Rep. Kelly Cassidy

Creates the Building Energy Performance Standard Act. Provides that the purpose of the Illinois Building Energy Performance Standard is to decrease energy consumption, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing buildings, and increase economic growth and job creation. Provides that the Illinois Office of Energy shall establish a Building Energy Performance Standard Task Force to advise and provide technical assistance and recommendations relating to the Illinois Building Energy Performance Standard. Amends the Energy Efficient Building Act. Provides that the Capital Development Board, in consultation with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, shall create and adopt the Illinois Stretch Energy Code to allow municipalities and projects authorized or funded by the Board to achieve more energy efficiency in buildings than the Illinois Energy Conservation Code. Makes changes in provisions concerning definitions; applicability; enforcement; and home rule. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that beginning in 2023, all gas distribution utilities in the State participating in certain energy efficiency programs shall achieve specified annual energy savings goals. Makes changes in provisions concerning energy efficiency and demand-response measures and qualified energy efficiency installers. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides for dyslexia screening guidelines and rules. Requires the State Board of Education to employ at least 5 dyslexia specialists or dyslexia therapists with a minimum of 5 years of field experience in screening, identifying, and treating dyslexia and related disorders to provide technical assistance and training. Provides that, beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, each school district must screen students in grades kindergarten through second (and in higher grades under certain circumstances) for the risk factors of dyslexia using a universal screener approved by the State Board. Sets forth what the screening must include. Provides for additional screening for a student who is determined to be at risk, or at some risk, for dyslexia to determine if a student has the characteristics of dyslexia. Requires the use of a multi-tiered system of support framework if screening indicates that a student has some risk factors for dyslexia or has the characteristics of dyslexia. Sets forth provisions concerning exceptions to screening, dyslexia intervention services, and reporting. Effective July 1, 2022.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall provide coverage for aesthetic services and restorative care provided for the treatment of physical injuries to victims of domestic violence when medically necessary as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches. Defines "domestic violence". Makes a conforming change in the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

Amends the Illinois Pesticide Act. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2021, no pesticide containing a neonicotinoid may be used outdoors on any land owned or maintained by the State, except for use in structural pest control or abatement of non-native insect borers, subject to specified restrictions. Defines "neonicotinoid". Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that no fee shall be required if the records sought to be expunged or sealed were arrests resulting in release without charging or arrests or charges not initiated by arrest resulting in acquittal, dismissal, or conviction when the conviction was reversed or vacated, except for the expungement or sealing of certain records of minor traffic violations. Eliminates the county fee waiver pilot program that was only applicable in counties of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants that was set to expire on January 1, 2022.

Creates the Public Utilities Intervenor Compensation Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall award reasonable advocate's fees, reasonable expert witness fees, and other reasonable costs of preparation for and participation in a hearing or proceeding to a customer that complies with specified procedures and makes a contribution to the adoption of the Commission's order or decision and participation or intervention without an award of fees or costs imposes a significant financial hardship. Creates provisions concerning procedures; calculation of awards; payments and cost recovery; denial of payments; the Illinois Commerce Commission Intervenor Compensation Fund; pre-proceeding grants; and rulemaking. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Illinois Commerce Commission Intervenor Compensation Fund. Makes conforming changes in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and the State Finance Act. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Creates provisions concerning restitution for misconduct; the Multi-Year Integrated Grid Plan; residential time-of-use pricing; and performance-based ratemaking. Makes changes in provisions concerning the Illinois Commerce Commission; donations; natural gas surcharges; and public hearings. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections shall work with election authorities and the disability community to develop and implement procedures and technologies to provide vote by mail ballots, upon request, in alternative formats that allow all voters to cast a secret, independent, and verifiable vote by mail ballot without the assistance of another person. Requires the procedures and technologies to include an accessible electronic ballot marking tool that enables voters to mark their ballots privately and independently. Requires that each election authority provide the option of a fully electronic ballot with both electronic marking and electronic return that allows voters having a disability to vote a secret ballot without assistance by January 1, 2023.

Amends the Life Care Facilities Act. Provides that a resident is entitled to be represented by at least one resident voting member on the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the resident's provider. Requires a provider with more than one facility to seat as a member on the provider's board of directors or equivalent governing body at least one resident from each of the provider's facilities in the State. Provides that a resident has the right to self-organization. Prohibits reprisal by a provider in response to specified activities. Requires a provider's board of directors or equivalent governing body to (1) hold quarterly meetings to discuss specified subjects and (2) consult and discuss with a facility's residents or the representatives of a facility's residents any proposed action that might significantly affect the well-being of the facility's residents or the financial stability of the facility before taking the proposed action. Requires the Department of Public Health to ensure that providers comply with the provisions by instituting a penalty for noncompliance. Effective immediately.

Amends the General Assembly Operations Act. Provides that no person may serve more than 10 consecutive years in any of the following leadership roles: Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the Senate, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and Minority Leader of the Senate. Provides that the limitations imposed by the amendatory Act apply to service beginning on and after the second Wednesday in January of 2023.

Amends the Election Code. Creates a permanent vote by mail list for qualified voters. Allows a voter to apply to be placed on a permanent vote by mail list to receive vote by mail ballots for subsequent elections. Provides for the removal of a voter from the permanent vote by mail list who does not return a vote by mail ballot for the fourth general election following the general election at which the voter last voted. Allows for a voter on the permanent vote by mail list to choose and change political party preferences for a primary vote by mail ballot. Provides for how a voter may remove himself or herself from the permanent vote by mail list. Makes conforming changes throughout the Code.