Rep. Adam Niemerg

Creates the Vaccine Credential Act. Provides that a unit of local government or the State may not require a person to have a vaccine credential or show a vaccine credential before the person enters a public event or public venue. Limits home rule powers. Defines "vaccine credential" as any written or electronic record evidencing that a person has received a vaccine. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides for the issuance of Voter Identification Cards by the Secretary of State. Requires Voter Identification Cards for those who do not have an acceptable form of photo identification. Sets forth requirements and exemptions. Provides that any person desiring to vote shall present to the judges of election for verification of the person's identity a government-issued photo identification card or his or her Voter Identification Card. In provisions concerning the receipt of vote by mail ballots, provides that an election authority shall appoint panels as needed of 3 election judges from the list of election judges submitted by the county parties to compare the voter's signature on the certification envelope of the vote by mail ballot with the signature of the voter on file in the office of the election authority. Provides the procedure for verifying or rejecting the signature. Provides that if a vote by mail ballot is rejected, the election authority shall notify the voter within 2 days after the rejection or within one day if the rejection occurs after election day and in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots. Allows a voter to submit a statement confirming the vote if the signature was rejected. Allows a voter to cast a new ballot if the vote by mail ballot was rejected because the envelope was delivered opened.

Creates the Public Safety and Justice Privacy Act. Defines terms. Provides that government agencies, persons, businesses, and associations shall not publicly post or display publicly available content that includes a first responder's, prosecutor's, public defender's, or probation officer's ("officials") personal information, provided that the government agency, person, business, or association has received a written request from the person that it refrain from disclosing the person's personal information. Provides injunctive or declaratory relief if the Act is violated. Includes procedures for a written request. Provides that it is a Class 3 felony for any person to knowingly publicly post on the Internet the personal information of an official or an official's immediate family under specified circumstances. Excludes criminal penalties for employees of government agencies who publish information in good faith during the ordinary course of carrying out public functions. Provides that the Act and any rules adopted to implement the Act shall be construed broadly to favor the protection of the personal information of officials. Amends various Acts and Codes allowing an official to list a business address rather than a home address and makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that if an application for a Firearm Owner's Identification Card has not been approved or denied within 30 days after its application has been received, it shall automatically be approved by the Illinois State Police. Provides that if a renewal application has not been approved or denied within 60 business days, it shall be automatically renewed by the Illinois State Police.

Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act. Reduces the district office allowance of members of the General Assembly by 10%. Effective immediately.

Urges the President of the United States to take measures and support policies that ensure long-term American energy leadership, security, and progress, including those that result in the continued operation of existing oil and natural gas pipelines, the construction of new oil and gas pipelines, the resumption of consistent, credible federal lease sales, and the immediate preparation of a new five-year Program to guide future offshore leasing.

Amends the Volunteer Emergency Worker Job Protection Act. Provides that a community college or public university in this State may not discipline a student who is a volunteer emergency worker if the student, in the scope of acting as a volunteer emergency worker, responds to an emergency phone call or text message during work hours that requests the person's volunteer emergency services during a school day. Provides that such college or university must allow a student who is a volunteer emergency worker to receive up to 5 excused days from class when the student is acting in the scope of a volunteer emergency worker. Provides that, if a student who is a volunteer emergency worker loses time from his or her classes in order to respond to an emergency in the course of performing his or her duties as a volunteer emergency worker, such college or university may request the student to provide the college or university a written statement from a supervisor or acting supervisor of the fire department or governmental entity that the volunteer emergency worker serves stating that the student responded to an emergency and stating the time and date of the emergency.

Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution to provide that (i) the proclamation of results of each election of members of the General Assembly must take place as soon as practical after the general election, but in no case later than seven days prior to the date the General Assembly first convenes, (ii) the General Assembly shall convene each year on the second Wednesday of December, and (iii) the General Assembly may not be in session in any general election year from the date of the general election until the second Wednesday of December, except upon a joint proclamation stating the purpose of the session. Proposes to amend the Executive Article of the Illinois Constitution to provide that (i) the proclamation of results of each election of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor must take place as soon as practical after the general election, but in no case later than seven days prior to the date the General Assembly first convenes in accordance with specified provisions and (ii) the Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall hold office for four years beginning on the second Wednesday of December. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person also commits grooming when he or she knowingly in person, through direct communication or conduct through a third-party, performs an act to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, or attempt to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, a child, a child's guardian, or another person believed by the person to be a child or a child's guardian, to commit any sex offense as defined in the Sex Offender Registration Act, to distribute photographs depicting the sex organs of the child, or to otherwise engage in any unlawful sexual conduct with a child or with another person believed by the person to be a child.

Creates the Fair and Equitable Assessment of Property Task Force to study issues of assessment equity and fairness, and make recommendations that will ensure accountable and efficient delivery of uniform and transparent property valuations for property tax purposes.