Rep. Margaret Croke

Amends the Public Funds Investment Act. Provides that each public agency shall, on an annual basis, determine the carbon footprint of its investment portfolio in its use of public funds, and make available to the public a report of the findings. Provides that a public agency in determining the carbon footprint of its investment portfolio under this Section may utilize financial data providers to aid in the collection of the required information.

Creates the Securing All Futures for Equitable Reinvestment in Communities Act. Provides legislative intent. Creates the Securing All Futures for Equitable Reinvestment Tax Credit Pilot Program Act. Provides that an applicant that hires certain formerly incarcerated individuals during the incentive period may apply for a tax credit against the applicant's withholding tax liability. Provides that the savings from the changes made to the Unified Code of Corrections shall be deposited into the Securing All Futures for Equitable Reinvestment (SAFER) Communities Fund for the purpose of funding the program. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections to reduce the sentencing ranges for all classes of felonies, and to remove minimum sentences for Class 4 felonies and Class A and Class B misdemeanors. Provides that the provisions of the Act apply to offenses committed before the effective date of this Act, and to offenses committed on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Provides for resentencing of currently incarcerated persons based on these changes. Effective immediately. Fiscal Note (Dept. of Revenue) Although the bill limits the credit to $1.5 billion over its 6-year life, the Department is unable to provide a fiscal impact estimate for House Bill 3215 because the legislation, as introduced, contains multiple drafting ambiguities, errors, and incomplete definitions. For example, the bill defines "participant" to mean, in part, a full-time employee who was formerly incarcerated between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2019. The bill, however, provides later that the credit is limited to 10,000 participants "newly released" from prison and 10,000 participants that were released between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2019. Additionally, the bill provides the credit amount awarded is to be between $10,000 and $15,000 each year per participant hired. The bill further provides a list of criteria to be considered in determining the amount of the credit, but no guidance is provided as to how that list of criteria computes to a given credit amount. These problems, among others in the bill as introduced, prevent the Department from making adequately precise determinations of who qualifies for the credit and of how to calculate the credit.

Amends the Energy Assistance Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title of the Act.

Creates the Right to Read Act. Provides that the State Board of Education shall offer support: to each public school district to select evidence-based core reading instruction programs and implement them using structured literacy instruction; and to each early childhood, elementary, and special education teacher, reading specialist, literacy coach, and administrator to complete evidence-based training in teaching reading. Requires the State Board of Education to annually compile and post on its website information on the steps it has undertaken to support school districts to deliver high-quality, evidence-based literacy instruction, including a list of any Early Literacy Grant recipients, documentation of how the recipient allocated the funding to support improved literacy, and what evidence-based literacy curricula the recipient is utilizing. Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning educator testing, requires applicants seeking specified licenses to pass a test in reading foundations, which shall include assessment of the applicant's understanding of phonological and phonemic awareness, concepts of print and the alphabetic principle, the role of phonics in promoting reading development, word analysis skills and strategies, vocabulary development, application of reading comprehension skills and strategies, and methods for assessing reading development. In provisions concerning minimum requirements for educators trained in other states or countries, provides that an applicant who has successfully completed a reading foundations test of at least comparable rigor to the Illinois reading foundations test is not required to complete a reading foundations test. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Condominium Property Act. Provides that to sell a condominium property, there shall be the following percentage of affirmative votes of the unit owners: 75% for a property with 4 to 6 units (rather than 4 or more units); or 85% for a property with 7 or more units. Provides that an association that has agreed to sell the property shall inform the unit owners that the association may choose outside counsel to represent its interests during the sale process. Provides that it is a violation for a person, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity entitled to transact business on behalf of others, acting on behalf of one seeking to communicate with a unit owner for the purpose of purchasing his or her property once the unit owner has affirmatively requested that such a communication not be made. Provides that the bylaws shall provide that unless a lesser percentage of ownership is provided for in the bylaws, no person, heir assign, family member, affiliate, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity entitled to transact business on behalf of others may own more than 10% of the units for a property containing 30 or more units, more than 15% of the units for a property containing 20 to 29 units, more than 20% for a property containing 5 to 19 units, and no more than a single unit for a property containing fewer than 5 units. Provides that it is a power and duty of the board of managers to: reject any arrangement that establishes an agreement for a buyer to purchase a property; and refrain from investigating an offer to purchase a property without first receiving authorization from the association through an affirmative vote of not less than 75% of unit owners based on the percentage of ownership. Provides that every officer and member of the board who violates, participates in, or permits any of the officers, agents, or assigns of the board to breach his or her fiduciary duty shall be held liable in his or her personal or individual capacity. Provides that the board of managers shall keep and maintain: all statements from licensed independent contractors validating the need and the cost for any expenditures for repair, replacement, or restoration of the common elements; and the communications of any member of the board of managers regarding an attempt to sell the condominium property. Makes other changes. Makes a corresponding change in the Common Interest Community Association Act.

Creates the Infrastructure Delivery and Program Transparency Act. Provides for the creation of an Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator within the Office of the Secretary of Transportation to administer the Rebuild Illinois Program. Provides that the Office of the Secretary of Transportation shall develop a publicly available project information website that includes detailed information about each infrastructure project. Provides that the Coordinator shall track and make publicly available a master program, budget, and construction schedule and program metrics. Provides that after a review of the program metrics, the Coordinator shall implement improvements to the Rebuild Illinois Program in accordance with the established overall program budget and project schedule. Provides that the Department of Transportation and the Coordinator shall implement certain initiatives to assist the Department with meeting program goals.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes changes to the definition of investment partnership to provide that a dealer in qualifying investment securities may be considered an investment partnership. Allows a partnership interest to be considered a qualified security if the interest qualifies as a security within the meaning of Section 2(a)(1) of the federal Securities Act of 1933. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that the provision of the Code that makes it an offense for a person who possesses or acquires a firearm and thereafter loses the firearm, or if the firearm is stolen from the person, to fail to report the loss or theft to the local law enforcement agency within 72 hours after obtaining knowledge of the loss or theft is a Class 4 felony for a third offense (rather than a Class A misdemeanor) and a Class 3 felony for a fourth or subsequent offense. Effective immediately.

Repeals the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995. Makes corresponding changes in the Counties Code, the Medical Practice Act of 1987, and the Consent by Minors to Health Care Services Act. Effective immediately.

Urges the Governor to refund the Business Interruption Grants (BIG) program in the next budget. Urges federal rulemakers to allow states to use up to 11% of COVID-19 relief money for small business aid.