Amends the School Code. Establishes the Illinois Hope and Opportunity Pathways through Education (IHOPE) Program to develop a comprehensive system in this State to re-enroll significant numbers of high school dropouts in programs that will enable them to earn their high school diploma. Requires the State Board of Education to implement and administer the IHOPE Program. Provides that the IHOPE Program shall award grants to educational service regions and the Chicago school district from appropriated funds to assist in establishing instructional programs and other services designed to re-enroll high school dropouts. Provides that the IHOPE Program shall provide incentive grant funds for regional offices of education and the Chicago school district to develop partnerships with school districts, public community colleges, and community groups to build comprehensive plans to re-enroll high school dropouts in their regions or districts. Sets forth requirements for programs funded through the IHOPE Program. Provides for an IHOPE Plan, sub-grants, how funding is distributed, State aid, categories of programming, the evaluation of programs, and rules. Effective July 1, 2009.
Sponsored bills
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 Personnel Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Urges the Department of Public Health to establish a comprehensive plan to slow the spread of HIV/AIDS by the year 2010.
Urges that social justice be the guiding principle in decision making in the House of Representatives.
Urges the State Board of Education to establish a comprehensive plan to close the student achievement gap by the 2010-2011 school year.
Urges Congress to declare each February 28th as Honor the Contributions of African-American Slaves in the United States Day.
Resolves that in determining whether an individual is disabled for purposes of any program administered by the Department of Human Services, the Department shall follow the most recently updated rules adopted by the Social Security Administration concerning an individual working while disabled, including, without limitation, rules concerning a trial work period and whether an individual's earnings are "substantial".
Amends the Illinois Banking Act. Creates an exception in a provision prohibiting the Director of Financial and Professional Regulation of the Division of Banks and Real Estate, his or her deputies, and employees of the Division of Banks and Real Estate of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (was the Commissioner, deputy directors, and employees of the Office of Banks and Real Estate) from obtaining a loan from an entity regulated by the Act by permitting an employee of the Division to obtain a loan from a regulated entity if the loan was not offered with the intent to influence the performance of the employee's official duties and if the loan qualifies within other exceptions under federal law. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Includes disabled persons within the provisions granting an assessment freeze homestead exemption to senior citizens. Changes the name to the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption (now Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption). Makes corresponding changes to a cross-reference to the exemption. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.