Rep. Jen Gong-Gershowitz

Congratulates Glenview Fire Chief Ralph Ensign on his retirement after 43 years of service.

Declares November 2019 as Food Pantry Donation Month to raise a greater awareness of food insecurity and the impact food insecurity has on the residents of Illinois.

Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that upon approval by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as a continuing education provider for sexual harassment training, the continuing education provider may provide such training to any of the professions, trades, or occupations under the Department's jurisdiction. Prohibits the Department from requiring approved continuing education providers to pay additional certification or approval fees to provide sexual harassment training. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board Act. Provides that on or before December 15, 2019, and on or before each December 15 thereafter, the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board must review labor market data and projections in this State and must submit to the State Board of Education and the Illinois Community College Board a list of each career area, along with a designation of one of 3 categories. Amends the Vocational Academies Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2020, the State Board must allocate grants to vocational academies with consideration to certain factors. Provides that on or before December 15, 2020, and on or before each December 15 thereafter, the State Board must report to the General Assembly enrollment and completion data for each vocational academy and the number and type of pathway endorsements issued to students under a Community Partnership for Pathway Endorsement grant program. Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation and allocation of matching grants through the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, the Illinois Community College Board must administer a program to provide Community Partnership for Pathway Endorsement grants to community college districts; specifies grant requirements. Provides that no more than 20 grants may be awarded each year and the grant amount must be at least $40,000 for a partnership that serves 5 high schools and may be up to $75,000 for a partnership that serves more than 5 high schools. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for an Illinois business that increases its average full-time employee head count in the State for the taxable year by more than 20% over its average full-time employee head count in the State for the immediately preceding taxable year. Provides that the amount of the credit is 20% of its tax liability under this Act (other than its withholding tax liability) for the taxable year. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. With regard to a sex education course, provides that course material and instruction in grades 6 through 12 must include an age-appropriate discussion on the meaning of consent that includes discussion on recognizing that (i) consent is a freely given agreement to sexual activity, (ii) consent to one particular sexual activity does not constitute consent to other types of sexual activities, (iii) a person's lack of verbal or physical resistance or submission resulting from the use or threat of force does not constitute consent, (iv) a person's manner of dress does not constitute consent, (v) a person's consent to past sexual activity does not constitute consent to future sexual activity, (vi) a person's consent to engage in sexual activity with one person does not constitute consent to engage in sexual activity with another person, (vii) a person can withdraw consent at any time, and (viii) a person cannot consent to sexual activity if that person is unable to understand the nature of the activity or give knowing consent due to certain circumstances. Removes a provision requiring material and instruction to include, with an emphasis on workplace environment and life on a college campus, discussion on what constitutes sexual consent. Makes other changes concerning the course material and instruction.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Prohibits the manufacture, distribution, or use of paper containing bisphenol A for the making of business or banking records. Requires paper manufacturers to, among other things, replace bisphenol A with an alternative chemical. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to gather and certify certain information about alternative chemicals. Requires the Agency to convene an Advisory Committee on Least Toxic Alternatives to Bisphenol A. Sets forth requirements that apply to members of the Committee. Delays the applicability of the prohibitions on the manufacture, distribution, and use of paper containing bisphenol A for the making of business or banking records if the United States Environmental Protection Agency has not identified a safe, commercially available alternative to bisphenol A prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 415 ILCS 5/42 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1042 415 ILCS 5/44 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1044 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that beginning January 1, 2020, no person shall manufacture thermal paper. Provides that no person shall distribute or use any thermal paper for the making of business or banking records. Effective immediately.

