Rep. Katie Stuart

Mourns the death of Dr. Merrill William George Ottwein.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, for taxable years ending before December 31, 2028 (currently, December 31, 2023), when calculating the standard exemption, the basic amount shall be $2,050 plus a specified cost-of-living adjustment. Effective immediately.

Amends the Course of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade beginning with the 2028-2029 school year must successfully complete either 2 years of foreign language courses or at least 2 years of career-focused coursework that has been authorized by the State Board of Education as meeting the requirements for a College and Career Pathway Endorsement under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act (rather than requiring the successful completion of 2 years of foreign language courses). Amends the University of Illinois Act, the Southern Illinois University Management Act, the Chicago State University Law, the Eastern Illinois University Law, the Governors State University Law, the Illinois State University Law, the Northeastern Illinois State University Law, the Northern Illinois University Law, and the Western Illinois University Law. Provides that a university may not require State public high school graduates, as a condition of acceptance, to have completed any years of foreign language courses unless the university permits, as an alternative to completion of a foreign language course, attainment of a College and Career Pathway Endorsement under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Telephone Solicitations Act. Provides that a person, business, or organization may not spoof a caller's information or otherwise misrepresent the origin of a telemarketing call unless the person, business, or organization has the right to use the name and phone number displayed. Requires telephone solicitations placed in a manner other than by a live operator to immediately disclose their identity and the purpose of the call and prompt the recipient of the call to consent to the solicitation. Defines terms.

Amends the Illinois Conservation Foundation Act. Defines terms. Provides that the Foundation's Board of Directors shall be 9 members appointed by the Governor. Provides that one appointed member shall serve a two-year term and one appointed member shall serve a three-year term. Provides that the remaining 7 members shall have four-year terms. Eliminates the requirement that vacancies be filled by the official who made the recommendation for the vacated appointment. Provides that the Governor may immediately remove members for neglect of duty, incompetence, or malfeasance. Requires the Director of Natural Resources, or the Director's designee, to serve as a non-voting ex officio member of the Board. Requires the Director to select an Executive Director of the Foundation, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Director, and shall be employed by the Foundation. Requires that an annual budget be prepared by the Executive Director and the Board and that the budget be presented to and approved by the Director within 30 days before the expiration of the previously approved budget. Specifies that the budget may be adopted only upon the approval of the Director. Provides that prior to commencing projects, the Foundation shall coordinate with the Department to assess and prioritize the Department's needs with respect to the acquisition, construction, improvement, and development of potential projects. Requires the Department to provide reasonable assistance to the Foundation to achieve the purposes of the Foundation, provided there are no conflicts of interest between the interests of the Department and the Foundation. Requires the Foundation to cooperate fully with the boards, commissions, agencies, departments, and institutions of the State, including the Office of the Executive Inspector General (for the Agencies of the Governor). Requires the Foundation to comply with the Open Meetings Act, when carrying out its duties and engaging in its statutory activities under the Act.

Amends the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that internal (also known as female) and male condoms, incontinence products, diapers, and baby wipes shall be taxed by the State at a rate of 1% (currently, 6.25%). Provides that the net revenue from the 1% tax collected from the sale of those products shall be deposited into the State and Local Sales Tax Reform Fund. Amends the Use Tax, Service Occupation Tax, and Service Occupation Use Tax Acts to make conforming changes.

Appropriates $2,950,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Higher Education to address shortages of school psychologists in this State through specified methods. Effective July 1, 2024.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

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 Courses of Study Article of the School Code. In the provisions concerning required high school courses, allows a pupil to take one year of a foreign language course (rather than 2 years), if, upon completing one year of foreign language coursework, the pupil, the pupil's parent or guardian, and the school counselor meet to discuss the pupil's postsecondary education or career goals, and, at that meeting, it is determined (i) that the pupil will take one year of career and technical education coursework, (ii) that a second year of foreign language coursework will limit the pupil's access to career and technical education coursework, and (iii) that the pupil does not need a second year of foreign language coursework to meet the pupil's postsecondary education and career goals. Provides that, following this meeting, the pupil's parent or guardian may opt the pupil out of a second year of foreign language coursework in a form and manner that is prescribed by the State Board of Education. Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in this State. Provides that a university may not require a public high school student to have completed 2 years of foreign language coursework while in high school if it was determined in high school that the student was not required to and the student's parent or guardian opted the student out. Provides that if the student completed only one year of foreign language coursework in high school, the university may require the student to take no less than one year of foreign language coursework while enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at the university. Effective immediately.