Rep. Michael K. Smith

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning teacher certification.

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the application of the Article and definitions.

Encourages the General Assembly to promptly review and evaluate the Report on Waiver of School Code Mandates filed by the State Board of Education to determine if the Report should be disapproved in whole or in part.

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Provides that a person is required to register as a sex offender who was not previously required to register before the effective date of this amendatory Act because the sex offense that the person committed occurred before a specified date. Requires that person to register within 5 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Provides that if the person is confined, institutionalized, or imprisoned in Illinois on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act, he or she shall register in person with the local law enforcement agency within 5 days of discharge, parole, or release. Provides for the duration of the registration. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Robert J. Newton of Creve Coeur.

Amends the Private Business and Vocational Schools Act. Changes provisions concerning entities that are not considered to be a private business and vocational school to include (1) any educational institution that maintains accredited status with the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools or other comparable regional accreditation association, (2) any educational institution that maintains accredited status with a national accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and (3) any educational institution that is regulated in whole or in part by the Illinois Board of Higher Education or other comparable out-of-State educational agency. Provides that an exempted institution must file with the Superintendent documentation that demonstrates (instead of an annual financial report to demonstrate) continued compliance by the institution with the requirements on which the exemption is based. Effective July 1, 2010.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Authorizes the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to establish a business ownership grant and loan program for unemployed individuals. Specifies the purposes for which grant funds may be used. Effective January 1, 2011.

Amends the Family Military Leave Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in the short title Section.

Creates the Afterschool Youth Development Project Act. Provides that because it is the policy of this State to provide all young people between the ages of 6 and 19 with access to quality afterschool programs through a State commitment to sufficient and sustainable funding for programs that promote positive youth development, the Illinois Youth Development Council is created. Provides that the purpose of the Council is to provide oversight and coordination to the State's public funds currently invested to support positive youth development programs and activities and to set system-wide policies and priorities to accomplish 5 specified objectives. Provides that the Council shall be governed by a board of no less than 28 and no more than 32 members and that the Council shall reflect the regional, racial, socio-economic, and cultural diversity of the State to ensure representation of the needs of all Illinois youth. Contains provisions concerning Council member appointments; the establishment of an independent Youth Advisory Group; the major objectives of the Council; afterschool demonstration programs; reporting requirements; and other matters. Provides that the Council shall be created within the Department of Human Services and that the Department shall provide resources to the Council including administrative services and data collection. Effective immediately.