Rep. Jason Bunting

Amends the Rescue Squad Districts Act, which is becoming the Emergency Services District Act on January 1, 2024. Increases the amount of the levy that a district may initially levy upon formation of the district from .20% to .40%. Provides that districts organized before January 1, 2024 may, by ordinance or resolution, increase the tax rate authorized by their organizational proposition by up to .20% (but no more than a .40% tax rate in the aggregate, including the amount levied under the organization proposition). Provides that the aggregate amount of all district tax levies may not exceed .80% (with no more than .40% authorized by the organizational referendum and .40% authorized by an ambulance service tax referendum). Provides that the board of trustees of a district may fix, charge, and collect fees not exceeding the reasonable cost of the service for ambulance services rendered by the district within or outside of the district (rather than fix, charge, and collect fees against persons who are not residents of the district and against businesses and other entities that are not located within the district). Removes a provision setting fee amounts at a rate not to exceed $250 per hour and not to exceed $70 per hour per ambulance worker responding to a call for assistance. Provides that the fee that may be charged to reimburse the district for extraordinary expenses of materials used in rendering ambulance services may be up to the reasonable cost of the materials. Effective immediately.

Creates the Child Abuse Notice Act. Requires certain businesses and establishments, including, but not limited to, day care centers, elementary and secondary schools, bus stations, and general acute care hospital emergency rooms, to post in a conspicuous place a notice developed by the Department of Children and Family Services that is aimed toward children under 18 and provides information on what constitutes physical and sexual abuse and how to report such abuse. Requires the notice to be at least 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches in size, written in a 16-point font, unless the notice is provided by electronic means. Requires the Department, in consultation with an accredited Children's Advocacy Center, to develop a model notice no later than 6 months after the effective date of the Act. Requires the Department to make the model notice available for download on the Department's Internet website and provide the notice upon request to eligible business, schools, and other establishments. Provides that the notice shall be printed in English, Spanish, and in one other language that is the most widely spoken language in the county where the establishment is located and for which translation is mandated by the federal Voting Rights Act, as applicable. Imposes certain penalties on those businesses and other establishments that are subject to the Act that fail to comply with the Act's requirements. Exempts school districts and personnel from the penalty provision.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that a qualified child care director must be present at the open or close of the facility. Provides that a qualified early childhood teacher who has been employed by the facility continuously for at least 24 months may otherwise be present for the first or last hour of the workday.

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Provides that a person shall not be accepted for residency if that person requires level 3 or level 4 sterile wound care unless care is self-administered or administered by a licensed health care professional. Removes the prohibition on accepting a person for residency if that person requires insertion, sterile irrigation, and replacement of catheter, except for routine maintenance of urinary catheters, unless the catheter care is self-administered or administered by a license health care professional.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that a day care home or group day care home is not required to be licensed under the Act if the day care home or group day care home: (1) serves only dependent children of military personnel; (2) is located on a military base or federal property; and (3) is certified as a child development program by a branch of the U.S. Department of Defense or the U.S. Coast Guard. Provides that the U.S. Department of Defense or the U.S. Coast Guard, or their agents, including an installation commander of a military base on which a day care home or group day care home is located, may assume responsibility for approving or determining which children may be served by the day care homes or group day care homes that are exempt from licensure.

Amends the Public Higher Education Act. Provides that the governing board of each public institution of higher education shall adopt a policy to allow a student who is a member of the National Guard of any state, the District of Columbia, a commonwealth, or a territory of the United States or any reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States to submit classwork and complete any other class assignments missed due to the student participating in a drill required as a member of the National Guard or the reserve component.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning no later than January 1, 2027, the Secretary of State shall offer to qualified applicants the option to be issued an 8-year driver's license at a cost of $60. Provides that the Secretary shall submit proposed rules to implement the new provisions to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules no later than December 31, 2024. Makes corresponding changes.

Amends the Counties Code and the Autopsy Act. Provides that autopsies must be performed by board-certified forensic pathologists or, if under the direct supervision of a board-certified forensic pathologist, pathology residents or forensic pathology fellows (rather than a licensed physician must perform autopsies). In the Autopsy Act, further provides that other qualified personnel or other qualified personnel selected by a board-certified forensic pathologist (rather than a physician) may perform (rather than assist) an autopsy. Further amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county in which the body of a deceased person is found shall indemnify and hold harmless a board-certified forensic pathologist who renders services under the provisions for all of the pathologist's conduct arising out of the pathologist's testimony as an expert witness in a criminal proceeding based on the service provided under the provisions, except actions involving willful and wanton misconduct of the pathologist. Conditions the duty of the county to indemnify a board-certified forensic pathologist who rendered services under the provisions for a judgment recovered against the pathologist upon receiving notice of the filing of the action. Provides that, if a board-certified forensic pathologist is made a party defendant to an action and the action against the pathologist is based upon the pathologist's conduct arising out of the pathologist's testimony as an expert witness in a criminal proceeding, then, within 10 days of service of process, the pathologist shall notify the county in which the body of a deceased person was found of the fact that the pathologist has been made a party defendant to the action. Includes requirements for the notice. Provides that the State's Attorney of the county in which the body of the deceased person is found may appear and defend on behalf of the board-certified forensic pathologist. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the Secretary of State to issue special registration plates designated as Sons of the American Legion plates to residents of this State who meet the eligibility requirements prescribed by the Secretary of State. Provides that the plates shall display the Sons of the American Legion logo. Provides that in all other respects, the design, color, and format of the plates shall be within the discretion of the Secretary of State.

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.