Rep. La Shawn Ford

Amends the Personal Property Storage Act. Provides for administration of the Act by the Illinois Commerce Commission (instead of the Department of Agriculture). Makes changes concerning applications by limited liability companies, bond or insurance amounts, violation of the Commission's rules, fees set by rule, investigators, civil penalties, license revocation, subpoenas, and oaths. Effective January 1, 2010.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Enhances the penalty for theft by one class higher if the offender falsely poses as a landlord or agent or employee of the landlord and obtains a rent payment or a security deposit from a tenant.

Amends the School Code. With respect to the Early Childhood Education Block Grant, provides that not less than 11% (instead of exactly 11%) of the grant shall be used to fund programs for children ages 0-3. Provides that this percentage shall increase to at least 20% by Fiscal Year 2015, except that if, in a given fiscal year, the amount appropriated for the Early Childhood Education Block Grant is insufficient to increase the percentage of the grant to fund programs for children ages 0-3 without reducing the amount of the grant for existing providers of preschool education programs, then the percentage of the grant to fund programs for children ages 0-3 may be held steady instead of increased. Effective July 1, 2009.

Amends the School Code. Requires each school superintendent to create a program to ensure that students attending the schools that he or she manages cannot access those schools' grounds for at least 12 hours after those grounds are treated with a lawn care product. Requires each district superintendent to appoint a Lawn Care Coordinator whose duty it shall be (i) to implement that program, (ii) to supervise the provision of notice under subdivision (f)(2) of Section 3 of the Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act, and (3) if the district adopts a pesticide-free turf care program, to supervise that program. Amends the Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act. Requires applicators for hire to provide additional types of information to customers. Requires the owners or operators of day care centers to provide parents with one of two types of notice before applying pesticide or having pesticide applied to day center grounds (now, only school districts must provide that notice). Requires the Illinois Department of Public Health to inform school boards and the owners and operators of day care centers about these requirements. Requires the Illinois Department of Public Health to report violations to the Department of Agriculture for enforcement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Condominium Property Act. Provides that in the event of a sale of a condominium unit by a unit owner, no condominium association shall exercise any right of refusal, option to purchase, or right to disapprove the sale, on the basis of the type of financing used by the purchaser.

Amends the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act and the Childhood Hunger Relief Act. Makes changes concerning the 3 components of the breakfast incentive program, including changing one of the components to a non-traditional breakfast incentive. Provides that in 2010 (instead of 2001) and in each subsequent year, the State Board of Education shall provide to the Governor and the General Assembly, by a date not later than April 1 (instead of March 1), a report concerning schools and free, reduced price, and paid breakfasts and lunches; makes changes with respect to the content of the report. Makes changes concerning the school breakfast program under the Childhood Hunger Relief Act, including when and at which schools the program must be implemented and operated and opting out a school or schools from the school breakfast program requirement. Effective July 1, 2009.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that any deed executed pursuant to the Mortgage Foreclosure Article or judgment vesting title by a consent foreclosure shall state the grantee's or mortgagee's name (and the name of a contact person), street and mailing addresses, and telephone number. Upon the receipt of a judgment vesting title by a consent foreclosure or deed executed pursuant to the Mortgage Foreclosure Article, the grantee or mortgagee shall post on the property, while the property is vacant, a notice that states the name (and the name of a contact person), street and mailing addresses, and telephone number of the grantee or mortgagee. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.

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.

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.