Creates the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act. Defines terms. Provides for: applicability; relation to other law; service; notice by posting; commissioners; determination of value; cotenant buyout; partition alternatives; considerations for partition in kind; open-market sale, sealed bids, or auction; and report of open-market sale. Makes conforming changes in the Code of Civil Procedure. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill, and makes the following changes: Changes the definition of "heirs property" and "partition by sale". Defines "fair market value". Provides that if the court determines that the evidentiary value of an appraisal is outweighed by the cost of the appraisal, the court shall order the plaintiff to send notice (rather than the court shall send notice) to the parties of the fair market value of the property. Provides that if an appraisal is conducted, not later than 10 days after the appraisal is filed, the court shall order the plaintiff to send notice (rather than the court shall send notice) to each party with a known address. Provides that after a hearing to determine the fair market value of the property, the court shall order the plaintiff to send notice to all of the parties of the value and a cotenant's buyout rights (rather than the court shall send notice to the parties of the value). Provides that after the determination of the value, the court shall order the plaintiff to send notice (rather than the court shall send notice) to the parties that any cotenant may buy all the interests of the cotenants that requested partition by sale. Provides that after the expiration period, if no cotenant elects to buy all the interests of the cotenants that requested partition by sale, the court shall order the plaintiff to send notice (rather than the court shall send notice) to all the parties of that fact and resolve the partition. Provides that cotenants must pay their apportioned price to the clerk of court or as otherwise ordered by the court (rather than into the court). Provides that if one or more, but not all, of the electing cotenants fail to pay their apportioned price on time, the court shall order the plaintiff to give notice (rather than the court shall give notice) to the electing cotenants that paid their apportioned price of the interest remaining and the price for all that interest. Provides that the court, in determining whether partition in kind would result in manifest prejudice to the cotenants as a group, shall consider the tax consequences. Provides that if the court orders partition in kind, the court shall allocate to the cotenants that are unknown, unlocatable, or the subject of a default judgment, if their interests were not brought, a party of the property representing the combined interests of those cotenants as determined by the court. Provides that the court shall apportion the costs of the proceedings for the partition of heirs property among the parties in interest in the action, as the court deems just and equitable. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: New Act 735 ILCS 5/17-101 from Ch. 110, par. 17-101 735 ILCS 5/17-102 from Ch. 110, par. 17-102 735 ILCS 5/17-105 from Ch. 110, par. 17-105 735 ILCS 5/17-106 from Ch. 110, par. 17-106 Adds reference to: 775 ILCS 5/3-102.5 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that it is a civil rights violation to refuse to, due to the fact of an arrest, juvenile record, or criminal history record information ordered expunged, sealed, or impounded: sell or rent or otherwise make unavailable or deny a housing accommodation or dwelling to any buyer or renter; or alter the terms, conditions, or privileges of the sale or rental of a housing accommodation or dwelling or the provision of services or facilities in connection with such housing accommodation. Provides that the prohibition against the use of an arrest record shall not preclude an owner or any other person engaging in a real estate transaction from prohibiting the tenant, a member of the tenant's household, or a guest of the tenant from engaging in unlawful activity on the premises. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Adds reference to: 775 ILCS 5/1-103 from Ch. 68, par. 1-103 775 ILCS 5/2-103 from Ch. 68, par. 2-103 775 ILCS 5/3-102 from Ch. 68, par. 3-102 775 ILCS 5/3-106 from Ch. 68, par. 3-106 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that it is a civil rights violation for an owner or any other person engaging in a real estate transaction, because of an arrest record to: refuse to engage in a real estate transaction with a person or to discriminate in making available such a transaction; alter the terms, conditions, or privileges of a real estate transaction or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection therewith; refuse to receive or to fail to transmit a bona fide offer to engage in a real estate transaction from a person; refuse to negotiate for a real estate transaction with a person; represent a person that real property is not available for inspection, sale, rental, or lease when in fact it is so available, or fail to bring a property listing to his or her attention, or to refuse to permit him or her to inspect real property; make, print, circulate, post, mail, publish, or cause to made, printed, circulated, posted, mailed, or published, any notice, statement, advertisement, or sign, or use a form of application for a real estate transaction, or make a record or inquiry in connection with a prospective real estate transaction, that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on an arrest record, or any intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination; or offer, solicit, accept, use, or retain a listing of real property with knowledge that unlawful discrimination or discrimination on the basis of an arrest record in a real estate transaction is intended. Provides that the prohibition against the use of an arrest record shall not preclude an owner or any other person engaging in a real estate transaction from prohibiting the tenant, a member of the tenant's household, or a guest of the tenant from engaging in unlawful activity on the premises. Makes conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2020.

Amends the Attorney General Act. Creates the Worker Protection Unit within the Office of the Illinois Attorney General to intervene in, initiate, enforce, and defend all criminal or civil legal proceedings on matters and violations relating to specified statutes. Provides further powers and requirements of the Attorney General in the Worker Protection Unit. Creates the Worker Protection Task Force. Provides for the purposes and composition of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding its progress no later than December 1, 2020. Repeals the Task Force December 1, 2021. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with additions and changes. Modifies provisions concerning the Worker Protection Unit. Specifies that the Unit shall be dedicated to combating businesses that underpay their employees, force their employees to work in unsafe conditions, and gain an unfair economic advantage by avoiding their tax and labor responsibilities. Specifies that the Unit shall have the power and duty to intervene in, initiate, and enforce all legal proceedings on matters related to the payment of wages, the safety of the workplace, and fair employment practices. Provides that the Office of the Attorney General may use information obtained by the Worker Protection Unit for law enforcement purposes only. Modifies provisions concerning the Worker Protection Unit Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall be coordinated by the Office of the Attorney General to promote a statewide outreach and enforcement effort to target businesses that violate the State's worker protection laws (currently, to target Illinois' underground economy). Adds members to the Task Force. Makes other changes concerning the purposes and duties of the Unit and Task Force.

Amends the Assumed Business Name Act. Provides that a person conducting or transacting business under an assumed name at his or her residence is not required to include his or her home address while complying with the publication requirements of the Act if that person's safety would be put at risk by publishing his or her home address. Provides that, instead, the person may provide a post office box address. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Assumed Business Name Act. Provides that a person conducting or transacting business under an assumed name at his or her personal residence may list the address of the county clerk of the county of his or her personal residence as the default agent for service of process to meet the publication requirements of this Act if the following conditions are met: (1) the person reasonably believes that publishing his or her home address would put his or her safety at risk, and lists the reasoning for such on the form submitted to the county clerk, which shall be kept confidential; (2) the form is accompanied by a court order, police report, or other indicia that there is a true need for the address to be kept confidential; and (3) the person provides the address of his or her residence, which shall be kept confidential, to the county clerk. Provides that the county clerk may charge a nominal fee for performing this service and shall provide a check box on its form for a confidential address request and room for the explanation for the request. Requires the county clerk to notify the business when the county clerk has been served with process. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that if a person lists the county clerk as the default agent for service of process, the request must be accompanied by a court order or police report. Removes a provision permitting the form to be accompanied by some other indicia that there is a true need for the person's address to be kept confidential.