Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that in implementing a response to intervention (RTI) process for a student suspected of having a specific learning disability or other disability that adversely impacts the academic progress of the student, a school district must comply with specified procedures prior to implementing RTI. Provides that if a student who is participating in RTI is alleged to have engaged in behavior that is in violation of a code of student conduct, the school district shall be deemed to have knowledge that the student is a student with a disability, pursuant to federal law, and shall follow the procedures set forth in federal law if the school district proposes to take disciplinary action against the student. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the School Code. With respect to the Early Childhood Education Block Grant, provides that not less than 11% (instead of exactly 11%) of the grant shall be used to fund programs for children ages 0-3. Provides that this percentage shall increase to at least 20% by Fiscal Year 2014, except that if, in a given fiscal year, the amount appropriated for the Early Childhood Education Block Grant is insufficient to increase the percentage of the grant to fund programs for children ages 0-3 without reducing the amount of the grant for existing providers of preschool education programs, then the percentage of the grant to fund programs for children ages 0-3 may be held steady instead of increased. Effective July 1, 2008.
Amends the School Code and various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Requires the State Board of Education to promote and implement an annual campaign about disability history and awareness in this State during 2 weeks in September and 2 weeks in January. Requires the State Board to file an annual report with the General Assembly on the status and implementation of the campaign. Requires a school district to provide in each grade instruction on disability history, people with disabilities, and the disability rights movement during the campaign, which instruction may be included in the courses of study regularly taught therein. Allows each public university to conduct and promote activities during the campaign that provide education on, awareness of, and an understanding of disability history, people with disabilities, and the disability rights movement.
Creates the Joint Task Force on Blind and Visually Impaired Educational Options to undertake a comprehensive and thorough review of the education of and services available to the blind and visually impaired children in this State.
Amends the Illinois Forestry Development Act. changes "forestry management" to "forest management". Makes other name changes and revisions. Makes changes concerning Forestry Development Council terms and membership and extends the Council through 2018. Makes changes concerning cost share amounts. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Public Community College Act. With respect to the requirement that following each election and canvass, a new board of trustees shall hold its organizational meeting on or before the 28th day after the election, removes the exception that provides that in 1999, 2001, and 2003 (except District #522) the board shall organize within 14 days after the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November in each of those 3 years, and in 2003 in District #522, the board shall hold its organizational meeting on or before the 14th day after the consolidated election. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Renewable Fuels Development Program Act. Provides that facilities that produce ethanol for gasohol or majority blended ethanol fuel shall receive a grant and provides limitations for the grants awarded. Establishes the Renewable Fuels Majority Blended Ethanol Infrastructure Program to provide financial assistance for units of local government and petroleum distribution centers to install the necessary infrastructure for the use of majority blended ethanol. Sets out the details of the program. Establishes the Renewable Fuels Competitive Commercialization Program and the Renewable Fuels Competitive Commercialization Grant Oversight Committee. Sets out the details of the program and the composition of the committee. Establishes the Renewable Fuels Rail Infrastructure Assistance Program. Sets out the purpose of the program. Authorizes the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to administer the programs. Sets limits for the amount of grants to be awarded under the programs. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Renewable Fuels Development Program Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund may be used by the Department, subject to appropriation, for the Illinois Renewable Fuels Development Program, the Renewable Fuels Majority Blended Ethanol Infrastructure Program, the Renewable Fuels Competitive Commercialization Program, the Renewable Fuels Rail Infrastructure Assistance Program, and other renewable energy programs. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2008.
Amends the Family Practice Residency Act. Adds a person licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 with a specialty in Psychiatry to the definition of "primary care physician". Provides that any monetary penalties imposed after December 31, 1999 and before the effective date of the amendatory Act upon a scholarship recipient who has been found by the Department of Public Health to have failed to fulfill his or her obligation under the Act, but who has been practicing as a psychiatrist within a designated shortage area during that time, must be declared null and void by the Department, and any payments made to the Department by the scholarship recipient must be returned to that scholarship recipient within a reasonable amount of time, as determined by the Department. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning assisted living and noninstitutional services.
Urges the Federal Communications Commission to reject the cap proposed by the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service.