Rep. Dave Severin

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that any member of the General Assembly, person whose appointment to office is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, or head of a department, commission, board, division, bureau, authority, or other administrative unit within the government of this State who takes office on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act shall not, within a 3-year period immediately following termination of that person's most recent term of office, register as a lobbyist and engage in lobbying with members of the General Assembly. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and the Department of Juvenile Justice shall adopt necessary administrative rules governing the employment and qualifications of personnel serving county-operated juvenile detention centers to permit the employment of personnel that possess less than a bachelor's degree, including the hiring of applicants that possess a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate and are otherwise determined to be qualified for the position. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and the Department of Juvenile Justice shall adopt necessary administrative rules governing personnel and training to facilitate appropriate training and qualification of county correctional officers to serve within county-operated juvenile detention centers as determined as needed by the county sheriff.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to the foster care expenses, not to exceed $1,000 in any taxable year, paid or incurred by the taxpayer with respect to a qualified dependent child. Provides that the credit may be prorated. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the rate of tax on individuals, trusts, and estates is 4.85% (currently, 4.95%). Makes a conforming change concerning the pass-through entity tax. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Increases the exclusion amount from $4,000,000 to $6,000,000 for persons dying on or after January 1, 2026. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a credit for individual taxpayers in an amount equal to 100% of the eligible recycling costs incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year, not to exceed $1,000 per taxpayer. Provides that "eligible recycling costs" means costs associated with the collection, separation, conversion, or treatment of recyclable solid waste materials, including, but not limited to, paper, glass, and plastic.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Knight-Silas Act. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits aggravated battery when, in committing a battery, other than by the discharge of a firearm, he or she: (1) knowingly causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual whom the person knows to be a Department of Children and Family Services employee; and (2) is, at the time of the commission of the offense, 21 years of age or older and causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual whom the person knows to be a Department of Children and Family Services employee: (i) performing his or her official duties; (ii) battered to prevent performance of his or her official duties; or (iii) battered in retaliation for performing his or her official duties. Provides that "Department of Children and Family Services employee" includes any (i) Department caseworker or (ii) investigator employed by an agency or organization providing social work, case work, or investigative services under a contract with or a grant from the Department of Children and Family Services. Provides that a violation is a Class 2 felony. Provides that if the battery causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to the employee, the penalty is a Class 1 felony.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Knight-Silas Act. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that aggravated battery, other than by the discharge of a firearm, includes a battery committed by a person who, at the time of the commission of the offense, is 21 years of age or older and the battery was committed upon an individual whom the person committing the offense knows to be a person working under the Adult Protective Services Program or an Ombudsman under the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program of the Department on Aging, or a Department of Children and Family Services employee: (1) performing his or her official duties; (2) battered to prevent performance of his or her official duties; or (3) battered in retaliation for performing his or her official duties. Provides that a violation is a Class 2 felony, except if the battery causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual, a violation is a Class 1 felony. Defines "Department of Children and Family Services employee" and "ombudsman".

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 concerning the Interference With Penal Institution Article of the Code. Provides that in addition to any other penalty provided by law, an additional one year of imprisonment shall be added to the sentence of a person who commits bringing contraband into a penal institution or unauthorized bringing or delivery of contraband into a penal institution by an employee by using an unmanned aerial vehicle. Provides that a person who knowingly and intentionally operates an unmanned aerial vehicle below the navigable airspace overlying a State penal institution is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Provides that this provision does not apply to an employee who operates the unmanned aerial vehicle within the scope of his or her employment, or a person who receives prior permission from the penal institution to operate the unmanned aerial vehicle. Provides that a person who knowingly and intentionally captures images or data of a State penal institution through the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle is guilty of a Class 4 felony. Provides that this provision does not apply to an employee who captures images or data of a State penal institution through the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle within the scope of his or her employment, or a person who receives prior permission from the penal institution to capture images or data of a State penal institution through the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle. Defines "State penal institution" and "unmanned aerial vehicle".

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall approve a course for school safety officers (a retired law enforcement officer who has been hired by a school district to perform security services). Sets forth training and certification requirements. Provides that an applicant for employment as a school safety officer must authorize an investigation to determine if the applicant has been convicted of any criminal offense that disqualifies the person as a school safety officer. Amends the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act. Exempts school safety officers from the Act if a school board does not require officer-worn body cameras. Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, a school may employ a school safety officer. Requires a school safety officer applicant to provide the school district a certificate of completion or approved waiver issued by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board. Provides that a school safety officer shall wear a uniform that clearly identifies the officer as a school safety officer. Provides that a school safety officer may detain a person when the officer has reasonable suspicion to believe that an offense, other than an ordinance violation, is being committed. Provides that a school safety officer may carry a firearm as long as the officer is certified under specified provisions of the Peace Officer and Probation Officer Firearm Training Act. Adds references to school safety officers throughout the Code. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that that the provisions concerning the unlawful use of weapons as those provisions pertain to firearms do not apply to or affect the carrying or possession of firearms by a qualified current or retired law enforcement officer qualified under the laws of the State or under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act in specified properties, including schools. Effective immediately.