Amends the Grow Your Own Teacher Education Act. Makes changes concerning the Act's purpose and the definition of "hard-to-staff school". Changes certain references from target schools to eligible schools. Provides that in any fiscal year in which an appropriation for the Grow Your Own Teacher Education Initiative is made, the consortium shall guarantee that support will be available to an admitted cohort for the cohort's training for that fiscal year (instead of providing that the consortium shall guarantee that support will be available to an admitted cohort through the cohort's full period of training). Makes changes concerning expenditures under the Initiative with regard to requests for waivers or deferrals of the teaching obligation, the way grants are awarded to provide the required support for a cohort of candidates, and what a program budget must include. Provides that grant funds may be used by any member of a consortium to offset the costs of child care and other indirect expenses that are necessary to permit candidates to maintain their class schedules. Makes other changes.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code, School Code, Child Passenger Protection Act, and Unified Code of Corrections. Makes various changes regarding: driver education requirements; graduated driver's licenses; instruction permits for minors; curfews for drivers under a specified age; the number of passengers under a specified age allowed in a vehicle driven by a newly licensed driver under a certain age; the use of seat safety belts; the use of wireless telephones by graduated driver's license holders; suspensions of driver's licenses of drivers under age 21 under specified circumstances; required appearances before the presiding judge with a parent or guardian under specified circumstances; vehicle impoundment for drivers arrested for street racing; and other matters. Repeals provisions creating the offense of drag racing. Creates the offenses of street racing and aggravated street racing, and makes conforming changes. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2008, except that the provisions amending the School Code are effective July 1, 2008.
Amends the Election Code. Permits State non-partisan civic organizations that meet certain criteria to appoint precinct pollwatchers. Effective immediately.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that when a person who has not previously been convicted of or placed on probation for felony prostitution is guilty of felony prostitution, the court, without entering a judgment and with the consent of the person, may sentence the person to probation. Provides that when a person is placed on probation for felony prostitution, the court shall order a period of probation of 24 months and defer further proceedings until the conclusion of the period or until the filing of a petition alleging violation of probation. Provides that the conditions of probation shall be that the person: not violate any criminal statute of any jurisdiction; refrain from possessing a firearm or other dangerous weapon; submit to periodic drug testing at a time and in a manner as ordered by the court, but no less than 3 times during the period of the probation, with the cost of the testing to be paid by the probationer; and perform no less than 30 hours of community service if community service is available in the jurisdiction and is funded and approved by the county board. Provides that the court may impose other conditions of probation. Provides that upon fulfillment of the terms and conditions of probation, the court shall discharge the person and dismiss the proceedings. Provides that there may be only one discharge and dismissal under this provision. Provides that if a person is convicted of prostitution within 5 years after a discharge and dismissal under this provision, the discharge and dismissal shall be admissible in the sentencing proceeding for that conviction as evidence in aggravation. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. With respect to school districts other than Chicago, requires that certain contracts involving an expenditure in excess of $25,000 or a lower amount as required by local policy (rather than $10,000) be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. Makes changes concerning the exceptions to this requirement, including an exception for contracts for services of corporations possessing a high degree of professional skill where ability and fitness play an important part, contracts for food services, contracts for utilities and related services when the cost is less than that offered by a local distribution company, and contracts for repair, maintenance, remodeling, renovation, or construction involving an expenditure not to exceed $50,000 (rather than $20,000). Adds an exception for contracts for the provision of motor vehicle fuel. Effective immediately.
Urges the U.S. Congress to pass legislation to allow free mailing of letters and packages to combat troops.
Creates the Clean Coal FutureGen for Illinois Act for the purpose of providing the FutureGen Alliance with adequate liability protection, land use rights, and permitting certainty to facilitate the siting of the FutureGen Project in Illinois. Contain provisions concerning transfer of title to sequestered gas and associated liabilities to the State; insurance and indemnification by the State for the Operator for certain liabilities; permits; land use, including condemnation powers; and economic incentives. Contains other provisions and a severability clause. Amends: the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law concerning financial assistance; the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act concerning high impact businesses; the Court of Claims Act and the State Lawsuit Immunity Act concerning jurisdiction; and the Eminent Domain Act concerning condemnation authority. Effective immediately.
Reconstitutes the Commission to Study the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its Past and Present Effects on African-Americans created by SJR 31 of the 94th General Assembly.