Rep. Brandun Schweizer

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a physical or mental disability that constitutes, in whole or in part, the basis of an application for benefits under the Downstate Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code may not be used, in whole or in part, as a cause for a municipality to discharge a police officer. Provides that, upon a chief of the police department's receipt of a certification from the board of trustees under the Downstate Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code that a police officer is no longer disabled and is able to resume the duties of his or her position, the police officer shall report to the chief of the police department. Provides that the chief of the police department shall thereupon order immediate reinstatement into active service, and the municipality shall immediately return the police officer to its payroll, in the same rank or grade held at the date he or she retired for disability under the Downstate Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the police officer shall then report to the chief of the police department. Provides that the chief of the police department shall thereupon order immediate reinstatement into active service, and the municipality shall immediately return the police officer to its payroll, in the same rank or grade held at the date he or she retired for disability under the Downstate Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code.

Amends the Grocery Initiative Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may, subject to appropriation, provide grants for equipment upgrades for farmer-owned grocery stores or markets.

Amends the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Requires each holder of a Direct Pay Permit to review its purchase activity by January 31 and July 31 of each year to verify that the purchases made in the preceding 6-month period were sourced correctly and the correct tax rate was applied. Sets forth penalties for failure to comply with the reporting requirements. Effective immediately.

Amends the Truth in Taxation Law in the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning Truth in Taxation notices, provides that the notice shall be conspicuously posted (currently, posted) on the taxing district's homepage or on a page accessible through a direct link from the homepage for not less than 30 consecutive days. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district shall require a school to have present at the school during the school day and during a school-sponsored extracurricular activity at least one automated external defibrillator and one or more trained AED users. Provides that an automated external defibrillator installed and maintained in accordance with the Physical Fitness Facility Medical Emergency Preparedness Act may be used to satisfy this requirement.

Amends the Illinois Articulation Initiative Act. In the provisions concerning participation, provides that all public institutions of higher education shall submit and maintain at least one core course (instead of up to 4 core courses) in each of the Illinois Articulation Initiative majors, provided that the public institution has equivalent majors and courses. Provides that if a public institution does not have an equivalent major, lower-division courses, or both, that align with the major panel's descriptors and course approval criteria, then the public institution shall be considered to be compliant with those provisions, as determined by the director of the Illinois Articulation Initiative. Effective immediately.

Amends the Crime Victims Compensation Act. Expands the definition of "applicant" under the Act. Changes the definition of "victim" to include a grandparent solely for the purpose of compensating for pecuniary loss incurred for psychological treatment of a mental or emotional condition caused or aggravated by the crime. Provides that a victim or applicant who has been convicted of a felony not related to the crime for which the individual is seeking compensation may apply for assistance under this Act at any time but no ward of compensation may be considered or granted while the victim or applicant is held in a correctional institution. Authorizes the Attorney General to issue subpoenas to compel production of law enforcement reports maintained by law enforcement agencies. Prohibits the Attorney General's office from disclosing to the public law enforcement reports obtained from an applicant or victim under this Act. Allows the Attorney General and the Court of Claims to extend the time for reporting to law enforcement (rather than, for most crimes of violence, within 72 hours of the crime) if the Attorney General determines that the extension is justified by extraordinary circumstances. Provides that an application based on an allegation of police misconduct causing the injury or death may not be denied solely because a police report was not made the by victim. Amends the Juvenile Court. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits law enforcement agencies from disclosing law enforcement reports and records to the Attorney General to comply with the Crime Victims Compensation Act. Makes other changes. Effective immediately, except that some provisions are effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the Build Illinois Act. Provides that the amount of small business loans made to minority persons, veterans, females, or persons with a disability under the Act shall not exceed $2,000,000 (rather than $400,000) or 50% of the business project costs unless the Director of Commerce and Economic Development determines that a waiver of these limits is required to meet the purposes of the Act. Provides that eligible projects under those provisions include refinancing current debt if the loan will refinance a loan previously made by a lender that is unaffiliated with the financial intermediary making the new loan and the proceeds of the refinance transaction are not used to finance an extraordinary dividend or other distribution.

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the school report card, provides that a school district's expenditure of Base Funding Minimum and Evidence-Based Funding received from the State in the level of specificity required by the annual spending plans required by the Evidence-Based Funding provisions. In provisions concerning Evidence-Based funding, provides that Organizational Units shall also indicate in their submission of annual spending plans which stakeholder groups the Organizational Unit engaged with to inform annual spending plans. Provides that annual spending plans shall be integrated in annual school district budgets completed pursuant to specified provisions.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person who is convicted of obscene depiction of a purported child is ineligible to receive a school bus driver permit. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that "child pornography" includes the depiction of a part of an actual child under 18 who by manipulation, creation, or modification, appears to be engaged in sexual activity. Creates the offenses of obscene depiction of a purported child and non-consensual dissemination of sexually explicit digitized depictions. Defines offenses and provides criminal penalties for violations. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides for the forfeiture to the State: (1) of any profits or proceeds and any property the person has acquired or maintained in violation of those offenses; (2) any interest in, securities of, claim against, or property or contractual right of any kind affording a source of influence over any enterprise that the person has established, operated, controlled, or conducted in violation of those offenses; and (3) any computer that contains an obscene depiction of a purported child. Amends the Bill of Rights for Children. Provides that under certain conditions, the parent or legal guardian of a child who is the victim of obscene depiction of a purported child may make a victim's impact statement on the impact which the defendant's criminal conduct or the juvenile's delinquent conduct has had upon the child. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a period of probation, a term of periodic imprisonment, or conditional discharge shall not be imposed for specified violations of the offense of obscene depiction of a purported child. Provides for enhanced penalties for specified violations of obscene depiction of a purported child. Provides that the court shall impose a consecutive sentence when the defendant is convicted of specified violations of the offense of obscene depiction of a purported child. Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act to provide that a person convicted of obscene depiction of a purported child must register as a sex offender.