Sen. Dale E. Risinger

Amends the School Code. Provides that no district is obligated to comply with any statutory or regulatory mandate or requirement unless a separate appropriation has been enacted into law providing funding for the school year during which such mandate is required. Contains provisions concerning discontinuing or modifying an activity to meet specified requirements. Provides that specified provisions do not apply to special education, transportation, or lunch programs, or coursework required for high school graduation. Effective immediately.

Creates the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to operate as a debt settlement provider or engage in debt settlement service except as authorized by the Act and without first having obtained a license under the Act. Contains provisions concerning the (1) application for a license, (2) qualifications for licensure, (3) renewal of a license, (4) display requirements for a license, (5) temporary licensed locations, (6) denial of a license, (7) revocation or suspension of a license, (8) maintenance of records by a licensee, (9) examination of a licensee, (10) maintenance of trust funds by a licensee, and (11) other licensee businesses. With respect to the Director of Financial Institutions, contains provisions concerning the (1) adoption of rules by the Director, (2) penalties for violations of the Act, (3) procedure the Director may take to obtain an injunction, (4) review of decisions, (5) issuance of cease and desist orders. Contains provisions concerning (1) advertising practices, (2) individualized financial analysis, (3) required disclosures, (4) debt settlement contracts, (5) fees, (6) consumer settlement accounts, (7) cancellation of contracts, (8) obligations of good faith, (9) prohibited practices and noncompliance with the Act, and (10) civil remedies. Amends the Debt Management Service Act to exclude "debt settlement service" and attorneys engaged in specific practices from the Act. Amends the State Finance Act to provide that moneys collected under the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act shall be deposited into the Financial Institution Fund. Contains a severability clause. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to specify that a violation of the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act is a violation of the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. In a provision authorizing local authorities to enact an ordinance or resolution prohibiting the use of or restricting the maximum weight of vehicles upon any highway under their jurisdiction, for a total period of not to exceed 90 days in any one calendar year, whenever any the highway by reason of deterioration, rain, snow, or other climate conditions will be seriously damaged or destroyed, provides for an exception for cargo tank vehicles with 2 or 3 permanent axles when delivering propane for heating, if the cargo tank is loaded at no more than 50 percent capacity, and the gross vehicle weight of the vehicle does not exceed 32,000 pounds. Provides that the cargo tank vehicle must have an operating gauge on the cargo tank which indicates the amount of propane as a percent of capacity of the cargo tank and must have the capacity displayed on the cargo tank or documentation of the capacity of the cargo tank in the vehicle.

Amends the Railroad Police Act. Requires allegations of abuse of authority or misconduct by members of a railroad police force to be investigated by the Illinois State Police.

Amends the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. Provides that the information packet given to a relinquishing parent in accordance with the Act shall not exceed 5 pages and shall include, in addition to other required information, a one-page brochure (self-mailer) that describes the Safe Haven Law; a one-page brochure (self-mailer) that describes the Illinois Adoption Registry; and a one-page brochure describing health information for the mother and how she can get medical care if she needs it. Requires the information packet to be designed in coordination between the Office of Vital Records and the Department of Children and Family Services. Requires the Office of Vital Records to continue to maintain and distribute the information packet, and to hold on file all foundling records of relinquished newborns. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Brad Horton of Edwards.

Mourns the death of Patricia Welbers of rural Spring Valley.

Creates the FY2009 Budget Implementation Act. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to make the changes in State programs that are necessary to implement the FY2009 budget. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Lyman M. Jensen of Galesburg.

Amends the School Code. Subject to an appropriation or the availability of funding for such purposes, requires the State Board of Education to make grants available to fund community schools (which are traditional schools that actively partner with their community to leverage existing resources and identify new resources to support the transformation of the school to provide enrichment and additional life skill opportunities for students, parents, and community members at-large) and to enhance programs at community schools. Requires a request-for-proposal process to be used in awarding grants. Provides that proposals may be submitted on behalf of a school, a school district, or a consortium of 2 or more schools or school districts. Requires a school to have certain components in order to qualify for a grant. Requires the State Superintendent of Education to appoint a 9-member Advisory Council on Community Schools. Effective immediately.