SCH CD-ST CHARTER SCHOOL COMM Senate SponsorsSen. Heather A. Steans, David S. Luechtefeld, Kyle McCarter and Martin A. Sandoval-Iris Y. Martinez-Emil Jones, III House Sponsors(Rep. Karen A. Yarbrough-Jerry L. Mitchell-Joe Sosnowski-Jehan A. Gordon, Maria Antonia Berrios and Patricia R. Bellock) 7/20/2011SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 97-0152 105 ILCS 5/27A-3105 ILCS 5/27A-5105 ILCS 5/27A-7.5 new105 ILCS 5/27A-7.10 new105 ILCS 5/27A-8105 ILCS 5/27A-9105 ILCS 5/27A-12Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Establishes a State Charter School Commission as an independent State agency with statewide chartering jurisdiction and authority, consisting of 9 members appointed by the State Board of Education on the recommendation of a slate of candidates proposed by the Governor. Provides that the Commission is responsible for authorizing high-quality charter schools throughout this State. Allows the Commission to charge a charter school that it authorizes a fee, not to exceed 3% of the revenue provided to the school, to cover the cost of undertaking the ongoing administrative responsibilities of the eligible chartering authority with respect to the school. Provides that any charter school authorized by the State Board prior to the amendatory Act shall have its authorization transferred immediately to the Commission, which shall then become the school's authorizer. Provides that any charter school authorized by a school board may seek approval from the Commission during its current term only with the approval of the school board, and provides that at the end of its charter term, a charter school authorized by a school board must reapply to that board before it may apply for authorization to the Commission. Makes additional changes concerning the Commission, and makes changes concerning authorizers, immunity, the submission of information, and reporting. Effective immediately.Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to:30 ILCS 105/5.786 newProvides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Charter School Quality Law. Amends the State Finance Act to create the State Charter School Commission Fund. Makes changes concerning the appointment of members to the State Charter School Commission, gifts, grants, and donations to the Commission, a Commission fee, transferring charter school authorization to the Commission from the State Board of Education, State Board rules, civil and criminal immunity, and charter school appeals. Allows the Commission to reverse a school board's decision to deny a charter school proposal based upon certain findings. Provides that final decisions of the Commission are subject to judicial review. With respect to a charter school proposed to be jointly authorized by 2 or more school districts, provides that the school boards may deny the charter school proposal in order to yield to the Commission. Removes provisions concerning funding for Commission charter schools.Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that at least 3 members of the State Charter School Commission must have past experience with urban charter schools. Provides that a school board may develop its own process for receiving charter school proposals on an annual basis that follows the same timeframes as set forth in the Charter Schools Law. Provides that only after the school board process is followed may a charter school applicant appeal to the Commission. 1/27/2011SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Heather A. Steans 1/27/2011SenateFirst Reading 1/27/2011SenateReferred to Assignments 2/9/2011SenateAssigned to Education 2/10/2011SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. David S. Luechtefeld 3/8/2011SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Kyle McCarter 3/9/2011SenatePostponed - Education 3/14/2011SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Heather A. Steans 3/14/2011SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments 3/14/2011SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Education 3/15/2011SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted 3/15/2011SenateDo Pass as Amended Education; 009-000-000 3/15/2011SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 16, 2011 3/30/2011SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Martin A. Sandoval 3/30/2011SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Heather A. Steans 3/30/2011SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments 3/30/2011SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Iris Y. Martinez 3/30/2011SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Emil Jones, III 3/31/2011SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Education 4/7/2011SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommend Do Adopt Education; 009-000-000 4/8/2011SenateSecond Reading 4/8/2011SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted; Steans 4/8/2011SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 11, 2011 4/15/2011SenateThird Reading - Passed; 052-000-001 4/15/2011HouseArrived in House 4/15/2011HousePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading 4/15/2011HouseChief House Sponsor Rep. William D. Burns 4/15/2011HouseFirst Reading 4/15/2011HouseReferred to Rules Committee 4/25/2011HouseAssigned to Executive Committee 4/27/2011HouseAlternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Karen A. Yarbrough 4/28/2011HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jerry L. Mitchell 5/3/2011HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Maria Antonia Berrios 5/5/2011HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Joe Sosnowski 5/5/2011HouseAlternate Chief Co-Sponsor Changed to Rep. Joe Sosnowski 5/10/2011HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jehan A. Gordon 5/11/2011HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Executive Committee; 010-000-000 5/11/2011HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 5/16/2011HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate 5/16/2011HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate 5/17/2011HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Patricia R. Bellock 5/17/2011HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 107-006-001 5/17/2011SenatePassed Both Houses 6/15/2011SenateSent to the Governor 7/20/2011SenateGovernor Approved 7/20/2011SenateEffective Date July 20, 2011 7/20/2011SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 97-0152