Rep. Chris Miller

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In the provision concerning tuition for non-resident pupils, provides that, for any school district other than the Chicago school district, if the parent or guardian of a non-resident pupil requests to enroll the pupil in the district and both the pupil and the pupil's parent or guardian reside within one-quarter mile of the district's boundaries, then the district may not charge the pupil tuition.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that an election authority shall notify all qualified voters, except voters who have been permanently placed on vote by mail status, not more than 90 days nor less than 45 days before a general election (rather than a general or consolidated election) of the option for permanent vote by mail status. Provides that an election authority shall allow voters to opt out of notifications of the option for permanent vote by mail status.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that after the disposition of a criminal case or in any criminal case where a final judgment in the case was not entered due to the death of the defendant, and when a confiscated weapon is no longer needed for evidentiary purposes, and when in due course no legitimate claim has been made for the weapon, a weapon transferred to a law enforcement agency may be sold by the law enforcement agency at public auction under the Law Enforcement Disposition of Property Act. Amends the Protective Orders Article of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 and the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that, upon the expiration of the period of safekeeping of a firearm of a respondent against whom an order of protection was issued, if the firearms or Firearm Owner's Identification Card cannot be returned to respondent because the respondent cannot be located, fails to respond to requests to retrieve the firearms, or is not lawfully eligible to possess a firearm, upon petition from the local law enforcement agency, the court may order the local law enforcement agency to sell the firearm at public auction under the provisions of the Law Enforcement Disposition of Property Act. Amends the Law Enforcement Disposition of Property Act. Provides that weapons that have been confiscated as a result of having been abandoned or illegally possessed may be sold at public auction under the Act.

Amends the Counties Code and Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a county or municipality may not adopt any regulation that prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the use of natural gas in new construction. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers.

Amends the Housing Authorities Act. Provides that each person considered or recommended for appointment as a commissioner of a Housing Authority shall complete an application prior to his or her appointment. Requires the application to include a question concerning whether the person has been convicted of or found to be a child sex offender. Provides that no presiding officer of any municipality or county and no governing body of the unit of local government shall knowingly consider for appointment a person who has been convicted of or found to be a child sex offender, and shall remove such person from consideration upon discovery of the offense. Requires any commissioner of a Housing Authority to immediately disclose his or her conviction for a child sex offense to the presiding officer and governing body. Requires each person considered or recommended for appointment as a commissioner of a Housing Authority to authorize a criminal history investigation to determine if he or she has been convicted of specified criminal or drug offenses. Requires the Illinois State Police to conduct the criminal history investigation, upon request, for a fee charged to the municipality or county that requested the investigation. Requires the Illinois State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to furnish the results of the investigation to the presiding officer and governing body of the unit of local government. Provides that any information or criminal records obtained by the presiding officer and the governing body shall be confidential. Provides that no presiding officer or governing body shall knowingly appoint or approve the appointment of any person who has been convicted of specified criminal or drug offenses. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Provides additional required economic interests to be listed by specified persons on a statement of economic interests filed under the Act.

Amends the Property Owned By Noncitizens Act. Provides that, beginning on the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Governor shall take such actions as may be necessary to prohibit the purchase of public or private real estate located in Illinois by any noncitizens. Provides that the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shall submit to the General Assembly a report that details the history of purchases of public and private real estate located in the State by noncitizens; provides more information on the percentage of real estate located in the State that is owned by noncitizens; and offers recommendations to make it easier for citizens and harder for noncitizens to purchase real estate located in the State, including farmland. Repeals the provisions 5 years after the effective date of the Act. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to ensure parents and guardians of pupils enrolled in the school district are free to petition the school board and provide public comment at all public and regularly scheduled meetings, have access to certain information, are well-informed on specified subject matters, and have the right to meet with a pupil's teacher at least twice per school year. Requires a school board to ensure curriculum and learning materials are posted on the school district's Internet website. Effective immediately.

Creates the Education Savings Account Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall develop and implement an education savings account program for eligible pupils. Provides that education savings account payments shall be made available to parents and guardians in the manner authorized for the payment of qualified educational expenses as provided in the Act. Provides that parents and guardians shall first use education savings account payments for all qualified educational expenses that are tuition and fees for which the parent or guardian is responsible for payment at the pupil's nonpublic school prior to using the education savings account for other qualified educational expenses. Sets forth provisions regarding program eligibility, application requirements, disbursement of funds, testing requirements, and rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2023.

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