Rep. Dave Severin

Creates the Downstate Impact Note Act. Provides that every bill, the purpose or effect of which is to have an impact upon downstate Illinois, shall have prepared for it prior to second reading in the house of introduction a brief explanatory statement or note on the anticipated impact on downstate Illinois, which shall be known as a Downstate Impact Note. Provides requirements for the preparation and contents of Downstate Impact Notes. Provides that the fact that a Downstate Impact Note is prepared for any bill shall not preclude or restrict the appearance before any committee of the General Assembly of any official or authorized employee of any State board, commission, department, agency, or other entity who desires to be heard in support of or in opposition to the bill. Provides confidentiality requirements concerning the subject matter of bills submitted for Note preparation. Defines "downstate Illinois". Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Requires an agency that proposes a new rule or an amendment to an existing rule that may have an impact on persons or entities in downstate Illinois to consider specified methods for reducing the impact of that rulemaking and provide an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking process before or during the notice period utilizing specified techniques. Requires each agency to include in its regulatory agenda summary a statement of whether a rule will affect persons or entities in downstate Illinois. Defines "downstate Illinois". Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Changes the definition of "gambling device" to include any vending or other electronic machine or device, including, without limitation, a machine or device that awards credits and contains a circuit, meter, or switch capable of removing and recording the removal of credits that offers a person entry into any contest, competition, sweepstakes, scheme, plan, or other selection process that involves or is dependent upon an element of chance for which the person may receive a gift, award, or other item or service of value if that offer is incidental to or results from: (A) the purchase of an item or service of value; or (B) the purchase or gratuitous receipt of a coupon, voucher, certificate, or other similar credit that can be redeemed for or applied towards an item or service of value from such machine or device or elsewhere. Provides that participants in a game of skill or chance where money or other things of value can be won but no payment or purchase is required to participate shall not be convicted of gambling except where participation in such game of skill or chance is accomplished using a gambling device prohibited by these changes to the definition. Further provides that a gambling offense involving such a gambling device is a Class 4 felony. Amends the Video Gaming Act. Removes a provision allowing for the use of a game device without a license if the game device is used in an activity that is not gambling under the Criminal Code of 2012. Effective immediately.

Makes an appropriation to the Court of Claims from the General Revenue Fund for the payment of a specified claim. Effective July 1, 2020.

Amends the School Code. Requires school districts to provide contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and for the Crisis Text Line on the back of each student identification card issued by the school district. Provides that if the school district does not issue student identification cards to its students or to all of its students, the school district must publish this information on its website. Effective July 1, 2020.

Creates the Agritourism Liability Act. Provides that an agritourism operator is not liable for injury or death of a participant resulting from the inherent risks of agritourism activities if the agritourism operator posts the required warning notice. Provides that a participant assumes the inherent risks of an agritourism activity by engaging in the agritourism activity. Provides that no participant may pursue an action or recover from an agritourism operator for injury, loss, damage, or death of the participant resulting from any of the inherent risks of agritourism activities. Provides that nothing prevents or limits the liability of an agritourism operator if the agritourism operator: (1) commits an act or omission that constitutes willful or wanton disregard for the safety of the participant and that act or omission proximately causes injury, damage, or death to the participant; or (2) has actual knowledge or reasonably should know of an unusual dangerous condition on the land, facilities, or equipment used in the activity or the dangerous propensity of a particular animal used in such an activity, does not make the danger known to the participant, and the danger proximately causes injury, damage, or death to the participant. Provides that an agritourism operator shall post and maintain a warning notice in a clearly visible location at or near the entrance to the agritourism activity.

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Provides for registration under the Act of a person convicted of a battery if: (1) the State's Attorney filed a notice contemporaneous with or included in the summons, complaint, or other document charging the battery to seek sex offender registration under the provision as a sexually motivated battery; (2) the complaining witness is under 17 years of age; (3) the offender is 21 years of age or older; and (4) the court finds that the battery was "sexually motivated" as defined in the Sex Offender Management Board Act.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2020, the tax on gun safes and locks designed to secure firearms is imposed at the rate of 1%. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act and the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that if a Firearm Owner's Identification Card of a licensee under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act expires during the term of a concealed carry license, the Firearm Owner's Identification Card and the license remain valid and the licensee does not have to renew his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall automatically renew the licensee's Firearm Owner's Identification Card and send a renewed Firearm Owner's Identification Card to the licensee unless the Illinois State Police has reason to believe the person is no longer eligible for the Card.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Requires specified personnel of a child care facility to be present at the open or close of the facility. Provides that early childhood teachers shall meet specified qualifications. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall adopt rules on the qualifications of persons directly responsible for the care and welfare of children served in accordance with the qualifications for early childhood teachers. Effective immediately.