Rep. Michael D. Unes

Proclaims the month of May as Motorcycle Awareness Month in Illinois.

Designates July 22 of each year as Fragile X Awareness Day in the State of Illinois.

Congratulates Cyril A. "Bud" Stobaugh Jr. on the occasion of his retirement as Mayor of the City of Farmington.

Congratulates East Peoria Community High School senior Lucas Joseph on the occasion of winning the Class 2A 220-pound Wrestling Championship at the individual State of Illinois tournament.

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to select and enter into a 5-year agreement with a private organization to operate and administer a board examination system that has been approved by an interstate compact on board examination systems and that includes (1) a coherent group of courses that collectively constitutes a core curriculum at the high school level; (2) a comprehensive syllabus for each course; (3) appropriate instructional and teaching materials for each course; (4) high quality examinations that are closely aligned with the course syllabus; (5) professional scoring of examinations; and (6) teacher education that is designed to train teachers to properly teach those courses. Sets forth the duties of the private organization and the State Board. Requires the private organization to develop the Prairie State diploma. Allows school districts and charter schools to choose to offer a Prairie State diploma beginning in the 2013-2014 school year; allows the Prairie State diploma to be awarded at the end of grade 10 or during or at the end of grade 11 or 12; and requires students who elect to pursue a Prairie State diploma to participate in the board examination system. Makes related changes in Sections concerning recognition standards, State assessments, school board powers, and required high school courses.

Amends the State Finance Act. Requires PAYGO budgeting. Provides that if a Public Act requires additional spending from State funds, then no appropriation for the additional spending required by the Public Act may be obligated or expended unless the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability certifies to the State Comptroller that the same or another Public Act specifically identifies adequate decreases in expenditures or enhancements in revenues to completely offset the additional spending required by the Public Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and Illinois Vehicle Code to provide that: the Secretary of State must inquire as to whether an applicant for a State identification card or driver's license is a veteran for purposes of issuing a State identification card or driver's license with a veteran designation; the Secretary shall determine by rule what forms of proof of a person's status as a veteran are acceptable; and the Secretary may disclose an individual's social security number or associated information to the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs for the purpose of confirming veteran status. Defines "veteran" and other terms. Effective January 1, 2013.

Amends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Administration Articles of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that to be eligible for benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program an assistance unit's household assets must not exceed $10,000, excluding (i) the value of the residence in which the assistance unit resides and (ii) the value of 2 vehicles, not including a recreational vehicle, used by the assistance unit for transportation purposes. Provides that subject to federal approval, the Department of Human Services shall restrict eligibility for benefits under the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly Food Stamp Program) to applicants whose household assets do not exceed $10,000, excluding (i) the value of the residence in which the applicant resides and (ii) the value of 2 vehicles, not including a recreational vehicle, used by the applicant for transportation purposes. Effective January 1, 2013.

Amends the Personnel Code. Provides that the Director of Central Management Services may not include in an official classification specification or in a position listing a requirement that a person employed in the position or a candidate for the position must speak or write a language other than English if the position does not require regular contact with the general public. Effective immediately.

Creates the Gubernatorial Employee Salary Cap Act. Provides that no Governor's Office employee may receive an aggregate salary increase in any State fiscal year that exceeds the lesser of (i) 3% or (ii) the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the first day of that State fiscal year occurs. Defines a Governor's Office employee as (i) any person who is employed in the Office of the Governor or the Governor's Office of Management and Budget in a position that is not subject to any of the jurisdictions of the Illinois Personnel Code or (ii) any official or employee of an executive branch State agency working under the direction and control of the Governor in a position for which he or she was appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Provides that, if an executive branch employee under the direction and control of the Governor is promoted to an existing position or a newly created position as a Governor's Office employee, then for the duration of the State fiscal year, the employee may not receive an aggregate salary increase over the employee's salary on the last business day immediately preceding the effective date of the promotion that exceeds the lesser of (i) 3% or (ii) the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the first day of that State fiscal year occurs. Provides that the limitations on salary increases apply only during a period of budget emergency. Provides that the Act does not apply to any salary increases granted (i) before the effective date of the Act or (ii) during any period of a State fiscal year when a budget emergency is not in effect. Effective immediately.