Sen. John O. Jones

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions defining "eligible employment" for the purpose of allowing teachers to return to teaching in subject shortage areas without impairing his or her retirement status or retirement annuity, removes the June 30, 2008 ending date. Includes language exempting the changes from provisions concerning new benefit increases. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act. Provides that if a military decoration is delivered to the Treasurer as abandoned property, the Treasurer shall deliver the military decoration to the U.S. Department of Defense for proper disposition. Effective immediately.

Disapproves the 2008 report of the Compensation Review Board.

Designates Illinois Route 173 as the 173rd Airborne Brigade Highway in honor of the brave men and women of the United States Army 173rd Airborne Brigade.

Designates the U.S. Route 50 Fox River Bridge, west of Olney, the Robert Ridgway Bridge.

Mourns the death of Mary Frances Bowers of Memphis, Tennessee, formerly of Centralia.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. In a Section concerning funding for children requiring special education services, provides that for fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year thereafter, individual school districts must not receive payments under that Section totaling less than they received for fiscal year 2007. Sets forth guidelines for the calculation, including making the calculation a separate calculation from any other in the Section. Effective immediately.

Creates the Agency Energy Efficiency Act. Provides that all executive branch State agencies shall strive to reduce energy use in State facilities by 10% within 10 years after the effective date of this Act. Provides that State agencies shall work with the Department of Central Management Services in achieving the goal. Sets out duties of the Department. Provides that all requests for new construction or renovation to State facilities shall implement design criteria that exceeds contemporary standards for energy efficiency. Sets out duties of all executive branch State agencies under the Act. Provides that if the Department finds that implementation costs of the Act exceed energy savings, the Department shall request approval from the General Assembly to terminate implementation of the provisions under the Act.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State may defer the expiration of the driver's license of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, or of the spouse or a dependent child living with a member of the Armed Forces, for an additional 90 (rather than 45) days after that member of the Armed Forces has completed active duty service outside of the State of Illinois. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides for the issuance of Iraq Campaign and Afghanistan Campaign license plates, respectively, to persons who have earned the Iraq Campaign Medal or the Afghanistan Campaign Medal from the U.S. Armed Forces. Provides that the applicant shall pay an additional fee of $15 for original issuance of the plates, to be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Effective immediately.