Sen. Miguel del Valle

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

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Makes changes concerning the identification, evaluation, and placement of children; the impartial due process hearing procedure; the expedited hearing procedure; the selection, training, evaluation, and retention of hearing officers and other matters concerning hearing officers; and the evaluation of the impartial due process hearing system.

Amends the Energy Assistance Act. Provides that no later than August 1 of each year, the Director of Revenue shall calculate the total amount of tax paid pursuant to the Gas Revenue Tax Act by persons eligible to receive assistance from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program during the 12-month period ending the previous June 30 and the total amount of Energy Assistance Charges paid by such persons during that same period. Provides that no later than September 1 of each year, the Director of Revenue shall cause an amount equal to the amount calculated under the foregoing provision in that year to be transferred from GRF to the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund.

Amends the School Code. Provides that beginning no later than the 2005-2006 school year, the State Board of Education shall annually test all pupils enrolled in 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 8th grades in writing. Removes certain provisions prohibiting the Board from testing pupils in writing. Effective July 1, 2005.

Amends the General Obligation Bond Act. Increases by $1,000,000,000 the amount of General Obligation Bonds authorized to be sold for grants to school districts for school improvement projects authorized by the School Construction Law. Distributes the increased authorization in year 9 of the schedule. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit of $250 to $1,000 for certain qualified teachers who teach in schools in low-income areas. 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.

Appropriates $400,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for asthma education and surveillance. Effective July 1, 2005.

Appropriates $3,000,000, or so much of that amount as may be necessary, from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Aid for dental reimbursement purposes. Effective July 1, 2005.

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

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that State officers and employees prohibited from obtaining State contracts may not receive legal, banking, consulting, or other fees related to State government bond issuances. Prohibits waivers from the prohibition. Prohibits State contractors with contracts with an annual aggregate value of more than $25,000 from making political contributions to the executive branch constitutional officers responsible for awarding the contracts. Establishes penalties for violations. Requires that each State contract bid or offer in excess of $10,000 annual value must be accompanied by a disclosure of the bidder's or offeror's political contributions to the executive branch constitutional officer responsible for awarding the contract. Authorizes the State Comptroller to refuse payments under contracts for which those disclosures were not made. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2006.