Rep. Michael Kelly

Amends the Illinois State Police Law. Provides that the Illinois State Police, in cooperation with the Golden Search Task Force, shall develop as part of the Endangered Missing Person Advisory a coordinated statewide awareness program and toolkit, which shall be referred to as the Golden Search, to be used when there is a missing person who is believed to be a person having a developmental disability or a person having an intellectual disability. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall complete development and deployment of the Golden Search Awareness Program and toolkit on or before July 1, 2026. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall establish a Golden Search Task Force within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act to assist the Illinois State Police in development and deployment of the Golden Search Awareness Program and toolkit. Provides that the Task Force shall monitor and review the implementation and operation of that program, including procedures, budgetary requirements, standards, and minimum requirements for the training of law enforcement personnel on how to interact appropriately and effectively with individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Sets forth membership of the Task Force. Provides that the Director of the Illinois State Police or the Director's designee shall serve as Chair of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall meet at least twice a year and shall provide a report on the operations of the Golden Search Program to the General Assembly and the Governor each year by June 30th. Provides that the Child Safety Coordinator shall act in the capacity of Golden Search Program Coordinator in addition to the Child Safety Coordinator's other duties. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall conduct a training program for law enforcement personnel of local governmental agencies in the statewide coordinated Golden Search Awareness Program and toolkit. Provides that the Board shall adopt written protocols and guidelines for the handling of missing persons cases involving a person having a developmental disability or a person having an intellectual disability based upon protocols developed by the Golden Search Task Force in conjunction with the Illinois State Police on or before July 1, 2026.

Amends the First Responders Suicide Prevention Act. Reinstates the First Responders Suicide Task Force. Adds to the reconstituted Task Force one member who represents an organization that provides mental health training and support for first responders in State of Illinois, appointed by the President of the Senate. Provides that members of the Task Force shall be appointed within 30 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Directs the Task Force to issue a final report to the General Assembly on or December 31, 2026. Provides for the repeal of the Task Force on January 1, 2027.

Creates the State Public Defender Act. Creates the Office of State Public Defender as an agency of State government. Provides that the Office of State Public Defender shall be an independent agency within the judicial branch of government and the Office's records shall be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that the Office of State Public Defender shall be under the supervision and direction of the State Public Defender. Sets forth the powers and duties of the State Public Defender, including the duties of the initial State Public Defender. Provides that the initial State Public Defender shall be appointed by the Supreme Court. Sets forth specified duties and responsibilities of the initial State Public Defender. Creates the State Public Defender Commission. Sets forth membership and duties of the Commission. Amends the Public Defender and Appointed Counsel Division of the Counties Code. Provides that any 2 or more counties of this State that are within the same judicial circuit may by joint resolution of the several county boards involved create a common Office of public defender for the counties so joined or allow representation in one county by the public defender appointed in the collaborating county (rather than 2 or more adjoining counties within the same judicial circuit may create a common Office of public defender). Provides that, when a vacancy occurs in the position of public defender, the State Public Defender shall nominate and the State Public Defender Commission shall appoint a properly qualified public defender using the application and selection process developed under the State Public Defender Act. Removes certain differences based upon county populations. Removes provisions relating to the Public Defender Quality Defense Task Force. Provides that a public defender may be removed only for good cause or dereliction of duty after notice and a hearing before the State Public Defender Commission (rather than by the president of the county board after a notice and hearing of the county board). Modifies how a public defender is compensated and how moneys in the Public Defender Fund may be used. Makes other changes. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires every applicant for the renewal of a driver's license who is 79 years or older to renew in person. Requires every applicant for the renewal of a driver's license who is 87 years of age or or who is 75 years of age or older and holds a commercial driver's license to prove, by an actual demonstration, the applicant's ability to exercise reasonable care in the safe operation of a motor vehicle. Allows an immediate family member to submit information to the Secretary of State relative to the medical condition of a person if the condition interferes with the person's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. Requires information to be submitted in writing in a manner and form approved by the Secretary and shall include the name of the person submitting the information. Prohibits the Secretary from accepting or acting on anonymous reports. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act. Provides that any person, entity, or business that offers fire sprinkler contractor services under the Act without being licensed or exempt under the Act shall pay a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $50,000 (rather than $10,000) for each offense. Provides that, if any person, entity, or business commits a second offense within 24 months, the civil penalty shall be no less than $10,000 which shall be deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund. Provides that, if any person, entity, or business commits more than 2 offenses within 24 months, the civil penalty shall be no less than $25,000 which shall be deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund. Provides that any person who practices, offers to practice, attempts to practice, or holds himself or herself out to practice as a fire sprinkler inspector without being licensed or exempt under the Act shall pay a civil penalty not to exceed $50,000 (rather than $10,000) for each offense. Provides that, if any person commits a second offense within 24 months, the civil penalty shall be no less than $10,000 which shall be deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund. Provides that, if any person commits more than 2 offenses within 24 months, the civil penalty shall be no less than $25,000 which shall be deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a municipality must set aside, in a dedicated account, 10% of the funds the municipality receives from an insurer on account of ambulance or fire services provided by the municipality. Provides that the municipality may only use the funds in the dedicated account for purchasing and maintaining ambulances, fire engines, and other vehicles used to provide emergency services.

