Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia

Designates the Orchard Road interchange on Interstate 88 as the Suzanne Deuchler Honorary Interchange.

Amends the Regional Superintendent of Schools Article of the School Code. Makes changes concerning the qualifications of a regional superintendent of schools, including requiring his or her master's degree to be in education, removing the licensure requirement if he or she will have on staff a qualified assistant regional superintendent, allowing the teaching experience to include any grade level, kindergarten through the university undergraduate level, and requiring employment with the regional office of education for which he or she is seeking to serve as regional superintendent for a minimum of 5 years in an administrative capacity. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Clean Elections Act. Establishes a voluntary method of public financing of the campaigns of candidates for statewide constitutional offices and the General Assembly. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Illinois Clean Elections Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to create an individual tax return checkoff in support of the Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that when ordering an early release of more than 50 prisoners during a one-month period, the Director of Corrections must consult with the Advisory Board and receive approval from the majority of the 11 members. Provides that the Advisory Board must include one member representing the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, one member representing the Illinois State's Attorneys Association, and one member representing the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.

Amends the Gasoline Storage Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the University of Illinois Act in a Section concerning scholarships for the children of veterans. Adds as periods of hostilities for which a county may award a scholarship (i) any time during the siege of Beirut between June 14, 1982 and February 26, 1984 and (ii) any time during the Grenada Conflict between October 25, 1983 and December 15, 1983. Effective immediately.

Amends the educator licensure provisions of the School Code. Allows persons who have completed a comparable preparation program in another state to earn a Professional Educator License. Requires that certain required testing under the Code for applicants for a Professional Educator License who are holders of an Educator License with Stipulation includes an evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness, approved by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, and requires that testing to be completed by the end of the second year of employment as a teacher of record. Requires applicants for an Educator License with Stipulations to satisfy the requirements for a Professional Educator License.

Encourages the Latino community in the State to share its unique gift of life by donating blood. Encourages Latino businesses, churches, and other organizations to consider hosting a blood drive in their community and urges community colleges, colleges, universities, and trade schools to host blood drives and participate in the National Cesar E. Chavez Blood Drive Scholarship Challenge.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the 2015 taxable year and thereafter, the exemption for veterans with disabilities carries over to the surviving spouse of a veteran who was killed in the line of duty in the current taxable year or any preceding taxable year. Provides that, for the 2016 taxable year and thereafter, the exemption for veterans with disabilities carries over to the surviving spouse of a veteran who did not obtain the exemption before death, but who would have qualified for the exemption in the current taxable year if he or she had survived. Effective immediately.

Creates the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Requires the State Superintendent of Education, the executive director of the Illinois Community College Board, the executive director of the Board of Higher Education, and the executive director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission ("Appointing Authorities") to establish and select individuals to serve as members of one or more advisory committees responsible for delivering recommendations concerning competency-based high school graduation requirements, student readiness for college-level instruction, and early college credit. Requires the chief executive officers of the State agencies participating in the Illinois Pathways Interagency Committee to establish and select individuals to serve as members of one or more advisory committees responsible for delivering recommendations concerning career pathway endorsements and awareness, advising, and planning for postsecondary education and careers. Sets forth provisions concerning common administrative rules of the State Board of Education, Illinois Community College Board, Board of Higher Education, and Illinois Student Assistance Commission; support systems for school districts, postsecondary institutions, educators, students, and families; and implementation. Amends the School Code to make changes concerning consumer education and required high school courses. Effective immediately.