Sen. Kimberly Lightford

Amends the School Code. With respect to school districts other than Chicago, provides that early childhood education block grant funds shall be distributed through a grant approval process (instead of on a competitive basis). Makes changes regarding grants for preschool educational and related model research-training programs, model pilot early childhood parental training programs, and pilot programs concerning services to at-risk children and their families (including allowing grants to be provided to other entities besides school districts and providing that grants must be used to supplement, not supplant, funds received from any other source). Effective July 1, 2005.

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the compilation of average daily attendance under the State aid formula, makes changes concerning the days when the Prairie State Achievement Examination is administered. Effective July 1, 2005.

Amends the School Code. Removes the requirement that school districts file estimated reimbursement claims for costs of transitional bilingual education by certain dates and that the State Superintendent of Education transmit vouchers of the estimated claims to the Comptroller by certain dates. Effective July 1, 2005.

Amends the Residential Real Property Disclosure Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning completion and delivery of the seller's disclosure statement.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may require a school district to share financial information relevant to a proper investigation of the district's financial condition and the delivery of appropriate State financial, technical, and consulting services to the district under certain circumstances. Makes other changes concerning the State Board of Education's power to certify that a district is in financial difficulty. In the School District Financial Oversight Panel and Emergency Financial Assistance Law, provides that panel members shall be paid a stipend of not more than $100 per meeting, the amount of which must be documented in the Panel's annual budget and approved by the State Superintendent. Makes changes concerning emergency financial assistance grants and loans, including having the Illinois Finance Authority provide the loans and increasing the maximum amounts for loans and grants. In the Downstate School Finance Authority for Elementary Districts Law, provides that the members of a School Finance Authority shall be paid a stipend approved by the State Superintendent of not more than $100 per meeting. Makes changes concerning emergency financial assistance, including allowing grants to be provided by the State Board and having the Illinois Finance Authority provide loans (instead of the State Board). Provides that the annual budget of a school district (other than the Chicago school district) must be balanced and must be filed with the State Board. Provides that, to the extent the budget is not balanced, the district shall also adopt and file with the State Board a deficit reduction plan to balance the district's budget within 3 years. Deletes a provision exempting a financially distressed district from the debt limit. Provides that a school district must notify the State Board prior to issuing any form of long-term or short-term debt that will result in outstanding debt that exceeds 75% of the debt limit or any other provision of law. Repeals a Section concerning financially distressed districts. Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective July 1, 2006.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that when the court's sentencing order recommends a prisoner for substance abuse treatment and the crime was committed on or after September 1, 2003, the prisoner shall receive no good conduct credit for meritorious service unless he or she participates in and completes a substance abuse treatment program. Provides that a prisoner on a waiting list to participate in and complete a substance abuse program prior to release may be eligible for a waiver and receive good conduct credit for meritorious service at the discretion of the Director. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to end the tax credit for donations to certain affordable housing projects with the taxable year ending on December 31, 2011 (now, 2006). Effective immediately.

Amends the Council on Responsible Fatherhood Act. Extends the repeal of the Act from July 1, 2005 to July 1, 2006. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Valerie Shavers of Chicago.

Mourns the death of Joseph Paul Abruzino of LaGrange Park.