Sen. Larry D. Woolard

Amends the State aid formula provisions of the School Code by increasing the foundation level of support and changing the amount of and how a supplemental general State aid grant is calculated. Amends the State Aid Continuing Appropriation Law to make the Law applicable to fiscal year 2004 and each fiscal year thereafter and to provide for an irrevocable and continuing appropriation sufficient to fund general State aid and supplemental general State aid. Effective July 1, 2003.

Amends the Illinois Livestock Dealer Licensing Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning records and reporting requirements.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning administration and definitions.

Amends the Illinois Brand Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Drilling Operations Act. Makes technical changes in the Section concerning the short title of the Act.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning insider information.

Amends the State Comptroller Act. Adds a caption.

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the educational services block grant for a school district having a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants, provides that the grant shall include funding for children requiring special education services. Removes the extraordinary and private tuition components of the Special Education program that the educational services block grant includes. In provisions concerning children with disabilities attending private schools, public out-of-state schools, public school residential facilities, or private special education facilities, removes the requirement that transportation to and from home to a residential school more than once each school term be subject to prior approval by the State Superintendent of Education. Replaces certain provisions in the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code concerning State reimbursement to a school district with new provisions governing payments for children requiring special education services. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to cooperate with disaster relief organizations with regard to civil defense shelters.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the county collector in each county may assess to the purchaser of property for delinquent taxes an education fee of $2 per parcel. Provides that 50% of the fees collected shall be deposited into the County Officials Education Fund, a special fund hereby created in the State treasury, and shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the University of Illinois for the purpose of providing continuing educational programs for county officials. Provides that 50% of the fees collected shall be retained by the county treasurer for deposit into a special fund which shall be used solely for the administration of the county's tax sale program. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Fund. Effective immediately.