shall continue until the homestead property is sold or otherwise transferred (now, for 4 years from the date the improvement or rebuilding is completed and occupied, or until the next following general assessment of that property, whichever is later). Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.

Amends the Property Tax Code and the School Code. Increases the rate at which a school district (other than the Chicago school district) may levy taxes for special education purposes from 0.02% to 0.05% for elementary and high school districts and from 0.04% to 0.10% for unit school districts. Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law to exclude the tax extension from the definition of aggregate extension. Effective July 1, 2003.

Amends the School Code. Every year, requires the State Board of Education to make available a representative form of each State test instrument for public review and for formative student evaluation. Effective immediately.