Rep. Carol Ammons

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes a technical change in the short title Section.

Commends the Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson on founding the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and for all of the work the Coalition has accomplished for the betterment of marginalized communities and our State and nation as a whole.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act and the Invest in Kids Act. Provides that the Invest in Kids credit applies for taxable years ending before January 1, 2034 (currently, January 1, 2024). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that rates for homemaker services shall be increased to $29.64 beginning July 1, 2023 to sustain a minimum wage of $18 per hour for direct service workers. Requires rates in subsequent State fiscal years to be no lower than the rates in effect on July 1, 2023. Requires providers of in-home services to be required to certify to the Department on Aging that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Provides that fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, paid time off and payment for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation, shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases described in the amendatory Act. Effective July 1, 2023.

Creates the Business Improvement District Law. Provides for the establishment of business improvement districts by a county or municipality by ordinance after petition of a percentage of property owners or business owners, creation of a district plan, notice, and hearings. Provides that a business improvement district may impose district charges on property owners whose real properties are located within the business improvement district or on businesses within a business improvement district. Provides that the county or municipality shall contract with a district management association to administer or implement activities and improvements specified in the district plan. Contains provisions relating to district plans, formation of a district, district boundaries, issuance of bonds, terms and renewal of districts, amendment to district plans, governance of the district, reports of a district management association, dissolution, and legislative purpose. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Defines terms. Effective 120 days after becoming law.

Amends the Government Electronic Records Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Chicago Municipal Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that for school years beginning on or after July 1, 2023, an age and service or prior service annuity shall not be cancelled in the case of an employee who is re-employed by the Board of Education of the city as a paraprofessional or related service provider on a temporary and non-annual basis or on an hourly basis so long as the person: (1) does not work for compensation on more than 120 days in a school year; or (2) does not accept gross compensation for the re-employment in a school year in excess of $30,000. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. In provisions allowing the filling or refilling of personal containers with bulk food, refers to restaurants and retailers (rather than just retailers). Allows restaurants and retailers to fill or refill a consumer-owned container with ready-made food. Allows clean consumer-owned containers provided or returned to a restaurant or retailer for filling or refilling to be filled or refilled and returned to the same consumer if the consumer-owned container is filled or refilled by either an employee of the restaurant or retailer or the owner of the consumer-owned container. Requires filled or refilled consumer-owned containers to be designed and constructed for reuse in accordance with specified federal requirements. Contains requirements for restaurants and retailers. Directs the Department of Public Health to produce materials for restaurants and retailers on or before January 1, 2024 indicating that consumer-owned containers are not prohibited for use under Illinois law and specifying best practices for food safety requirements for consumer-owned containers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Antitrust Act. Provides that documentary material, transcripts of oral testimony, or answers to interrogatories obtained in an investigation of a violation of the Act may be used by the Attorney General in any administrative or judicial action or proceeding. Provides that information voluntarily produced to the Attorney General for purposes of an investigation of a violation of the Act or information provided to the Attorney General under a notice requirement shall be treated as if produced pursuant to a subpoena for purposes of maintaining the confidentiality of such information. Provides that health care facilities that are party to a covered transaction shall provide notice of such transaction to the Attorney General no later than 60 days prior to the transaction closing or effective date of the transaction. Provides that any health care facility that fails to comply with the notice requirement is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $500 per day for each day during which the health care facility is in violation of the requirement. When the Attorney General has reason to believe that a health care facility has engaged in or is engaging in a covered transaction without complying with the notice requirement, allows the Attorney General to apply for and obtain a temporary restraining order or injunction prohibiting the health care facility from continuing its noncompliance or doing any act in furtherance thereof. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act. Effective January 1, 2024.

Creates the Graduate and Retain Our Workforce Act. Establishes the GROW Illinois Program, in which public institutions of higher education award incentive loans to applicants. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission may, each year, administer applications for assistance under the GROW Illinois Program. Sets forth qualifications for recipients, degrees, and jobs. Provides for loan repayment and rulemaking. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (GROW) Illinois Fund as a special fund in the State treasury.