Sen. Michael G. Connelly

Celebrates Father Jude Randall's ("Father Jude") 50th Anniversary Jubilee as a Roman Catholic priest.

Mourns the death of Edmund O'Connor, co-founder of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, of Lake Forest.

Mourns the death of Miriam B. Fry of Naperville.

Amends the School Code. Creates the Illinois School Choice Program, which shall be administered by the State Board of Education. Provides that any State-certified, non-public school wishing to enroll eligible students and be reimbursed for vouchers available under specified provisions shall notify the State Board of Education in writing of its intent. Specifies the eligibility for reimbursement of vouchers. Specifies reporting requirements for non-public schools that are participating in the Program. Contains provisions concerning the calculation of vouchers and how they may be used by parents. Contains provisions concerning the verification of the household income of participating parents. Provides that the State Board of Education may adopt rules for administration of the Program. Amends the State Finance Act to create the School Choice Fund as a special fund in the State treasury and provides that permitted fees collected by the State Board of Education shall be deposited into the Fund and shall be used by the State Board of Education to cover the administrative costs of the Program. Effective immediately.

Amends the High Risk Home Loan Act. Provides that "high risk home loan" does not include a loan for reverse mortgage financing of residential real estate, including under programs regulated by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

Amends the High Risk Home Loan Act. Provides that the term "points and fees" does not include fees paid to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs required by law, fees paid to the Federal Housing Administration required by law, or fees paid to the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Loan Program required by law.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Creates the offense of unlawful manipulation of a judicial sale. Provides that a person commits the offense when he or she knowingly and by any means makes any contract with or engages in any combination or conspiracy with any other person who is, or but for a prior agreement is, a competitor of such person for the purpose of or with the effect of fixing, controlling, limiting, or otherwise manipulating (1) the participation of any person in, or (2) the making of bids, at any judicial sale. Provides that unlawful manipulation of a judicial sale is a Class 3 felony. Provides that a mandatory fine shall be imposed for a violation, not to exceed $1,000,000 if the violator is a corporation, or, if the violator is any other person, $100,000. Provides that a second or subsequent violation is a Class 2 felony. Establishes injunctive relief and a private right of action for damages or injunctive relief. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that each school board employing an employee who is an elected trustee of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund shall make available to the elected trustee at least 20 days of paid leave of absence per year for the purpose of attending meetings of the Fund's Board of Trustees, committee meetings of the Board, and seminars regarding issues for which the Board is responsible. The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund shall reimburse affected school districts for the actual cost of hiring a substitute employee during such leaves of absence. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 and the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that a minor shall not knowingly and voluntarily and without threat or coercion use a computer or electronic communication device to transmit an indecent visual depiction of himself or herself to another person. Provides that a person shall not possess a visual depiction transmitted to the person in violation of this provision. Provides that it is not a violation if the person who receives the depiction took reasonable steps, whether successful or not, to destroy or eliminate the visual depiction within a reasonable time after discovering the depiction. Provides that a person 18 years of age or older who violates the provision is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. Provides that a minor who transmits the indecent visual depiction shall be adjudicated a delinquent minor under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that a minor who transmits the indecent visual depiction who has previously been adjudicated for such violation may be either adjudicated a delinquent minor under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 or subject to discretionary transfer for prosecution under the criminal laws of the State in accordance with the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides for the automatic expungement of the juvenile law enforcement and court records of a minor charged with or adjudicated delinquent for the violation.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county treasurer may, after receiving approval from the county board, establish an escrow fund for the safekeeping of moneys paid to the treasurer on behalf of property taxpayers. Protects money in these funds from judgment, attachment, execution, and seizure for the satisfaction of debts. Authorizes county treasurers to establish terms and conditions relating to these funds. Requires interest earned on these funds to be paid to the county treasury to offset administrative costs. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure to exempt qualified moneys in these funds from judgment, attachment, execution, and seizure for the satisfaction of debts. Effective immediately.