Rep. Carol Ammons

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall establish reimbursement rates which build toward livable wages for front-line personnel in residential and day programs and service coordination agencies serving persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including, but not limited to, intermediate care facilities for persons with developmental disabilities, community integrated living arrangements, developmental training programs, employment, and other residential and day programs for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities supported by State funds or funding under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act. Provides that the Department shall increase rates and reimbursements so that direct support persons earn a base wage of not less than $15 per hour and so that other front-line personnel earn a commensurate wage. Defines "front-line personnel". Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Workers' Rights and Worker Safety Act. Provides that except as authorized by State law enacted after January 1, 2017, a State agency may not amend or revise its rules relating to protection of workers' rights or worker safety in a manner less stringent than specified federal laws. Provides that a State agency may establish workers' rights and worker safety standards that are more stringent than those provided in federal law in existence as of January 1, 2017. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that in certain circumstances an action may be brought in a circuit court by a person in the public interest to enforce standards or requirements concerning air, water, drinking water, and endangered and threatened species adopted under specified provisions of the Act and the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act. Provides that the provisions concerning public interest enforcement shall only become operative if specified events occur. Provides that the enforcement provisions of the Act are severable. Adds provisions concerning protection of the environment, natural resources, and public health. Requires various State agencies to adopt, maintain, and enforce rules concerning air, water, drinking water, and endangered and threatened species that are at least as stringent as various regulatory baselines under federal law, in addition to State law requirements. Provides that every State agency shall undertake all feasible efforts to implement and enforce these provisions. Contains reporting requirements. Deletes provisions providing that an air pollution construction or operating permit shall not be required due to emissions of greenhouse gases if certain events occur. Deletes certain language concerning exemptions from provisions concerning the Clean Air Act Permit Program.

Urges congressional representatives to take steps to establish a system of check and balances with regard to the first use of nuclear weapons.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning the child care assistance program, requires the Department of Human Services to provide child care services to parents or other relatives who are engaged in a good-faith job search for a period of up to 6 months. Deletes certain provisions regarding eligibility of certain families eligible for child care assistance and factors for determining assistance. Adds language providing that no family shall be excluded from eligibility for child care benefits based solely on household income and that the amount of child care assistance shall (i) take into account the amount families can afford to pay based on the co-payment scale established by the Department and (ii) cover the cost of quality child care. Contains provisions limiting redeterminations to once every 12 months. Removes provisions authorizing the Department to lower income eligibility ceilings, raise parent co-payments, create waiting lists, or take such other actions during a fiscal year as are necessary to ensure that child care benefits paid under the Code do not exceed the amounts appropriated for those child care benefits. Contains provisions requiring the Department to: (1) establish a wage scale sufficient to recruit and retain a skilled and diverse child care workforce; (2) annually publish in draft form its determination of the cost of quality care; (3) adopt policies that maximize the participation of eligible children in Head Start and Early Head Start programs; and (4) submit annual reports to the General Assembly concerning certain matters.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a qualified individual enrolled in a qualified health plan may allow certain third parties to pay any applicable premium or cost sharing owed by the qualified individual to the health insurance issuer issuing the qualified health plan, and the health insurance issuer shall accept any payments made on behalf of the qualified individual, including payments from certain third parties.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning making rules and regulations.

Declares February 28, 2017 as "University of Illinois Day" in the State Illinois.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the License to Work Act. Deletes language providing that all notices sent to a person involved in administrative adjudications, hearings, and final orders shall state that failure to satisfy any fine or penalty shall result in the Secretary of State suspending his or her driving privileges, vehicle registration, or both. Deletes language providing that the Secretary is authorized to cancel a license or permit for failure to pay any fines, civil penalties owed to the Illinois Commerce Commission, or taxes or being a convicted sex offender. Provides that a person whose driver's license was cancelled due to a sex offense conviction shall have his or her driver's license reinstated. Deletes language providing that the reporting requirements for public officials to the Secretary shall apply to a truant minor in need of supervision, an addicted minor, or a delinquent minor whose driver's license has been suspended. Deletes language providing that the Secretary is authorized to suspend or revoke the driving privileges of a person without preliminary hearing for specific adjudications or violations. Provides that the Secretary is authorized to suspend or revoke the driving privileges of a person for specific violations. Provides that a person whose driver's license was suspended or revoked under certain circumstances shall have his or her driving privileges reinstated. Deletes language providing that the owner of a registered vehicle that has failed to pay any fine or penalty due and owing as a result of 10 or more violations shall have his or her driving privileges suspended. Repeals provisions providing the suspension of a driver's license of a person convicted of theft of motor fuel and suspension of driving privileges for failure to satisfy fines or penalties for toll violations or evasions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Personnel Record Review Act. Provides that records of disciplinary action must be kept for 10 years rather than 4 years.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that an employee of a law enforcement agency commits misconduct when he or she knowingly fails to turn on an officer-worn body camera or turns off an officer-worn body camera when there is a reasonable opportunity to act in a manner that is consistent with the officer-worn body camera policy of the respective law enforcement agency. Provides that a violation is a Class 3 felony and forfeiture of employment. Defines "officer-worn body camera".