Sen. James F. Clayborne, Jr.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code with respect to the "Business District Development and Redevelopment Law". Authorizes the issuance of bonds without referendum. Specifies notice requirements for a public hearing on a proposed business district plan. Sets forth the procedure for amending a business district plan. Specifies the requirements for a municipality to issue bonds for the payment or reimbursement of business district project costs. Makes numerous other changes. Provides that changes to the Law apply only to new business districts, unless an existing district is conformed by ordinance. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Authorizes a school district to provide students with instructional materials in an electronic format.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in the short title Section.

Creates the Advanced Science Zones Act. Sets forth procedures for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to certify areas in the State as Advanced Science Zones. Sets forth procedures for the administration of the Zones. Requires the Department to establish several programs with respect to the Zones including a loan program, a financial-assistance program, a transferable investment tax credit, and a tax-deduction certification. Contains other provisions. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make corresponding changes concerning the tax credits and deductions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that specified provisions concerning a certificate of public convenience and necessity do not apply to an electric utility providing transmission service connections located within its certified or service territory in the usual course of business or transmission system extensions approved pursuant to a specific provision. Adds a provision concerning an alternative procedure for obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity for specified transmission line extensions not in the usual course of business. Includes land use studies as an activity requiring a certificate of public convenience and necessity. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "railroad track equipment" as all vehicles operated upon rails for the purpose of the maintenance of railroads including, but not limited to, all hi-rail vehicles and on-track roadway maintenance machines. In provisions concerning approaching trains, provides that approaching railroad track equipment shall be treated the same as approaching trains.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a construction contractor or subcontractor operating second division vehicle commercially in this State that fails to display on the side of the vehicle or its trailer the name of the company for which it is employed is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of not less than $500 (instead of a petty offense with a fine not to exceed $100).

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that if the parolee or releasee is a sex offender or a sexual predator as defined in the Sex Offender Registration Act, a copy of the conditions of his or her parole or release shall be transmitted to the local law enforcement agency of the county or municipality to which the sex offender or sexual predator is released. Provides that a local law enforcement agency located within 3 miles of a municipality to which a sex offender or sexual predator is released may receive, upon its request, a copy of the conditions of the sex offender's or sexual predator's parole or release. Effective immediately.

Amends the Child Death Review Team Act. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services may, from funds appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly to the Department and provided to the Child Death Review Teams Executive Council for this purpose, establish an 18-month (rather than 3 year) pilot program in the Southern Region of the State, under which a special Child Death Investigation Task Force will be created. Provides that the Child Death Review Teams Executive Council shall submit a report to the Director of Children and Family Services, the General Assembly, and the Governor by July 1, 2011 (rather than January 1, 2010) that summarizes the results of the program. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Joseph E. "Jody" Trover Sr. of Belleville.