Rep. Jen Gong-Gershowitz

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. In a provision concerning the recoupment of any overpayment made to an individual who is found to have been ineligible for benefits, provides that the individual must be provided written notice of his or her appeal rights including the ability to request waiver of any recovery. Provides that if the Department of Employment Security has previously recouped or recovered overpayment funds from an individual and that individual is granted waiver with respect to those funds, then the individual shall be refunded those funds.

Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that no petition for the appointment of a guardian of a minor shall be filed in which the primary purpose of the filing is to reduce the financial resources available to the minor in order to cause the minor to qualify for public or private financial assistance from an educational institution. Provides that the court may deny such a petition if it finds that the primary purpose of the filing is to enable the minor to declare financial independence so that the minor may obtain public or private financial assistance from an educational institution or a State or federal student financial aid program.

Amends the Employee Sick Leave Act. Removes language exempting from coverage under the Act an employee of an employer subject to the provisions of Title II of the federal Railway Labor Act.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Council on Aging, provides that at least 7 citizen members shall represent underrepresented communities, including, but not limited to: one member who is a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer individual; one member who is a transgender or gender-expansive individual; one member who is an African-American or Black individual; and one member who is an Asian-American or Pacific Islander individual. Creates the Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging to investigate, analyze, and study the health, housing, financial, psychosocial, home-and-community-based services, assisted living, and long-term care needs of LGBTQ older adults and their caregivers. Requires the Commission to make recommendations to improve access to benefits, services, and supports for LGBTQ older adults and their caregivers. Requires the Commission to: examine the impact of State and local laws, policies, and regulations on LGBTQ older adults and make recommendations to ensure equitable access, treatment, care and benefits, and overall quality of life; and examine strategies to increase provider awareness of the needs of LGBTQ older adults and their caregivers and to improve the competence of and access to treatment, services, and ongoing care, including preventive care; and carry out other duties. Contains provisions concerning: members appointed to the Commission; Commission meetings and reports; an LGBTQ Older Adult Advocate to advocate for LGBTQ older adults and older adults living with HIV who experience barriers to accessing and utilizing services; an LGBTQ Older Adult Curriculum and Training Program; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $246,800,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for a full second year implementation of all of the rate methodology recommendations contained within the Illinois Developmental Disabilities Services Rate Study Regarding Residential Services and Related Supports. Effective July 1, 2022.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that all CCR generated by the electric generating industry located in a municipality bordering Lake Michigan with greater than 75,000 inhabitants but fewer than 150,000 inhabitants shall be removed from the site. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the amendatory provisions do not impact any financial obligation arising before their effective date. Effective immediately. Pension Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 4358, as amended by HA 3, will not impact any public pension fund or retirement system in the State of Illinois. State Debt Impact Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 4358, as amended by House Amendment 3, would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. Balanced Budget Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Office of Management and Budget) Please be advised that the Balanced Budget Note Act does not apply to House Bill 4358, [as amended by House Amendment 3] as it is not a supplemental appropriation that increases or decreases appropriations. Under the Act, a balanced budget note must be prepared only for bills that change a general funds appropriation for the fiscal year in which the new bill is enacted. Judicial Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Admin Office of the Illinois Courts) The legislation will not increase or decrease the number of judges needed in the State of Illinois. Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Illinois Environmental Protection Agency) House Amendment #3 imposes no additional fiscal impact on the Illinois EPA. Land Conveyance Appraisal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Dept. of Transportation) No land conveyances are included in this bill, therefore, there are no appraisals to be filed. Housing Affordability Impact Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Housing Development Authority) HB4358 (H-AM-3) is anticipated to have no effect on the cost of constructing, purchasing, owning, or selling a single-family residence. It is possible that some of the training requirements for construction/engineers could come with a cost that gets passed to the construction industry which could impact the affordability of housing in Illinois, but not enough information is provided in the bill to make this determination and the reviewer does not believe there will be any measurable impact. Correctional Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Dept of Corrections) This amendment has no fiscal impact or population impact on the department.

Amends the Domestic Violence Act of 1986. In cases in which a petitioner seeks a prohibition on firearm possession, removes a requirement that the respondent receive actual notice of and an opportunity to participate in a hearing. Provides that an order of protection shall include a remedy that prohibits a respondent from possessing any firearms for a minimum of 2 years (instead of for the duration of the order of protection). Provides that any Firearm Owner's Identification Card in the possession of the respondent shall be suspended and turned over to a law enforcement agency of the court's choosing (rather than a local law enforcement agency). Makes other changes.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that a public body may hold a closed meeting to consider security procedures, school building safety and security, and the use of personnel, equipment, reporting to law enforcement, or legal action to respond to an actual, a threatened, or a reasonably potential danger to the safety of employees, students, staff, the public, or public property. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Exempts from inspection and copying records concerning a school employee's determination about whether an individual poses a clear and present danger, a school district's report of a threat to law enforcement, or an action by a school district under the Firearms Restraining Order Act. Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that when the Illinois State Police is notified that a person has been determined to pose a clear and present danger, it shall determine whether to file an action under the Firearms Restraining Order Act with that person as the respondent. Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that when the Illinois State Police is notified that a person has been determined to pose a clear and present danger, the Illinois State Police shall determine whether to revoke the person's Firearm Owner's Identification Card and whether to file an action under the Firearms Restraining Order Act with that person as the respondent. Provides that any information disclosed under this provision shall remain privileged and confidential, and shall not be redisclosed, except as required under the provisions reporting a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System Index, Denied Persons Files or for the purpose of an action under the Firearms Restraining Order Act. Amends the Firearms Restraining Order Act. Provides that a school district board of directors or board of education may by policy or resolution authorize a designee or designees to file petitions for firearms restraining orders on its behalf with or without prior board approval of a specific petition. Provides that for any petition filed by a designee without prior board approval, the board must approve a resolution ratifying the specific petition as soon as possible after the filing of the petition, but no later than 30 days after the filing of the petition.

