Date	Chamber	Action
3/3/2006	House	Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance

New Act

35 ILCS 5/203

from Ch. 120, par. 2-203

Synopsis As Introduced
Creates the Opportunity Scholarship Act and amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides findings and declarations of policy. Establishes the Opportunity Scholarship Program. Provides that under the program the custodian of a qualifying pupil is entitled to a Tutoring Opportunity Scholarship or a School Opportunity Scholarship to pay for qualified education expenses at participating Chicago elementary and secondary schools or tutoring agencies. Requires the principal of each school in the Chicago school district to notify custodians of qualified pupils of the availability of scholarships. Requires custodians to apply to the State Board of Education for a scholarship and provide documentation as to eligibility. Requires the State Board to issue a scholarship to custodians who have made proper application and to honor the scholarship when presented for payment by a school or tutoring agency pursuant to certain procedures. Provides for the dollar amount of a scholarship and provides that the total amount of scholarships paid under the program may not exceed $15,000,000 in a school year. Provides that the scholarship may be renewed each year through the 12th grade so long as the pupil and custodian remain eligible. Requires pupils receiving scholarships to be assessed in the same manner as Illinois public school students. Provides that the amount received under the program shall not be considered base income for purposes of Illinois' income tax. Requires the State Board to submit a report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2010. Provides criminal penalties for certain violations. Requires the State Board to adopt rules to implement the Act.

House Amendment No. 1
Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill with the following changes. Provides that the scholarship program applies to all schools in Illinois not just in Chicago. Removes a provision requiring the State Board of Education to submit a report to the General Assembly reviewing the status of the program. Makes changes concerning dates. Adds an immediate effective date.

Actions 

Date	Chamber	Action
2/15/2005	House	Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Joseph M. Lyons
2/16/2005	House	First Reading
2/16/2005	House	Referred to Rules Committee
2/23/2005	House	Assigned to Elementary & Secondary Education Committee
2/24/2005	House	Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Dave Winters
2/25/2005	House	Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary E. Flowers
3/3/2005	House	Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Marlow H. Colvin
3/3/2005	House	Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Edward J. Acevedo
3/7/2005	House	Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jack McGuire
3/10/2005	House	Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Robert Rita
3/10/2005	House	Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
3/15/2005	House	Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Jim Sacia
1/5/2006	House	Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) March 3, 2006
1/5/2006	House	Assigned to Elementary & Secondary Education Committee
1/24/2006	House	Re-assigned to Executive Committee
2/1/2006	House	Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Angelo Saviano
2/8/2006	House	House Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Executive Committee
2/8/2006	House	House Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Executive Committee; by Voice Vote
2/8/2006	House	Do Pass as Amended / Standard Debate Executive Committee; 007-005-000
2/8/2006	House	Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Standard Debate
2/8/2006	House	Remove Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Marlow H. Colvin
2/14/2006	House	Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jim Sacia
2/14/2006	House	Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Robert Rita
2/16/2006	House	Remove Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary E. Flowers
2/28/2006	House	Second Reading - Standard Debate
2/28/2006	House	Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Standard Debate
3/3/2006	House	Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

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