Sen. Chuck Weaver

Mourns the passing of Mary Bernadine Kennelly.

Urges the U.S. Congress to return the $200 million dollar fine to the ComEd ratepayers in Illinois.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning an early childhood education block grant.

Declares May 4-8, 2020 as Teacher Appreciation Week in the State of Illinois.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for qualified education expenses incurred by employers on behalf of qualifying apprentices. Effective immediately.

Amends the Grow Your Own Teacher Education Act. Makes changes to the definitions of "cohort", "eligible school", and "hard-to-staff school", and defines "dual credit course". Provides that Grown Your Own Illinois (rather than the Board of Higher Education) shall administer the Grow Your Own Teacher Education Initiative as a grant competition to fund consortia that will carry out Grow Your Own Teacher preparation programs. In provisions concerning selection of grantees, provides that the Board of Higher Education shall, subject to appropriation, allocate funds to Grow Your Own Illinois for the purpose of administering the program and awarding grants under the Act (rather than requiring the Board of Higher Education to award grants under the Act). Removes the language providing that the consortium shall consider whether a candidate has experienced an interruption in his or her college education when recruiting potential candidates for the program. Provides that, subject to the requirements under the Dual Credit Quality Act, an institution of higher education may offer a high school student a dual credit course under the program. Provides that the Board of Higher Education may not adopt rules regarding candidate eligibility that are more restrictive than those in the Act. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Permits offenders subject to the truth in sentencing provisions of the Code to earn sentence credit for good conduct in specific instances as the Director of Corrections deems proper. Permits offenders subject to the truth in sentencing provisions of the Code to earn sentence credit for educational, vocational, substance abuse, behavior modification programs, life skills courses, re-entry planning, and correctional industry programs. Provides that sentence credit earned shall not reduce the sentence of the prisoner to less than: (1) 75% (rather than 85%) of his or her sentence if the prisoner is required to serve 85% of his or her sentence; and (2) 90% of his or her sentence if the prisoner is required to serve 100% of his or her sentence. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Lowers the flat weight tax for Class C and D vehicles; Class VF farm trucks. Lowers the mileage weight tax for Class MD, ME, MF, and MG vehicles. Lowers the trailer flat weight tax for Class VDD, VDE, and VDG farm trailers. Lowers the flat weight trailer tax of Class TA, TB, TC, TD, and TE trailers.

Creates the Grow Your Own STEM and Vocational Education Teachers Act. Provides that a public institution of higher education shall, if funds are appropriated to the Board of Higher Education under the Act, waive any tuition, fees, and on-campus housing costs for a student who (i) agrees to pursue a minimum of a bachelor's degree in agriculture, science, technology, engineering, or mathematics for certain teaching occupations, (ii) agrees to attend a public institution of higher education to pursue an undergraduate degree or an advanced degree in one of those concentrations, (iii) agrees to teach at a hard-to-staff school, as determined by the Board of Higher Education, (iv) maintains a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (or its equivalent) at all times, and (v) agrees to fully reimburse the public institution of higher education for any waived tuition, fees, or costs if the student fails to teach at least 3 years at a high school located in this State or at least 5 years at a public institution of higher education or a public community college located in this State. Provides that a public institution of higher education shall, if funds are appropriated to the Board of Higher Education under the Act, waive any tuition and fees for a student who is a licensed Illinois teacher with a master's degree and who (i) agrees to pursue up to a maximum of 18 graduate hours necessary to qualify the student to teach dual credit consistent with applicable accreditation and State standards for dual credit faculty and (ii) agrees to fully reimburse the public institution of higher education for any waived tuition or fees if the student fails to teach at least 5 years at a high school located in this State after the completion of the graduate hours. Requires the Board of Higher Education to adopt rules. Effective July 1, 2020.

Amends the Uniform Penalty and Interest Act. Provides that the penalty for failure to pay the tax shown due or required to be shown due on a return shall be 15% (instead of 20%) of any amount that is paid after the date the Department of Revenue has initiated an audit or investigation of the taxpayer. Provides that the penalty shall be abated if the taxpayer paid to the Department at least 95% of the total tax liability (including any additional liability resulting from the audit or investigation) prior to the initiation of the audit or investigation. Effective January 1, 2020.