Sen. James T. Meeks

Amends the Use Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Makes appropriations from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of State Police for a grant to the Cook County Sheriff's Office for specific patrol operations. Effective July 1, 2009.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning Cook County.

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning State goals and assessment, provides that grade 11 means the student's third school year after successfully completing grade 8; except that for students with an individualized educational program who have not completed grade 8 by age 15, grade 11 shall mean the school year during which they turn 18 years old. Provides that the State Board of Education may adopt rules as are necessary to further define grade 11 for the purposes of complying with federal and State assessment and accountability requirements, particularly as set forth in the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Effective July 1, 2010.

Amends the Chicago Public Schools Article in the School Code. Provides that on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a local school council shall be advisory in nature. Provides that on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, all powers and duties that were previously allocated and authorized to local school councils shall be transferred to and become the powers and duties of the Board of Education, including, but not limited to, the hiring of principals, retention of principals, and spending authority.

Creates the Education Investment and Revenue Reform Act. Contains only a short title provision.

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.

Creates the Education Investment and Revenue Reform Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Appropriates $5,029,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Public Schools Teachers’ Pension and Retirement Fund of Chicago. Effective immediately.

Creates the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to operate as a debt settlement provider or engage in debt settlement service except as authorized by the Act and without first having obtained a license under the Act. Contains provisions concerning the (1) application for a license, (2) qualifications for licensure, (3) renewal of a license, (4) display requirements for a license, (5) temporary licensed locations, (6) denial of a license, (7) revocation or suspension of a license, (8) maintenance of records by a licensee, (9) examination of a licensee, (10) maintenance of trust funds by a licensee, and (11) other licensee businesses. With respect to the Director of Financial Institutions, contains provisions concerning the (1) adoption of rules by the Director, (2) penalties for violations of the Act, (3) procedure the Director may take to obtain an injunction, (4) review of decisions, (5) issuance of cease and desist orders. Contains provisions concerning (1) advertising practices, (2) individualized financial analysis, (3) required disclosures, (4) debt settlement contracts, (5) fees, (6) consumer settlement accounts, (7) cancellation of contracts, (8) obligations of good faith, (9) prohibited practices and noncompliance with the Act, and (10) civil remedies. Amends the Debt Management Service Act to exclude "debt settlement service" and attorneys engaged in specific practices from the Act. Amends the State Finance Act to provide that moneys collected under the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act shall be deposited into the Financial Institution Fund. Contains a severability clause. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to specify that a violation of the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act is a violation of the Act. Effective immediately.