Rep. Omar Williams

Creates the Mechanical Insulation Energy Audit Act. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency shall perform a mechanical insulation energy audit of every public building within the State within 10 years after the effective date of the Act. Provides that each mechanical insulation energy audit finding shall identify remediation measures necessary to bring the subject mechanical insulation system into compliance with the latest published edition of the International Code Council's International Energy Conservation Code and to ensure the building's mechanical systems function at operating temperatures that minimize energy loss and ensure public health and safety. Provides that audit findings are to be made available to the public. Requires the Agency, by December 31, 2025 and by December 31 of each year thereafter, to deliver to the General Assembly an annual report outlining the mechanical insulation energy audits that it completed in the previous calendar year. Repeals the Act on December 31, 2034. Defines terms. Includes legislative findings.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that an electric utility subject to the requirements of the Illinois Solar for All Program may file a tariff with the Illinois Commerce Commission that creates a new rate for the supply of electric power and energy to low-income customers. Provides that the tariff shall allow for the developer of a community solar project that is the subject of a contract to sell its renewable energy credits executed pursuant to the Illinois Solar for All Program or the contract and payment terms of the renewable portfolio standard of the Illinois Power Agency Act to also enroll the project under the tariff. Provides for low-income customers the tariff shall automatically apply. Provides that the capacity and energy from the enrolled projects shall be used to serve the customers taking service under the rate authorized by these provisions. Provides that if an electric utility elects to file the tariff outside of a rate design filing, the Commission shall enter its order approving the tariff no later than 120 days after the date of the utility's filing. Provides that electric utilities that have a tariff, community solar projects enrolled in the program, and the customers taking service thereunder, shall be exempt from all application, contract, and disclosure requirements that may otherwise apply under the Illinois Power Agency Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Changes the definition of "supervisor". Provides that, in police units, if employees consist of sworn officers serving as shift commander or below, each shift commander, regardless of sworn rank, is a "supervisor" if he or she is responsible for several police officers, one or more units or teams, or an entire shift. Provides that, if there is no sworn rank between that of chief or sheriff and the highest ranked sworn shift commander, the employer may designate a single exempt shift commander position on each shift as a "supervisor". Specifies that each sworn or exempt rank above that of a designated exempt shift commander is a "supervisor".

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. Provides that in fixing the salaries of employees, a school board or the governing board of a joint agreement shall pay to employees an hourly rate of not less than (i) $20 for the 2024-2025 school year, (ii) $21 for the 2025-2026 school year, and (iii) $22 for the 2026-2027 school year. Provides that the minimum hourly rate for each school year thereafter shall equal the minimum salary rate for the previous school year increased by a percentage equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor for the previous school year. Provides that "employee" means any employee of a school district or joint agreement who provides educational support services to the district or joint agreement, including, but not limited to, custodial employees, transportation employees, food service providers, classroom assistants, administrative staff, or paraprofessional educators. Provides that an employee's salary shall include any amount paid by the school district or joint agreement on behalf of the employee, as employee contributions, to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Provides that the Illinois Labor Relations Board shall determine whether refusing to bargain collectively in good faith with a labor organization that is the exclusive representative of public employees in an appropriate unit, including, but not limited to, the discussing of grievances with the exclusive representative, was of a serious enough nature that it undermined or significantly impacted the collective bargaining process such that other traditional remedies may not remedy the violation if the Board is unable to order a make-whole remedy. Sets forth standards to make the determination and the option to order impasse arbitration. Provides that parties continue to have a duty to engage in good faith bargaining during the pendency of impasse arbitration procedures. Provides that the Board shall have authority to order make-whole relief, including, but not limited to, consequential damages and front pay for injuries suffered by employees or a labor organization as a result of an unfair labor practice. Provides that violators may also be subject to liquidated damages in an amount equal to any monetary make-whole relief ordered by the Board unless the employer can show it acted in good faith and had reasonable grounds to believe it was acting in compliance in this Act.

Recognizes Beatrice Scescke for her work in creating the Chicago Rewilding Society and for making spaces for nature and natural activities within Chicago.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person shall not hold an animal in the person's lap while operating a motor vehicle. Provides that a person who holds an animal in the person's lap while operating a motor vehicle is guilty of a petty offense and is subject to a fine of $50. Provides that a law enforcement officer shall not search or inspect a motor vehicle, its contents, the driver, or a passenger solely because the driver holds an animal on the lap or is suspected of doing so. Makes a corresponding change in the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk of a county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from the electronic reporting system for death registrations and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who has died during the preceding month. Requires a county coroner, medical examiner, or physician for a county or any other individual responsible for certification of death under the Vital Records Act to promptly transmit certified records to the county clerk within 7 days after the death. Requires the county clerk and coroner to report quarterly to its affiliated county board and certify its full compliance with the provisions and accuracy of the voter rolls. Allows an individual to request a copy of the county clerk's or coroner's report and allows for relief if the county clerk fails to provide an accurate report within specified timeframes.

Honors and thanks State Representative Frances Ann Hurley for her years of dedicated service. Wishes her the best on her future success.

Amends the School Code. Prohibits the State Board of Education from developing, purchasing, or requiring a school district to administer, develop, or purchase a standardized assessment for students enrolled or preparing to enroll in prekindergarten through grade 2, other than for diagnostic purposes. Prohibits the State Board of Education from providing funding for any standardized assessment of students enrolled or preparing to enroll in prekindergarten through grade 2. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Changes references from "diagnostic purposes" to "diagnostic and screening purposes". Adds bilingual education, dyslexia services, or other related educational services to the definition of "diagnostic and screening purposes". Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.64a-15 new Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/34-8.1 from Ch. 122, par. 34-8.1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Makes changes concerning the Chicago Board of Education's requirements and criteria for the position of principal of an attendance center. Provides that if the requirements and criteria result or may result in the exclusion of otherwise qualified and licensed candidates from being eligible for selection to serve as a principal, then the Board shall maintain a public database that includes the names of all of the candidates who are eligible to be selected as a principal and who do not choose to not have their name included in the database. Requires the Board to establish a grievance and hearing procedure for those candidates the general superintendent has deemed ineligible to serve as a principal. Makes changes concerning the use of performance evaluations in determining that a principal is no longer eligible to seek a principal position at an attendance center. Effective immediately.