Rep. Katie Stuart

Declares the week of September 18 to September 24, 2023 as "Diaper Need Awareness Week".

Congratulates the people of the Republic of Bulgaria as they celebrate the 145th anniversary of their liberation on March 3, 2023. Declares March of 2023 as Bulgarian American Heritage Month in the State of Illinois.

Urges the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to support the state goal of increasing the number and diversity of Illinois' educator workforce by collaborating with the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to develop and launch a state-wide teacher recruitment system internally, possibly with the support from an outside vendor, that will be available to the public by July 1, 2024 and will support interested candidates statewide to apply to, enroll in, and complete Illinois' Teacher Preparation Programs and succeed in their eventual job placement.

Creates the Pregnancy Expenses Act. Provides that the other party to a pregnancy or the other intended parent has a duty to pay 50% of the pregnant person's pregnancy expenses. Allows an action seeking the payment of pregnancy expenses to be brought during or after the pregnancy. Provides that only the pregnant person or the pregnant person's legally authorized designee in the event of death or incapacitation of the pregnant person may bring an action seeking the payment of pregnancy expenses. Allows the court to order the other party to the pregnancy or other intended parent to pay more than 50% of the pregnancy expenses. Makes a conforming change in the Illinois Parentage Act of 2015. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Allows the State Board of Elections to receive voter registration information provided by applicants using electronic voter registration portals (rather than the Board's website). Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who is otherwise qualified to vote may preregister to vote on or after that person's 16th birthday, with the registration held in abeyance by the appropriate election authority until that individual attains the required age to vote. Requires preregistration to be completed using the online voter registration system or an electronic voter registration portal. Provides that for the purposes of the Code, an individual who is 16 years of age or older (rather than who is 17 years of age and who will be 18 years of age on the date of the general or consolidated election) shall be deemed competent to execute and attest to any voter registration forms.

Amends the School Code. In provisions of the Children with Disabilities Article concerning a child who attends a non-public school or special education facility, a public out-of-state school, or a special education facility owned and operated by a county government unit, provides that the Illinois Purchased Care Review Board shall allow a nonprofit entity to use the same profit margin calculation that the Board allows in the for-profit tuition and room and board calculations and may not make any distinction in reimbursement level for nonpublic special education facilities based upon their federal income tax filing classification. In provisions of the Chicago School District Article concerning criminal history records checks, provides that a nonpublic special education facility with multiple campuses within this State and providing services under the Children with Disabilities Article shall maintain a separate, current record at a central administrative location, for inspection by representatives of the school district and the State Board of Education, for each staff member, whether employed full-time or part-time, who provides direct services or who is directly involved in the development and implementation of instructional services. Requires a nonpublic special education facility to send a monthly employee roster file electronically to the school district and the State Board of Education that details whether the facility's employees have completed and passed the criminal history records check process. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish a microcredential for teachers to receive training in introductory and intermediate computer science. Provides that the microcredential shall cover the best practices for teaching computer science to students, focusing on content mastery and teaching strategies. Provides that the State Board of education shall also establish a microcredential for teachers to receive training for Advanced Placement classes in computer science after completing the introductory microcredential. Provides that the State Board of Education shall make the microcredential a primary endorsement area.

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Provides that the Illinois Labor Relations Board shall determine whether refusing to bargain collectively in good faith with a labor organization that is the exclusive representative of public employees in an appropriate unit, including, but not limited to, the discussing of grievances with the exclusive representative, was of a serious enough nature that it undermined or significantly impacted the collective bargaining process such that other traditional remedies may not remedy the violation if the Board is unable to order a make-whole remedy. Sets forth standards to make the determination and the option to order impasse arbitration. Provides that parties continue to have a duty to engage in good faith bargaining during the pendency of impasse arbitration procedures. Provides that the Board shall have authority to order make-whole relief, including, but not limited to, consequential damages and front pay for injuries suffered by employees or a labor organization as a result of an unfair labor practice. Provides that violators may also be subject to liquidated damages in an amount equal to any monetary make-whole relief ordered by the Board unless the employer can show it acted in good faith and had reasonable grounds to believe it was acting in compliance in this Act.

Amends the Adult Protective Services Act. Provides that any person may report information about the suspicious death of an eligible adult to an agency designated to receive such reports or to the Department on Aging. Provides that if a mandated reporter has reason to believe that the death of an eligible adult is the result of abuse or neglect, the matter shall be reported to the agency designated to receive such reports or to the Department for subsequent referral to the appropriate law enforcement agency and coroner or medical examiner. Prohibits employers from discriminating against any employee who makes a good faith oral or written report concerning information about the suspicious death of an eligible adult. Contains provisions concerning the required testimony of a mandated reporter at an administrative hearing concerning the suspicious death of an eligible adult; the referral of evidence to the appropriate law enforcement agency; access to records concerning reports of suspicious deaths due to abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation; and other matters. Makes changes to the definitions of "abuse", "abuser", and "mandated reporter". Defines "investment advisor". Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the Governor shall annually designate, by official proclamation, the third Friday in March as Robotics Day to encourage students and school districts to engage in robotics-based activities and to engage students with the study of mathematics and science.