Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act in the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes technical changes concerning the location of citations for the completion dates for redevelopment projects. Provides that the redevelopment project in the TIF district created by an ordinance that was adopted on December 2, 1986 by the City of Aurora must be completed by December 31 of the 35th year (now, the 23rd year) after the year in which the ordinance was adopted. Effective immediately.

Urges the Governor to call a special session of the General Assembly concentrating only on education.

Creates the Backflow Protection Task Force Act. Establishes the Backflow Protection Task Force to conduct a study on and to propose legislative measures designed to (1) updated current laws, regulations, and guidelines governing the use of backflow protection devices in public buildings and (2) promote policies that will prevent drinking water contamination by a faulty or non-existent backflow protection device. Effective immediately.

Commissions a bi-partisan task force on the status of underrepresented minorities in higher education to evaluate the status of traditionally underrepresented populations, specifically African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans, in this State's public and private institutions of higher education.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that if a municipality, pursuant to an ordinance adopted by the corporate authorities of the municipality, enters into a contract with a provider of wireless Internet services (ISP) for the purpose of providing municipal and public access to a wireless broadband Internet network, then a public utility that owns or co-owns above-ground utility poles, including, but not limited to, street light and traffic poles and pole arms located in the public rights-of-way within the municipality, shall be required to enter into pole access agreements with the ISP to allow access to all above-ground poles of the public utility located in the public right-of-way. Contains provisions concerning the terms and conditions of the pole access agreements. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall, within 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, adopt rules concerning pole access rates, terms, and conditions and any necessary additional procedures for hearing and resolving contested cases concerning the rates, terms, and conditions. Contains provisions concerning the enforcement of decisions by the Commission regarding contested cases. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, for high school students, a school board must employ a sufficient number of certified school counselors to maintain a student/counselor ratio of 250 to 1.

Amends the School Code and the Counties Code. Provides that it is a State's Attorney's duty to notify the State Superintendent of Education upon the conviction of any individual known to possess a certificate issued under the School Code of any of certain offenses or any other felony conviction. In the criminal history records check provisions of the School Code, makes changes concerning the offenses for which a school board may not knowingly employ a person. Provides that no one may be certified to teach or supervise in the public schools who has been convicted of certain offenses (instead of providing that in determining good character, any felony conviction of an applicant may be taken into consideration, but such a conviction shall not operate as a bar to registration). In provisions concerning suspension or revocation of a certificate, provides that the State Superintendent of Education has the exclusive authority to initiate the suspension of up to 5 calendar years or revocation of any certificate (instead of providing that a certificate may be suspended for a period not to exceed one calendar year by the regional superintendent of schools or for a period not to exceed 5 calendar years by the State Superintendent). With respect to certificate suspension and revocation, makes changes concerning an investigation, notice, a hearing, an appeal, and the offenses that are grounds for suspension and revocation. Makes other changes.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the annual budgets of school districts other than the Chicago school district.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Allows an income tax credit for each individual taxpayer who is a teacher teaching in a school in Illinois. Provides that the amount of the credit is equal to 50% of the eligible classroom expenses made by the taxpayer during the taxable year, but the credit may not exceed $500. Defines "eligible classroom expenses" as the aggregate amount of nonreimbursed classroom expenses made by the taxpayer during the taxable year less $250. Provides that the credit may not be carried forward or back and may not reduce the taxpayer's liability to less than zero. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that any person of the age of 21 years and upwards who with the intent to promote or facilitate the commission of a gang-related offense, as defined in the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act that is either a felony or misdemeanor, solicits, compels, or directs any person under the age of 17 years in the commission of the offense commits the offense of contributing to the criminal delinquency of a juvenile and is legally accountable for the gang-related offense committed by the person under the age of 17 years as a result of such solicitation, compulsion, or direction. Provides that the penalty for contributing to the criminal delinquency of a juvenile under this provision is the same as the penalty for the offense committed by the person under 17 years of age as a result of the solicitation, compulsion, or direction by the person of the age of 21 years and upwards.