Sen. Kimberly Lightford

Mourns the death off Dovie Ann Anderson.

Mourns the death of Sharon Lynn McDowell.

Mourns the death of Debra Regena Brown.

Amends the School Code. Lowers the compulsory school age from 7 years to 5 years; makes a related change. Requires all school districts to establish kindergarten for the instruction of children who are 5 years of age or older. Effective July 1, 2013.

Amends the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Provides that a local government defined as "distressed" under criteria adopted by the Department of Natural Resources through administrative rule shall be eligible for assistance up to 90% (rather than 50%) for the acquisition of open space lands and for capital development and improvement proposals, provided that no more than 10% of the amount appropriated under this Act in any fiscal year is made available as grants to distressed local governments. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning instruction.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the members of the State Board of Education.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Grants the Department on Aging the power to hold conferences, trainings, and other programs for which the Department shall determine by rule a reasonable fee to cover related administrative costs. Rules to implement the fee authority must be adopted in accordance with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, and any purported rule not so adopted, for whatever reason, is unauthorized. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code and the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Makes changes to provide that each class or course in comprehensive sex education offered in any of grades 6 through 12 shall include instruction on both abstinence and contraception for the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Makes changes to provide that all classes that teach sex education and discuss sexual intercourse in grades 6 through 12 shall emphasize that abstinence from sexual intercourse is a responsible and positive decision and is the only protection that is 100% effective against unwanted teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) when transmitted sexually. Makes changes to provide that all classes that teach sex education and discuss sexual intercourse in grades 6 through 12 shall satisfy specified criteria. Provides that an opportunity shall be afforded to individuals (not just parents or guardians) to examine the instructional materials to be used in the class or course. Provides that the State Board of Education shall make available resource materials. Provides that school districts that do not currently provide sex education are not required to teach sex education. Provides that if a sex education class or course is offered in any of grades 6 through 12, the school district may choose and adapt the developmentally and age-appropriate, medically accurate, evidence-based, and complete sex education curriculum that meets the specific needs of its community. Provides that the Comprehensive Health Education Program shall include the educational area of evidence-based and medically accurate information regarding sexual abstinence (instead of the area of sexual abstinence until marriage).

Amends the School Code. In the Teacher Certification Article, provides that a person who holds an active license issued by the State as a marriage and family therapist shall be deemed to have satisfied the continuing professional development requirements to renew a school service personnel certificate. In the Educator Licensure Article, includes marriage and family therapist as a school support personnel endorsement area that may be affixed to a Professional Educator License. Effective immediately.