Amends the Domestic Violence Shelters Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall be responsible for the provision of a single, easy to use telephone number for public access to information and referral for domestic violence services. Authorizes the Department to identify and enter into a contract with a lead entity to provide governance and oversight, including the ability to design, implement, support, and coordinate a State-wide Domestic Violence Hotline system. Provides that the lead entity must: (i) have the ability to provide statewide, toll-free, 24-hour, 7 day-a-week, multi-lingual, confidential referral services to victims and perpetrators of domestic violence and information to people calling on behalf of a victim, including friends or family of the domestic violence victim and first responders such as the police; (ii) have a record of providing effective, victim-centered referral services to victims of domestic violence for at least 2 years prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act; (iii) be an Illinois 501(c)(3) non-profit agency or organization; (iv) provide the most up-to-date technology to increase access to domestic violence services for the deaf and hard of hearing; and (v) have other specified qualifications. Requires the lead entity to provide periodic programmatic and fiscal reports on activities, accomplishments, and other issues to the Department. Requires the Department to ensure, prior to awarding a contract, that the Domestic Violence Hotline lead entity has the organizational capacity to carry out the terms of the contract.

Amends the PFAS Reduction Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation, organization, joint venture, importer, or domestic distributor of firefighting agents or firefighting equipment that sells firefighting personal protective equipment containing PFAS chemicals to any person, local government, or State agency shall provide written notice to the purchaser at the time of sale which shall state: (i) that the firefighting personal protective equipment contains PFAS chemicals; and (ii) the reason PFAS chemicals are added to the equipment. Requires the seller and the purchaser of the equipment to retain a copy of the required notice on file for at least 3 years from the date of the purchase. Provides that, upon the request of the Agency, the seller shall furnish the notice, or written copies, and associated sales documentation to the Agency within 60 days of such request. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, a person that sells firefighting personal protective equipment to any person, local government, or State agency shall not manufacture, knowingly sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale, or distribute for use in the State any firefighting personal protective equipment containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals. Defines terms.

Amends the Illinois Credit Union Act. Authorizes a credit union to furnish information to any person on a list submitted and periodically updated by a member who is an elderly person or person with a disability or to specified other persons, if there is suspicion by the credit union that the member has been or may become a victim of financial exploitation. Provides that the board of directors of a credit union with a composite rating of either 1 or 2 under the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System known as the CAMELS supervisory rating system and a management rating under such composite rating of either 1 or 2 may meet not less than 4 (instead of 6) times annually. Provides that the supervisory committee of a credit union with assets of less than $10,000,000 may, at its option, engage (instead of a credit union with assets of $5,000,000 or more, but less than $10,000,000 shall engage) a licensed certified public accountant or licensed certified public accounting firm to perform specified auditing and other services. Permits the merger of credit unions, without meeting certain voting and notice requirements, where supervisory concerns exist and upon agreement of the boards of directors of the merging and continuing credit unions, as confirmed by a majority vote of the directors present at a meeting of each board at which a quorum is present. Makes other changes.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. In provisions concerning opioid overdose reporting, provides that overdose information reported by a covered vehicle service provider shall not be used in an opioid use-related criminal investigation, prosecution, welfare checks, or warrant checks of the individual who was treated by the covered vehicle service provider personnel for experiencing the suspected or actual overdose. Provides that any misuse of the information reported by a covered vehicle service provider shall result in, but is not limited to, the Department of Transportation reporting misuse to the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Overdose Detection Mapping Application or similar technology platform. Permits the Department of Health to adopt rules to set forth standards under which misuse of access may be reported to the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Overdose Detection Map or similar platform based on misuse or misconduct by a covered vehicle service provider or other individual or entity at the discretion of the Department. Provides that no data that allows for or creates a risk of identification of an individual or individuals experiencing a suspected or actual overdose treated by the covered vehicle service provider personnel shall be submitted to the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Overdose Detection Mapping Application or Similar technology platform. Provides that covered vehicle service provider personnel may report overdose surveillance through an identified technology platform for the use of overdose surveillance under exceptions to HIPAA and the reported data shall only be used to support public safety and public health efforts. Sets forth additional provisions concerning requirements for the Department concerning opioid overdose reporting.