Sen. Pat McGuire

Mourns the death of Sharon A. Skaggs of Ashamy.

Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Removes provisions allowing the State Charter School Commission to reverse a school board's decision to deny, revoke, or not renew a charter; makes related changes. In a provision concerning a charter school proposed to be jointly authorized by 2 or more school districts and the school boards unanimously denying the charter school proposal with a statement that the school boards are not opposed to the charter school, but that they yield to the Commission in light of the complexities of joint administration, allows the charter applicant to submit the proposal to the Commission and requires the Commission to follow the same process and be subject to the same timelines for review as a school board.

Makes appropriations to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for the Monetary Award Program.

Mourns the death of John L. Vogrin of Joliet.

Creates the Tuition Reduction Act. Beginning with the 2016-2017 academic year, requires each public university located in this State to reimburse its full-time resident undergraduate students a portion of the tuition charged in the form of a grant applied directly to a student's financial aid account. Provides that to determine the per-pupil grant amount, the university shall calculate the difference, if any, between the current fiscal year's aggregate appropriations to the university and the previous fiscal year's aggregate appropriations to the university and divide that amount by the number of students enrolled in the previous academic year. Provides that 50% of this calculation then equals the per-pupil grant amount, to be awarded to currently enrolled students to reduce their tuition costs (unless the current fiscal year's aggregate appropriations to the university are equal to or less than the previous fiscal year's aggregate appropriations). Requires each university to annually report updated estimates of the total amount in grants awarded in an academic year to the Governor and the appropriate committees of the General Assembly. Effective immediately.

Amends the Higher Education Cooperation Act. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to promote interinstitutional cooperation and collaboration, which may involve public-private partnerships leveraging the use of public and private resources to improve outcomes for the higher educational system in this State. Provides that an institution of higher education may participate in the establishment and operation of programs of interinstitutional cooperation with other institutions of higher education or public-private partnerships, or both (instead of allowing a public institution of higher education to participate in the establishment and operation of programs of interinstitutional cooperation with other public institutions of higher education or with nonpublic institutions of higher education or with both public and nonpublic institutions of higher education). Provides that the program of financial assistance is available to public-private partnerships. Provides that the Board of Higher Education may require matching public or private resources from all participants. Makes related changes. Effective July 1, 2016.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act and the Public Community College Act. Removes application to public community colleges and the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) with respect to provisions concerning the Board of Higher Education's (IBHE) information system, approval of new units of instruction, research, and public service and review of existing programs of instruction, research, and public service, approval of plans for capital improvements of non-instructional facilities, and examination of the books, records, files, and other information of a public institution of higher education and submission of budget proposals to the IBHE for operations and capital needs. Provides for the IBHE's master plan and admission standards for public community colleges to be made in cooperation with the Illinois Community College Board. With respect to the authority of the IBHE over community colleges in provisions concerning performance metrics and the underrepresentation of certain groups in higher education, changes that authority to the ICCB. Removes a requirement that the IBHE approve requests for new community college districts and approve educational service contracts (instead of requiring only ICCB approval). Removes a requirement that the ICCB file copies of community college financial statements with the IBHE. Requires a community college district to report administrator and faculty salaries and benefits to the ICCB instead of the IBHE. Effective July 1, 2015.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning territory not included in a community college district.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that property that is (i) located within a county of less than 1,000,000 inhabitants and (ii) used for a petroleum refinery may be the subject of a real property tax assessment settlement agreement if litigation is or was pending as to its assessed valuation as of January 1, 2003 or thereafter. Effective immediately.

Amends the Alienation of Affections Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning public policy.