Sen. Kimberly Lightford

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 and the Unified Code of Corrections. Adds to the offense of institutional vandalism infliction of damage on a church, synagogue, mosque, cemetery, mortuary, school, educational facility, community center, similar structure, or grounds adjacent to, and owned or rented by an above designated place, because of the actual or perceived sexual orientation of another person or group. Provides that for purposes of the hate crime statute, the institutional vandalism statute, and the statute concerning aggravating factors in sentencing, "sexual orientation" has the meaning ascribed to it in the Illinois Human Rights Act (rather than heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality).

Amends the Medical Patient Rights Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the purpose of the Act.

Amends the School Code. Authorizes the State Superintendent of Education to use moneys in the institute fund and the State Board of Education to use funds available in the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund to support the recruitment and retention of educators, to support educator preparation programs as they seek national accreditation, and to provide professional development; specifies dedication of moneys. Makes changes concerning a provisional educator or career and technical educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations, a Substitute Teaching License, a general administrative endorsement on a Professional Educator License, out-of-state applicants and applicants trained in another country receiving a Professional Educator License, and professional development activities. Provides that an Educator License with Stipulations with only a paraprofessional endorsement does not lapse. Removes the requirement that an alternative educator licensure program for teachers or a principal preparation program offered by a not-for-profit entity be approved by the Board of Higher Education. In provisions concerning the conviction of certain offenses as grounds for revocation of a license, adds the offense of unauthorized video recording and live video transmission (under certain circumstances) to the definition of "sex offense". Makes changes concerning the training of teachers to teach physical education and safety education. Effective July 1, 2015.

Mourns the death of Rev. Leslie H. Perkins, Sr.

Mourns the death of Krisnette Kimberly Harlan.

Mourns the death of Arthur Love, Jr.

Urges the President of the United States, the Secretary of the United States Department of Labor, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, and the members of Congress to update the regulations implementing Executive Order 11246, including the minority utilization goals. Urges the United States Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking providing guidance and regulations for implementation of Executive Order 11246, which accurately reflect the current state of the United States workforce.

Declares the weekend of September 11, 2015 as "Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Emergency Response Weekend".

Directs the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission, working in partnership with the Illinois Balanced and Restorative Justice Project and the Illinois Juvenile Justice Initiative, review the current practice of restorative justice in juvenile justice systems in the State of Illinois and review restorative justice practices in juvenile justice systems in other states and cultures and nations, and report back to the Illinois General Assembly with recommendations to expand the practice of restorative justice in the juvenile justice system in Illinois with the goal of restoring public safety through restoration of the child in conflict with the law, within a system that incorporates the full range of due process and human rights protections, maximizing community based responses and utilizing incarceration only as a last resort for as short a time as possible.

Mourns the death of Hattie Pearl Bradford.