Rep. Robyn Gabel

Amends the Wrongful Tree Cutting Act. Changes the definition of "stumpage". Defines "protected land" and "qualified professional forester or ecological restoration professional". Provides that any party found to have intentionally cut or knowingly caused to be cut any standing timber or tree, other than a tree or woody plant referenced in the Illinois Exotic Weed Act, on protected land, and the party did not have the legal right to so cut or cause to be cut, must pay the person or entity that owns or holds a conservation right to the land 3 times stumpage value plus remediation costs. Provides that nothing in the Act limits the rights of a party to pursue causes of action under other laws, including any available common law remedies for damages. Limits the relief available under the Act. Provides that the court shall allow a plaintiff who prevails to recover the cost of expenses incurred. Makes changes in provisions concerning appraisals and findings of value and expenses. Adds provisions concerning: remediation plans; court-ordered determinations of costs; assistance by the Department of Natural Resources; and use of awards under the Act. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Restaurant Meals Program to permit individuals who are elderly, persons with a disability, and homeless individuals to redeem their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits at private establishments that contract with the Department to offer meals for eligible SNAP recipients at concessional prices. Requires the Restaurant Meals Program to be operational no later than January 1, 2020. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Effective immediately.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Children and Young Adult Mental Health Crisis Act. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to restructure the Family Support Program (Program) to: (i) enable early treatment of a child or young adult with serious mental health needs; (ii) align the program with system of care principles; and (iii) include both community-based and residential treatment services. Contains provisions on the new hallmarks of the Program; federal Medicaid matching dollars; an In-Home Therapy Pilot Program; and other matters. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance, or managed care plan, that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after June 30, 2020 to provide coverage for: (i) coordinated specialty care for first episode psychosis treatment and (ii) assertive community treatment and community support team treatment. Contains provisions concerning mental health professionals; service payments; and other matters. Makes conforming changes to other Acts. Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to allow outpatient substance use treatment providers to keep a substance use treatment case open for 90 days when a person has not received a treatment service during such period. Amends the Adoption Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to establish and maintain a toll-free number to respond to requests from the public about its post-placement and post-adoption support services; and to review and update its Post Adoption and Guardianship Services booklet. Requires the Department and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to coordinate in the development of specified resources. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that if an educational support personnel employee is removed or dismissed as a result of a decision of the school board to decrease the number of educational support personnel employed by the board or to discontinue some particular type of educational support service and he or she accepts the tender of a vacancy within one calendar year from the beginning of the following school term, then that employee shall maintain any rights accrued during his or her previous service with the school district. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates a homestead exemption in the amount of a reduction of $5,000 from the equalized assessed value of property of police officers and firefighters with duty-related disabilities. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 35 ILCS 200/15-169.1 new Adds reference to: 30 ILCS 105/5.891 new 30 ILCS 105/6z-107 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund. Provides that moneys in the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund shall be used to pay rebates to residential property taxpayers in the State. Provides that the Fund may accept moneys from any lawful source. Provides that the State Comptroller shall calculate a property tax rebate amount for the applicable property tax year by dividing the total amount appropriated from the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund by the total number of homestead exemptions granted for homestead property in the State. Provides that the property tax bills of non-delinquent taxpayers who received a general homestead exemption under the Property Tax Code shall be reduced by the property tax rebate amount. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that beginning April 1, 2020, and on a bi-annual basis thereafter, the Illinois Commerce Commission shall issue a report to the General Assembly concerning the decommissioning of nuclear power plants in this State. Provides for the contents of the report. Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Illinois Commerce Commission) Although the bill requirements will require staff time, it will be minimal and will not require additional headcount. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that beginning on or before May 1, 2020, and every 2 years thereafter, the owner or operator of each nuclear power plant in this State shall provide the Illinois Commerce Commission with a copy of the nuclear decommissioning funding assurance status report submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and, as applicable, to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Provides that beginning June 1, 2020, and every 2 years thereafter, the Commission shall provide the General Assembly with a copy of the nuclear decommissioning funding assurance status report for shutdown units as submitted by the owner or operator of a nuclear power plant in this State to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and, as applicable, to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate.

Creates the Feminine Hygiene Products For The Homeless Act. Provides that feminine hygiene products, including, but not limited to, sanitary napkins, tampons, and panty liners, shall be available free of charge at all homeless shelters that provide temporary housing assistance to women or youth.

Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act to require the instruction on mental health and illness to evaluate the multiple dimensions of health by reviewing the relationship between physical and mental health so as to enhance student understanding, attitudes, and behaviors that promote health, well-being, and human dignity.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall create a Clean Water Workforce Pipeline Program to provide grants and other financial assistance to prepare and support individuals for careers in water infrastructure. Provides specified groups that may be provided with grants and other financial assistance on a competitive annual basis. Directs the Department to coordinate with the Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Finance Authority, and other State agencies that provide financial support for water infrastructure projects. Provides that the Department may select a Program Administrator. Provides that recipients of grants or other financial assistance under the Program shall report annually to the Department. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Clean Water Workforce Development Fund. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate. Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) HB 3349 requires DCEO to award grants designed to encourage and facilitate employment in water infrastructure careers. Competitive awards shall be made for various activities including: identification of individuals for job training in the water sector; counseling, preparation, skills training, and other support to increase a candidate's likelihood of success in a job training program and career; and several others. While HB 3349 requires DCEO to make the grants, the legislation does not specify a funding source for the program. Without a funding source, the legislation represents a potential unfunded mandate on the agency. Without additional information on available funding and the number of grants required to be awarded, the Department lacks the ability to determine program scope and ongoing implementation costs. As a result, we are unable to determine the fiscal impact of this legislation.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019, as follows: General Funds $10,209,700; Other State Funds $2,300,000; Total $12,509,700.