House Sponsors: DANIELS-WINKEL-KOSEL-KLINGLER-JONES,JOHN, JOHNSON,TOM, PANKAU, CHURCHILL, HASSERT, BIGGINS, KRAUSE, STEPHENS, RUTHERFORD, MCAULIFFE, COULSON, BROWN, MITCHELL, RIGHTER, COWLISHAW, HOEFT, LAWFER, BIGGERT, CROSS, WIRSING, LINDNER, NOLAND, TENHOUSE, BEAUBIEN, DURKIN, MYERS, MULLIGAN, WOOD AND ERWIN. Short description: SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION-AID-REFORM Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Capital Development Board Act to revise the Grant Index and eligibility standards for School Construction and Debt Service Grants. Amends the General Obligation Bond Act to increase the State's bonding authority by $1,500,000,000 for school construction grants, the proceeds from the sale of those bonds to be deposited into the School Construction Fund. Amends the Telecommunications Excise Tax Act to increase the tax from 5% to 6.5%. Also amends the School Code. Creates the School Technology Revolving Loan Program to provide for technology-related investment loans to school districts on a revolving schedule of grade levels. Rewrites the State aid formula for the 1998-99 and subsequent school years and increases the foundation level grant formula for the 1997-98 school year. Revises the teacher certification system, providing for Initial, Standard, and Master level certificates. Revises the IGAP program and the promotion and retention policy for third, fifth, and eighth grade students. Provides for both passing and excellent scores on the Prairie State Achievement Examination and for an attendance certificate (rather than a high school diploma) for students who fail to earn a passing score. Increases the probationary period for teachers first employed by a school district on or after July 1, 1998 to 4 years. Authorizes districts to contract with third parties for noninstructional services. Provides for Professional Development and Early Childhood Education Block Grants for school districts. Amends and adds provisions relative to suspension and expulsion, employment of non-certificated registered professional nurses, honorable dismissal of educational support personnel employees of any time during the school year or at the end of the school year on 30 days' notice, and multi-year superintendent and principal contracts. Provides for an additional year of supplementary State aid for new and certain annexing districts. Requires districts to establish a no pass-no play policy for pupils in grades 9 through 12. Makes numerous changes to the Charter Schools Law in the School Code. Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act to increase the advance notice of strike requirement to 10 days from 5 days. Creates the Comprehensive Property Tax Study Commission Law. Provides for a commission to study the issue of reliance on local property taxes to finance schools. Effective immediately. Last action on Bill: SESSION SINE DIE Last action date: 99-01-12 Location: House Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 0 SENATE - 0 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status