Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Provides that the Illinois Racing Board, in lieu of obtaining a court reporter to make accurate transcriptions at each regular and special meeting and proceeding, shall create a verbatim record of each regular and special meeting in the form of an audio or video recording, unless an emergency situation precludes the creation of a transcript or recording. Allows the Board to refuse an occupation license to any person for any other just cause. Requires an applicant for an employment position as a pari-mutuel clerk, parking attendant, or security guard to include in the application whether the applicant has ever been convicted of any theft, fraud, wagering during the course of employment, touting, bookmaking, or any other act which is detrimental to the best interests of racing. Requires a licensee to forward a copy of the application form to the Board prior to extending an offer of employment to an applicant (rather than upon its decision to hire the applicant) and certify that it has checked the applicant's background. Removes language requiring the Board's review of an applicant to include an inquiry. Provides that no organization license may be granted to conduct a horse race meeting to any person who does not, at the time of application for the organization license, have plans certified by a licensed architect and confirmed financing for construction of a race track suitable for the type of racing intended to be held by the applicant and for the accommodation of the public on property that the applicant owns or has a contract or lease for possession of with completion scheduled before the meet applied for begins. Requires an application to conduct a horse race meeting to be delivered with a certified check or bank draft payable to the order of the Board for $10,000 (rather than $1,000). Allows the Board to impose civil penalties of up to $10,000 (rather than $5,000) for individuals and up to $25,000 (rather than $10,000) against licensees for each violation of the Act. Makes conforming and other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that provisions allowing a chief county assessment officer to renew the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities without an annual application apply permanently. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Code does not apply to procurements made in connection with Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site.
Amends the Probation and Probation Officers Act. Provides that the Division of Probation Services shall reimburse the county or counties for 100% of the salary for all probation officer and supervisor positions approved for reimbursement by the division to meet pretrial services programs and specialty court programs. Provides that for the remaining probation officer positions engaged in basic services and new or expanded services approved of the total statewide number as of July 1, 2023, beginning on July 1, 2027, 20% of that number shall be transferred to those requiring 100% salary reimbursement. Each subsequent July 1, another 20% of the July 1, 2023 population shall also be transferred under described circumstances.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for individuals who (i) serve as a volunteer for 100 hours during the taxable year, (ii) do not receive any compensation for their services as a volunteer for the taxable year, and (iii) do not serve on a full-time or part-time career basis for the entity for which they volunteer. Provides that the Department of Revenue may award not more than $5,000,000 in credits under these provisions in any calendar year. Effective immediately.
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish reimbursement rates that build toward livable wages for frontline personnel in residential and day programs and service coordination agencies serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Provides that for community-based providers serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, subject to federal approval of any relevant Waiver Amendment, the rates taking effect for services delivered on or after January 1, 2027 shall include an increase in the rate methodology sufficient to provide a $1.20 per hour wage rate increase for all direct support professionals and all other frontline personnel who are not subject to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' average wage increases and who work in residential and community day services settings. Prohibits community-based providers from using the rate increases for operational or administrative expenses. Requires rate increases that are sufficient to provide wages for all residential non-executive direct care staff. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the rates for ID/DD and MC/DD facilities for services delivered on or after January 1, 2027 shall include a $1.20 per hour wage increase for all direct support professionals and other frontline personnel who are not subject to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' average wage increases. Provides that changes to the rate methodologies are subject to federal approval. Grants emergency rulemaking authority to the Departments of Human Services and Healthcare and Family Services to implement the rate increases. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Requires, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, to establish the School Resource Officer Grant Program to fund salaries and any other costs associated with the hiring of an active law enforcement officer as a school resource officer. Provides that eligible entities are schools or school districts that have hired an active law enforcement officer as a school resource officer and the law enforcement agency or agencies that a school or school district has an intergovernmental agreement with to employ a school resource officer. Provides that any funds distributed to an eligible entity under the Program shall be equally distributed between the eligible entities in an intergovernmental agreement to employ a school resource officer. Allows the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, to adopt rules as needed for the Program's implementation and the distribution of grants. Makes a conforming change.
Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, in Fiscal Year 2027 and thereafter, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall require that any convention and tourism bureau receiving a grant from the Local Tourism Fund that requires matching funds shall provide matching funds equal to no less than 25% of the grant amount (currently, no less than 40% of the grant amount). Amends the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act. Makes changes concerning the distribution of moneys under those Acts. Effective immediately.
Creates the Menstrual Health Workplace Equity Act. Provides that an employee who experiences a menstrual health condition may use up to 40 hours of paid leave per year that the employee is entitled to under the Paid Leave for All Workers Act for menstrual health reasons. Provides that, if the paid leave the employee is entitled to is insufficient to cover the employee's needs, the employee may request an additional 40 hours of paid menstrual leave per year or request a hybrid work option. Sets forth provisions concerning employer responsibilities and enforcement by the Department of Labor. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2027, a diesel powered vehicle owned or operated by the State, any county or unit of local government, any school district, any community college or public college or university, or any mass transit agency must use a biodiesel blend that contains 19%, unless the engine is designed or retrofitted to operate on a higher percentage of biodiesel or on ultra low sulfur fuel. Allows, in December, January, February, and March, a biodiesel blend of at least 10% to be used. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax deduction for any amounts paid by the taxpayer's employer on behalf of the taxpayer as part of an educational assistance program. Creates an income tax deduction for any amounts paid by the taxpayer on behalf of an employee of the taxpayer as part of an educational assistance program. Provides that the deductions are limited to the first $5,250 of such assistance so furnished to any individual. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Drainage Code. In provisions concerning the election of commissioners in districts organized under Farm Drainage Act and certain other districts, provides that an adult landowner is entitled to one vote per parcel of land owned by the owner. Specifies that, if a parcel of land is owned by more than one adult owner, then only one of the owners representing all of the owners may cast a vote per parcel. Provides that, by casting a vote, the voter certifies that the voter is the owner of the parcel. Provides that, if a parcel of land is owned by multiple owners, then the voter casting a vote certifies that a majority of the owners has granted the voter the authority to cast a vote on behalf of all the owners. Provides that, if a parcel of land is owned by an entity, then the person presenting himself or herself on behalf of the entity certifies that the person has the authority to vote on behalf of the entity. Provides that only people owning land in a district may be elected as a commissioner of the district. Provides that a commissioner holding the office that is being considered for election shall not be a judge of the election. Provides that the judges of election shall not be responsible for determining the ownership of any parcel of land. Provides that the judges of election may take reasonable measures to verify that no more than one person casts a vote for all the owners of any parcel. Provides that a person who willfully misrepresents the person's eligibility to cast a vote in an election under these provisions commits a Class A misdemeanor. Provides that the polls shall open at 4:00 p.m. (rather than 2:00 p.m.) and close at 6:00 p.m. (rather than 4:00 p.m.) unless the judges of election shall determine to hold the polls open a longer period to accommodate the voters. Provides that in no event shall the polls remain open later than 7:00 p.m. (rather than 6:00 p.m.).
