Rep. Ann Williams

Amends the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act. Provides that the term "electric vehicle" means a vehicle that is exclusively powered by and refueled by electricity, is plugged in to charge, and is legally permitted to drive on all public roadways, including interstate highways. Excludes from the definition of "electric vehicle" off-road electric vehicles, including golf carts; neighborhood electric vehicles; electric scooters; and electric vehicles with a maximum speed below 45 miles per hour. Removes a definition for "environmental justice community". Limits the electric vehicle rebate to low-income people beginning on July 1, 2024. Adds a rebate for electric motorcycles of $1,500 beginning on July 1,2024, $750 beginning on July 1,2026, and $500 beginning on July 1, 2028. Lengthens the time for applying for the rebate to 120 days beginning in July 2024. Allows for deposits into the Electric Vehicle Fund from any fund for certain specified purposes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that for a 3-member public body, "meeting" does not include a gathering of 2 members of the public body, except when gathered for a regularly scheduled meeting, or otherwise gathered to adopt any motion, resolution, or ordinance. Provides that for a 3-member body, 2 members of the body constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of 2 members is necessary to adopt any motion, resolution, or ordinance, unless a greater number is otherwise provided. Allows a Police District Council to conduct a closed meeting if discussion of an issue of public safety concerns: (i) the privacy of individuals involved; (ii) law enforcement or official misconduct investigations involving specific individuals; or (iii) other topics that if discussed in an open meeting would pose an unreasonable risk to an ongoing criminal investigation, or an unreasonable risk to the safety of the general public. Allows a public body that has a website which is maintained by full-time staff of the public body to post public notice for a special meeting solely by posting notice on its website. Adds a provision allowing Police District Councils, created pursuant to the Municipal Code of Chicago, to hold meetings (other than the required regularly scheduled monthly meetings) by audio or video conference, without the physical presence of the members, subject to specified conditions.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the nominating petitions for school board candidates, provides that the name change requirements do not apply to name changes resulting from a civil union to assume a spouse's surname or dissolution of a civil union or declaration of invalidity of a civil union to assume a former surname or a name change that conforms the candidate's name to the candidate's gender identity. Effective immediately.

Creates the Care for Retired Police Dogs Program Act. Creates the Care for Retired Police Dogs Program within the Illinois State Police to provide a stable funding source for the veterinary care for retired police dogs. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall contract with a not-for-profit corporation organized under Article 2 of the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986 to administer and manage the Care for Retired Police Dogs Program. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall select the not-for-profit corporation through a competitive grant award process. Establishes criteria for the selection of the not-for-profit corporation. Provides that from appropriations made by the General Assembly to the Illinois State Police for implementation of the Act, the Illinois State Police shall make grants to the not-for-profit corporation contracted by the Illinois State Police to be the disbursing authority for the Care for Retired Police Dogs Program. Provides that these funds must be disbursed to the former handler or the adopter of a retired police dog that served for 5 years or more as a police dog upon receipt specified verification. Provides that annual disbursements to a former handler or an adopter to reimburse him or her for the cost of the retired police dog's veterinary care may not exceed $1,500 per dog. Provides that a former handler or an adopter of a retired police dog may not accumulate unused funds from a current year for use in a future year. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall pay to the not-for-profit corporation, and the not-for-profit corporation may use, up to 10% of appropriated funds for its administrative expenses, including salaries and benefits. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall adopt rules to implement the Act.

Amends the Title Insurance Act. Provides that no person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or other legal entity shall act as or hold itself out to be a title insurance agent without first procuring a certificate of authority from the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation (rather than unless duly registered by a title insurance company with the Secretary). Provides that a certificate of authority shall remain in effect unless revoked or suspended by the Secretary or voluntarily surrendered by the holder, or when the holder of the certificate of authority is no longer authorized as a title insurance agent of a title insurance company. Provides that every applicant that is not duly registered as a title insurance agent on the effective date of the amendatory Act shall comply with specified requirements. Sets forth provisions concerning applications for a certificate of authority and makes changes concerning the powers of the Secretary. Provides that the Secretary shall maintain a database of title insurance agents in good standing on a publicly accessible website that any person may use to verify the authority of a particular title insurance agent. Sets forth duties applicable to transactions involving residential real property for title insurance companies, title insurance agents, and independent escrowees. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Equitable Restrooms Act. Provides that every public restroom open to the public shall include menstrual hygiene products at no cost to the users of that public restroom. Provides that all menstrual hygiene products shall be placed within the public restroom and be openly accessible to users of that public restroom. Provides that the entity providing the public restroom shall be responsible for ordering, stocking, and replenishing the supply of menstrual hygiene products in the public restroom. Provides that the provisions do not apply to mosques, temples, churches, or other places of worship. Includes provisions relating to inspection of public restrooms and rules that the Department of Public Health shall adopt. Provides that a violation of provisions relating to baby changing stations, all-gender single-occupancy restrooms, and menstrual hygiene products is a petty offense with a fine of not more than $100. Effective immediately.

Amends the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act. Provides that any employee or a representative of employees who believes his or her rights under the Act have been violated may, within 3 years after the alleged violation occurs, either file a complaint with the Department of Labor requesting a review of the alleged violation or commence a civil action. Provides that in any civil action, either the plaintiff or the defendant may demand a trial by jury. Provides that, if an employee prevails in a civil action, the employee may seek specified damages. Makes conforming changes.

Mourns the death of Emma Marie Shafer of Springfield.

Amends the Childhood Hunger Relief Act. Provides that for all schools operating a school breakfast program, the State Board of Education shall collect information about whether the school is operating a breakfast after the bell program and, if so, what breakfast after the bell model the school operates, including breakfast in the classroom, second chance breakfast, and grab and go breakfast. Provides that the State Board of Education shall make this data publicly available annually. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall award grants of up to $7,000 per school site on a competitive basis to eligible schools, school districts, or entities approved by the State Board of Education for nonrecurring expenses incurred in initiating a school breakfast after the bell program. Sets forth what the grants may be used for and who gets preference for a grant.