Rep. Kevin Schmidt

Condemns the attacks on the State of Israel and its people and strongly implores the government of Israel to bring the terrorist organization, Hamas, to an end. Reaffirms Illinois' support and unwavering commitment to the welfare, security, and survival of the State of Israel. Recognizes Israel's right to act decisively and unilaterally in self-defense to protect its citizens. Expresses Illinois' support for Israel's right to pursue without interference or condemnation the elimination of Hamas until Hamas is permanently neutralized and public safety is assured. Conveys Illinois' most heartfelt condolences to all Israeli victims as well as their families and communities. Calls upon Illinois law enforcement to remain vigilant in protecting Israeli Americans, Jewish Americans, and all supporters of Israel from acts of crime and unlawful discrimination that tend to manifest at such times. Encourages all other American states to likewise condemn Hamas as well as any official body that refuses to recognize Israel's right to act decisively in self-defense to protect its citizens. Calls upon the United States to provide assistance to support Israel in its defense against Hamas and all other terrorist organizations that threaten its sovereignty.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish the Returning Police Officers Loan Repayment Assistance Program to assist police officers who have left law enforcement with repayment of student loans and in order to help place officers into areas of the State who are the most under-staffed and in need of additional officers. Sets forth qualifications for applicants. Provides that each award under the Program shall be equal to $6,000 per year (i) for up to 5 years or (ii) until the applicant's student loans are paid off, whichever is sooner. Provides that an applicant has one year from the date that the first student loan assistance payment is received to begin work in a shortage area. Provides that applicants currently working in shortage areas are eligible for the Program, but those who left law enforcement due to reasons other than retirement or a permanent disability shall be given priority for the Program. Provides for rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2024.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the Department of Revenue shall pay an annual rebate to each individual taxpayer who files an Illinois income tax return with the Department on or before the second Friday in October of the calendar year for which the rebate is made. Provides that surplus moneys in the Income Tax Refund Fund shall be transferred to the Illinois Individual Income Tax Rebate Fund (currently, the General Revenue Fund). Creates the Illinois Individual Income Tax Rebate Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used for the purpose of paying rebates. Effective immediately.

Creates the Protect the Flag Act. Provides that an institution of higher education that, pursuant to an official policy of the institution to prohibit the display of the flag of the United States by the institution, removes, censors, takes down, prohibits, or otherwise halts display of the flag of the United States is ineligible to receive State funds for the following fiscal year until the institution reports to the General Assembly and the Board of Higher Education the complete and proper reinstatement, by the institution in its official capacity, of the flag of the United States at any and all locations on campus property from which a previously displayed flag of the United States was removed, censored, taken down, prohibited, or otherwise halted from display pursuant to an official policy of the institution to prohibit the display of the flag of the United States by the institution.

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 Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Reduces the rate of tax on motor fuel and gasohol to 1.25% (currently, 6.25%). Makes changes concerning the distribution of the proceeds from those taxes. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Canadian Prescription Drug Importation Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall establish the Canadian Prescription Drug Importation Program for the importation of safe and effective prescription drugs from Canada which have the highest potential for cost savings to the State. Provides that the Department shall contract with a vendor to provide services under the program. Provides that on or before December 1, 2023, and each year thereafter, the vendor shall develop a wholesale prescription drug importation list identifying the prescription drugs that have the highest potential for cost savings to the State. Provides that the vendor shall identify Canadian suppliers that are in full compliance with the provisions of the Act and contract with the Canadian suppliers to import drugs under the program. Provides for: a bond requirement; requirements for eligible prescription drugs; requirements for eligible Canadian suppliers; requirements for eligible importers; distribution requirements; federal approval; prescription drug supply chain documentation; immediate suspension of specified imported drug; requirements of an annual report; notification of federal approval. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules necessary to implement the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Provides that, from July 1, 2023 through July 1, 2025, the rate of tax for fuel other than diesel fuel, liquefied natural gas, or propane shall be 39.2 cents per gallon. Effective immediately.

Repeals the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Increases the penalties by 3 years for a minimum sentence and 10 years for a maximum sentence for the knowing manufacture or delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver 15 grams or more of any substance containing fentanyl, or an analog thereof. Provides that the knowing manufacture or delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver 15 grams or more of any substance containing fentanyl, or an analog thereof of one gram or more but less than 15 grams of any substance containing fentanyl, or an analog thereof is a Class X (rather than a Class 1) felony. Provides that excluding violations of the Act when the controlled substance is fentanyl, any person sentenced to a term of imprisonment with respect to violations of these provisions, controlled substance trafficking, calculated criminal drug conspiracy, criminal drug conspiracy, streetgang criminal drug conspiracy, or delivery of controlled substances to persons under 18 years of age or at truck stops, safety rest areas, or school, when the substance containing the controlled substance contains any amount of fentanyl, 6 (rather than 3) years shall be added to the term of imprisonment imposed by the court, and the maximum sentence for the offense shall be increased by 6 (rather than 3) years. With respect to the offense of controlled substance trafficking, if the substance trafficked contains any amount of fentanyl, a person convicted of controlled substance trafficking shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment not less than 3 times the minimum term and fined an amount as authorized by this Act, based upon the amount of fentanyl brought or caused to be brought into the State, and not more than 3 times the maximum term of imprisonment and fined 3 times the amount as authorized by this Act, based upon the amount of fentanyl brought or caused to be brought into the State.