Sen. James T. Meeks

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district must allow non-resident pupils of the school district to attend the schools of the district without charging these students tuition as long as these students are residents of this State (now, a school board has the power to charge non-resident pupils tuition). Provides that the school district is not required to provide the necessary transportation for these students. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Early Intervention Services System Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning family service plans.

Amends the Older Adult Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote Act. Ratifies and approves the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote. Provides that the agencies and officers of this State and its subdivisions shall enforce the compact and do all things appropriate to effect its purpose and intent that may be within their respective jurisdictions.

Amends the Interagency Board for Children who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing and have an Emotional or Behavioral Disorder Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Act's short title.

Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the School District Property Tax Relief Fund. Requires annual appropriations from the education appropriation minimum to the Fund. Requires the Department of Revenue to annually certify the amounts of property tax relief grants that school districts will receive from the Fund. Sets forth procedures for appropriating these grants. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the tax rate for individuals, trusts, and estates from 3% to 5% and increased the tax rate for corporations from 4.8% to 8%. Includes retirement income within the definition of "base income" for certain individuals. Eliminates certain corporate exemptions. Creates the Family Tax Credit. Amends the use and occupation tax Acts. Eliminates exemptions concerning newsprint and ink and concerning manufacturing and assembling machinery. Includes certain arts, entertainment, and recreation services within the definition of "sale at retail". Amends the Property Tax Code. Requires county clerks to abate the extensions for educational purposes by the amount of the property tax relief grants. Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Deletes provisions concerning certain discounts. Amends the School Code. In the State aid formula provisions, increases the foundation level of support and grant amount for supplemental general State aid. Provides for an education appropriation minimum and supplemental State aid for rapidly expanding school districts. Effective immediately.

Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Eliminates provisions that allowed an hourly wage of 50 cents below the regular minimum wage to be paid to an employee under 18 years of age. Makes other conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2009.

Amends the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act. Adds a provision requiring that the Plan provide coverage for mammograms and prosthetic devices or reconstructive surgery incident to a mastectomy, Pap tests, prostate-specific antigen tests, colorectal cancer examination and screening, and contraceptives as required under certain Sections of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that any expense or charge for routine physical examinations or tests related to certain covered benefits are not excluded from coverage under the Plan. Deletes a provision excluding any expense or charge for oral contraceptives used for birth control or any other temporary birth control measures from coverage under the Plan.

Amends the School Code. Establishes the 21st Century School Reform Initiative Pilot Program in which 4 clusters (a cluster being a high school and all of the prekindergarten, elementary, middle, and junior high schools from which a majority of students will attend that high school) must be selected within 30 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act for participation in the program for 3 school years. Sets forth provisions concerning how the clusters are to be selected, the establishment of a State oversight committee and local oversight committees, the recruitment of 3 superintendent advisors, the completion of a comprehensive needs assessment, the requirements that the cluster schools must meet, and the adoption of rules by the State Board of Education. Requires that the State oversight committee submit a report on or before January 1, 2012 to the General Assembly summarizing the results of the program and making recommendations on its expansion. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Erika Prince.