Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia

Amends the School Code. Removes private tuition for special education from the list of programs that Chicago's educational services block grant shall include. In the Children with Disabilities Article, makes changes in provisions concerning children attending nonpublic schools or special education facilities, public out-of-state schools, or county special education facilities and funding for children requiring special education services; adds provisions concerning funding for children with excess cost; and repeals provisions concerning an account of expenditures, a cost report, and reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Shows support for the addition, via amendment to the United States Constitution or other measures, of a double dissolution procedure that is similar to the process in the Australian Constitution to resolve deadlocks where the dissolution of both parliament chambers is called and a full election is held. Urges Congress to conclude the federal "shutdown".

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that it shall be lawful for the county board to appropriate funds to maintain a memorial within the county. Amends the Township Code. Provides that the township shall provide for the maintenance of a monument or memorial erected pursuant to a vote by voters of the township. Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the corporate authorities of a municipality shall levy and collect taxes, as necessary, for the maintenance of memorials erected in that municipality pursuant to a majority vote. Amends the Park District Act. Provides that any memorial built on leased land within a park district must be maintained by the organization that leased the land. Effective immediately.

Congratulates Charles Anderson of Aurora on his retirement as Business Manager and Secretary-Treasurer of Painters District Council 30.

Congratulates Sister Kathleen Ryan of Aurora on winning the Aurora Deanery Council of Catholic Women Award.

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Superintendent of Education to appoint a committee to review the tests administered by the State Board of Education and national, statewide, and local assessments administered by school districts. Sets forth the membership of the committee and the issues that the committee must review. Requires the committee to annually report and make recommendations to the State Superintendent of Education and the General Assembly. Requires the reports to be posted on the State Board's Internet website and to be available for public review. Effective July 1, 2014.

Amends the Division of Banking Act. Authorizes the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation to establish a Commercial Bank Regulatory Section and a Savings Bank Regulatory Section within the Division. Amends the State Finance Act. Changes the name of the Savings and Residential Finance Regulatory Fund to the Residential Finance Regulatory Fund. Provides for expenditures from the Savings Institution Regulatory Fund and the Residential Finance Regulatory Fund related to the disposition of unclaimed property. Amends the Savings Bank Act. Provides that the Secretary may charter mutual and stock holding companies in connection with a mutual savings bank reorganization. Establishes the effect of the repeal of the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985, including the regulation of entities formerly under the Illinois Savings and Loan Act as savings banks under the Savings Bank Act. Changes references from "member or shareholder" to "customer". Changes references from "Commissioner" to "Secretary". Makes changes to provisions concerning articles of incorporation, proxies, directors, access to books and records, regulations, investment in loans, loans to one borrower, mergers, conversion of an existing depository institution to a savings bank, powers of the Secretary, regulatory fees, and disclosure of reports of examinations and confidential supervisory information. Repeals the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning boards of education.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that in a successful appeal under the Administrative Review Law of an adverse decision by a unit of local government, the court shall award the plaintiff all reasonable costs, including court costs and attorney's fees, associated with the appeal. Provides that if the court finds the decision by the unit of local government was clearly erroneous or that the plaintiff's rights to due process were abridged, the court may award the plaintiff all reasonable costs associated with the entire case dating back to the inception of the administrative proceeding.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Adds the Gray wolf, American black bear, and Cougar to the list of protected species under the Act.