Bill Title: Creates the School Choice Act and amends the Illinois Income Tax Act and the State aid formula provisions of the School Code. Establishes the School Choice Program, a pilot program that expires on June 30, 2025. Provides that under the program, the custodian of a qualifying pupil is entitled to a School Choice Voucher to pay for qualified education expenses at a participating Chicago nonpublic elementary school. Requires the principal of each low-performing school and of each overcrowded school in the Chicago school district to notify custodians of qualifying pupils of the availability of vouchers. Sets forth provisions concerning a request for a voucher, the issuance and payment of a voucher, the amount and renewal of a voucher, pupil assessment, the State longitudinal data system, and funding. Provides that students receiving vouchers are considered nonpublic school students who have been voluntarily placed in a private setting. Provides that the amount of a redeemed voucher shall not be considered base income and shall not be taxable for Illinois income tax purposes. Requires the State Board of Education to submit a report to the General Assembly. Provides criminal penalties for certain violations. Requires the State Board to adopt rules to implement the Act. Provides that the Act is repealed on July 1, 2025. Effective June 30, 2015.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-10-10 - Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments [SB0113 Detail]

Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [HTML]

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Sponsors

Name	Type	Sponsorship	District	Financial	Encyclopedia	Biography
Senator Matt Murphy [R]	Primary	Sponsored Bills	SD-027	FollowTheMoney	Ballotpedia	VoteSmart
Senator Michael Connelly [R]	Cosponsor	Sponsored Bills	SD-021	FollowTheMoney	Ballotpedia	VoteSmart

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