Creates the Educational Choice Act to establish a pilot educational choice program in the Chicago school district that entitles a custodian of a qualifying pupil to a voucher for payment of qualified education expenses at any qualified school in which the pupil is enrolled. Repeals the Act on July 1, 2011. Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to develop unique student identifiers for State test takers that allow teachers to have the information needed to teach to the ability of the student. Provides that a school district must spend at least 65% of its total operating expenditures on direct classroom expenditures and if a school district's direct classroom expenditures for the 2006-2007 school year are less than 65% of its total operating expenditures, then the district must increase its direct classroom expenditures by at least 2 percentage points per school year beginning with the 2007-2008 school year until at least 65% of the district's total operating expenditures are spent on direct classroom expenditures. Provides that a school district that is unable to meet these expenditure standards due to special circumstances may apply for a one-year, renewable waiver. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Establishes procedures to be followed by the Department of Transportation before, during, and after a hearing on a proposed protected corridor through which a proposed roadway is to be constructed. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Removes language added by Public Act 93-1078 providing that discrimination against a person because of sexual orientation constitutes unlawful discrimination and making it a civil rights violation to engage in blockbusting in real estate because of the present or prospective entry of persons with a particular sexual orientation into the vicinity.
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.
Creates the State Expenditure Limitation Act. Provides that increases in State expenditures shall be limited to the percent growth of the Gross Domestic Product attributable to Illinois.
Amends the Toll Highway Act. Provides that the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority must obtain the approval of the General Assembly for future toll increases and for any toll increases effective within the 12 months preceding the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that the General Assembly's rejection or reduction of any toll increase is binding upon the Authority. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Requires the treasurer of each municipality to file with each town or county collector of taxes who collects taxes levied by the municipality a copy of the "accurate and complete" annual account (now, annual account) that is required to be filed and published with the annual clerk.
Amends the Governmental Account Audit Act. Requires any governmental unit receiving revenue of less than $850,000 for any fiscal year to file with the Comptroller an accurate financial report. Defines "accurate financial report" to mean a clean opinion audited financial statement.
Creates the School Land and Capital Facilities Assessment Act. Sets forth procedures by which school districts may impose school impact fees. Prohibits other units of local government from imposing school impact fees. Preempts home rule powers. Provides that the Act does not apply to the Chicago school district. Amends the Property Tax Code, the Counties Code, and the Illinois Municipal Code to make corresponding changes. Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the Citizens' Assessment Freeze Exemption, which is a homestead exemption in an amount equal to certain increases in the assessed value of real property. Sets forth procedures and requirements for the exemption. Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Revenue to develop and implement a program to strengthen its collection of amounts due to the State under the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act that are due to the State from sales of tangible personal property conducted over the Internet. Amends the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that 80% of the revenue received from retail sales conducted over the Internet must be deposited into the Common School Fund, and sets forth requirements for the deposit and use of the moneys. Amends the Telecommunications Excise Tax Act. Exempts digital subscriber line services from the definition of telecommunications that are subject to the Act. Defines "digital subscriber line services". Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Urges Congress to propose an amendment to the United States Constitution providing for the protection of traditional marriage.