Rep. La Shawn Ford

Mourns the death of Cardiss Collins.

Amends the Illinois Housing Development Act to authorize the Illinois Housing Authority to establish and administer a foreclosure prevention counseling program using moneys in the Foreclosure Prevention Counseling Fund, appropriated for that purpose, to make grants to HUD-certified housing counseling agencies to support pre-purchase and post-purchase home ownership education and foreclosure prevention counseling. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Foreclosure Prevention Counseling Fund. Provides that 75% of the moneys in this Fund shall be used for housing counseling outside Chicago and 25% of the moneys shall be used for such counseling in Chicago. Effective immediately.

Congratulates the congregation of the Original Providence Baptist Church in Chicago on the occasion of the church's 150th anniversary.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to establish and maintain a statewide central parent helpline to provide advice and referral services to parents in conflict with an out-of-control child. Provides that helpline operators shall be specially trained in parent education and counseling and shall receive adequate instruction on the availability and locations of family counseling services offered by the Department and approved private agencies. Provides that the helpline shall be known as the "Parent Helpline" and its number shall be publicized on the Department's website.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the programs of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services concerning child support orders shall include cases in which a responsible relative who is in Department of Corrections custody requests modification of the support order. Provides that the Department shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the Department of Corrections to facilitate these requests. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall establish a program to assist committed persons who are obligors under child support orders in cases in which child support enforcement services are provided by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Provides that the Department shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to facilitate these requests.

Extends the reporting deadline to the General Assembly of the Firearm Public Awareness Task Force from March 1, 2012 to April 1, 2012 and provides that the Department of State Police shall provide support to the Task Force for no more than 6 (rather than 3) meetings.

Amends the Illinois Lottery Law and the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to extend the Quality of Life scratch-off game and the Quality of Life Board for an additional 5 years. Effective immediately.

Designates the month of January as "Small Business Month" in the State of Illinois.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the State Board of Education.

Creates the School Choice Act and amends the Illinois Lottery Law and the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides findings and declarations of policy. Establishes the School Choice Program. Provides that under the program the custodian of a qualifying pupil is entitled to a School Choice Scholarship to pay for qualified education expenses at participating nonpublic schools. Requires the principal of each public school to notify custodians of qualifying pupils of the availability of scholarships. Requires custodians to apply to the State Board of Education for a scholarship and provide documentation as to eligibility. Requires the State Board to issue a scholarship to custodians who have made proper application and to honor the scholarship when presented for payment by a nonpublic school. Provides for the amount of a scholarship. Provides that the scholarship may be renewed each year through the 12th grade so long as the pupil and custodian remain eligible. Contains funding provisions. Provides that the amount received under the program shall not be considered base income for purposes of Illinois' income tax. Requires the State Board to submit a report to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2016. Provides criminal penalties for certain violations. Requires the State Board to adopt rules to implement the Act. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2017. Effective immediately.