Creates the Carpet Stewardship Act. Provides that within 60 days after the effective date of the Act, the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency shall appoint specified members to a clearinghouse to administer and implement a carpet stewardship program. Specifies the duties of the clearinghouse. Requires the clearinghouse to be incorporated as a nonprofit. Provides that for all carpet sold in this State, the clearinghouse shall implement, and producers shall finance, a statewide carpet stewardship program that manages the product by reducing the product's waste generation, promotes its carpet recovery and reutilization, and provides for negotiation and execution of agreements to collect, transport, process, and market the old carpet for end-of-life carpet recovery or carpet reutilization. Requires the clearinghouse to submit, by July 1, 2023 and by July 1 every 3 years thereafter, a 3-year plan to the Agency for approval. Specifies the requirements for the plan. Establishes requirements for review of the plan and requirements for producers, retailers, and distributors of carpet. Requires the clearinghouse to submit annual reports to the Agency and pay specified administrative fees. Includes enforcement provisions for the Act. Establishes requirements for State procurement of carpet in the future. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately. State Debt Impact Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 4356 would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. Balanced Budget Note (Office of Management and Budget) Please be advised that the Balanced Budget Note Act does not apply to House Bill 4356, as it is not a supplemental appropriation that increases or decreases appropriations. Under the Act, a balanced budget note must be prepared only for bills that change a general funds appropriation for the fiscal year in which the new bill is enacted. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency shall (rather than shall attempt to) appoint members of the clearinghouse that reflect the racial and gender diversity of this State. Requires the clearinghouse to hold meetings that are open to the public with reasonable notice of the meeting made publicly available. Requires the clearinghouse's funding mechanism to: (i) be sufficient (rather than to be approved by the Agency as sufficient) to cover the annual costs of the clearinghouse program; and (ii) not charge specified fees to consumers. Provides that the clearinghouse shall remit to the Agency an annual fee of $250,000 to be used for administrative costs (rather than pay the Agency an annual administrative fee of not less than $200,000 and not more than $500,000). Adds a severability provision. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Home Rule Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) HB 4356 does not pre-empt home rule authority. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) HB 4356 does not create a State Mandate. Fiscal Note (Illinois Environmental Protection Agency) HB 4356 requires the clearinghouse to pay the Illinois EPA an annual administrative fee between $200,000 and $500,000 for expenses consistent with the Agency's responsibilities under the Act. Illinois EPA anticipates that this administrative fee would cover the resources needed by the Agency. Pension Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 4356, as amended by HA 1, will have no impact upon any public pension fund or retirement system in the State of Illinois. State Debt Impact Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 4356, as amended by House Amendment 1, would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. Land Conveyance Appraisal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Transportation) No land conveyances are included in House Bill 4356 House Amendment #1; therefore, there are no appraisals to be filed. Housing Affordability Impact Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Housing Development Authority) This bill will have no effect on the cost of constructing, purchasing, owning, or selling a single-family residence. Balanced Budget Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Office of Management and Budget) Please be advised that the Balanced Budget Note Act does not apply to House Bill 4356, [as amended by House Amendment l] as it is not a supplemental appropriation that increases or decreases appropriations. Under the Act, a balanced budget note must be prepared only for bills that change a general funds appropriation for the fiscal year in which the new bill is enacted. Judicial Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Admin Office of the Illinois Courts) Based on a review of the bill, the legislation will not increase or decrease the number of judges needed in the state of Illinois. Correctional Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Dept of Corrections) This amendment has no fiscal impact or population impact on the department. Home Rule Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not pre-empt home rule authority. State Mandates Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State Mandate under the State Mandates Act Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Illinois Environmental Protection Agency) House Amendment #1 to HB 4356 (Gabel) requires the clearinghouse to remit to the Illinois EPA an annual fee of $250,000 to be used for administrative costs pursuant to the Carpet Stewardship Act. Illinois EPA anticipates that this administrative fee would cover the resources needed by the Agency to carry out its responsibilities under the Act.

Appropriates $2,000,000 to the Department of Children and Family Services for grants to assist the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Cook County in its efforts to advocate for timely placement of children in permanent, safe, stable homes. Effective July 1, 2022.