Rep. Robyn Gabel

Declares June 22, 2019 as "Olmstead 20th Anniversary Day".

Urges the Illinois Department of Transportation to take certain steps to advance implementation of the State's Complete Streets Law and 2012 bicycle plan.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, the Cigarette Tax Act, the Cigarette Use Tax Act, the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act, the Motor Fuel Tax Law, the Telecommunications Excise Tax Act, and the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that the vendor discount amount under those Acts shall be 1.75%. Provides that the vendor discount may not exceed $1,000 per vendor in any calendar year. Effective immediately.

Urges the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that provides the right to visas for the undocumented parents of U.S. citizen children or DACA eligible children and TPS recipient parents with U.S. citizen children or children brought here before the age of sixteen which allows them and their children to stay and work legally in this country to provide for the economic, physical, and spiritual security and development of those children. Urges the U.S. Congress to pass a clean DACA bill that gives eligible recipients immediate security and a road to citizenship.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer who is a family caregiver is eligible to receive a nonrefundable income tax credit in an amount equal to 100% of the eligible expenditures incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year related to the care of an eligible family member, but not exceed $1,500 for the same eligible family member. Provides that the term "eligible family member" means a person who: (1) is at least 18 years of age during a taxable year; (2) requires assistance with at least one activity of daily living; (3) is a resident of the State; and (4) is related to the family caregiver. Effective immediately. Correctional Note (Dept of Corrections) There is no fiscal or population impact on the department. Pension Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 2974 amends the Illinois Income Tax Act in a way that does impact any pension system. Judicial Note (Admin Office of the Illinois Courts) This legislation would neither increase nor decrease the number of judges needed in the State of Illinois. State Debt Impact Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) This bill would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued or State-supported bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. Land Conveyance Appraisal Note (Dept. of Transportation) No land conveyances are included in this bill; therefore, there are no appraisals to be filed. Housing Affordability Impact Note (Housing Development Authority) This bill will have no effect on the cost of constructing, purchasing, owning, or selling a single-family residence. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate Home Rule Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not pre-empt home rule authority. Balanced Budget Note (Office of Management and Budget) Please be advised that the Balanced Budget Note Act does not apply to this bill, 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. Fiscal Note (Dept. of Revenue) The fiscal impact of HB 2974 would be a reduction in income tax revenue by an estimated $870 million to $1.74 Billion per year depending on the assumed claim rate. This estimate is based on data from the AARP "Caregiving in the US" 2015 report. From there we estimate that there are 1.36 Million caregivers caring for an adult in Illinois. Following the bill's language, we reduce that number to account only for those caring for an eligible family member. Based on the same data source we arrive to 1.16 Million caregivers that may qualify for this tax credit. When we apply the credit amount of $1,500 per qualified taxpayers to this latest figure, the result is $1.74 Billion in cost to the state - the upper limit of our estimate. The lower limit of the estimate accounts for the fact that in approximately 33% of the cases there is not a sole caregiver (based on the same data source). It also assumes that only 3 out of every 4 qualified taxpayers will claim the credit. For these two reasons in the lower limit we reduce the cost estimate to $870 Million per year, which is 50% of the upper limit. The definition of eligible expenditures is very broad, including costs associated with improvements or alterations to the family residence to permit an eligible family member to remain mobile, safe, and independent; the cost to purchase or lease equipment necessary to assist an eligible family member in carrying on one or more activities of daily living; and the cost of other goods and services that assist in providing care, including personal care attendants, transportation, and legal and financial services. For this reason, we believe that it is reasonable to expect that taxpayers may easily reach to the full credit amount of $1,500 that the bill establishes. For comparison purposes, consider that there are almost 1.6 million returns clarifying retirement income in the state (according to the latest available return data, FY16). This group of taxpayers would likely be the main beneficiary of this bill proposal. This fact reinforces our findings. Furthermore, data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid off ice indicates that the home health care cost in Illinois is around $4.2 Billion annually. This additional fact further strengthens our estimated cost range.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, an applicant seeking a Professional Educator License or an Educator License with Stipulations who holds a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education is not required to pass a test of basic skills to be issued that license. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Proposes to amend the Revenue Article of the Illinois Constitution. Removes a provision that provides that a tax on income shall be measured at a non-graduated rate. Provides that there may be one tax on the income of individuals and corporations (currently, there may be no more than one income tax imposed on individuals and one income tax imposed on corporations, and the rate of tax imposed upon corporations shall not exceed the rate imposed on individuals by more than a ratio of 8 to 5). Provides that the income tax may be a fair tax where lower rates apply to lower income levels and higher rates apply to higher income levels. Provides that no government other than the State may impose a tax on or measured by income. Effective upon being declared adopted. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the resolved clause. Proposes to amend the Revenue Article of the Illinois Constitution. Removes a provision that provides that a tax on income shall be measured at a non-graduated rate. Provides that the General Assembly shall provide by law for the rate or rates of any tax on or measured by income imposed by the State. Provides that the highest rate imposed on corporations may not exceed the highest rate imposed on individuals by more than a ratio of 8 to 5. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Creates the Customized Employment for Individuals with Disabilities Act. Requires the Department of Human Services' Division of Rehabilitation Services to establish a 5-year Customized Employment Pilot Program that serves a minimum of 25 individuals by the second year of the Pilot Program. Provides that the Pilot Program shall include certain components, including: (1) an intensive discovery phase during which the unique needs, abilities, and interests of each program participant will be explored; (2) a customized person-centered planning process based upon information gathered during the discovery phase that involves capturing, organizing, and presenting the information in a blueprint for the job search; and (3) an employer negotiation process in which job duties and employee expectations are negotiated to align the skills and interests of each program participant to the needs of an employer. Provides that community-based agencies serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities shall identify and refer individuals to the Department for participation in the Pilot Program. Requires program participants to reflect the geographical, racial, ethnic, gender, and income-level diversity of the State. Contains provisions concerning data collection and reporting, administrative rules, and other matters. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill, but with the following changes: Provides that the purpose of the Act is to assist individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities or similar conditions resulting in a most significant disability (rather than individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and complex needs). Provides that the Customized Employment Pilot Program shall be implemented through an individualized plan for employment developed by the individual with a disability and the vocational rehabilitation counselor employed by the Division of Rehabilitation Services. Provides that the individual with a disability may choose to have a personal representative participate in the development of the individualized plan for employment. Includes the State Rehabilitation Council in the list of entities from which the Department of Human Services is required to seek advice and recommendations concerning the creation, operation, and administration of the Customized Employment Pilot Program.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the medical assistance program shall cover charges incurred, and anesthetics provided, in conjunction with dental care that is provided to an individual in a hospital or an ambulatory surgical treatment center if the individual is otherwise eligible for medical assistance and any of the following applies: (1) the individual has a medical condition that requires hospitalization or general anesthesia for dental care; or (2) the individual is a person with a disability. Defines "person with a disability" to mean a person, regardless of age, with a chronic disability if the chronic disability meets specified conditions. Provides that the medical assistance program shall cover charges incurred, and anesthetics provided by a dentist with a permit provided under the Illinois Dental Practice Act or by a physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act to practice medicine in all of its branches, in conjunction with dental care that is provided to an individual in a dental office, oral surgeon's office, hospital, or ambulatory surgical treatment center if the individual, regardless of age, is otherwise eligible for medical assistance and has been diagnosed with (i) an autism spectrum disorder as defined in the Autism Spectrum Disorders Reporting Act or (ii) a developmental disability. Defines "developmental disability". Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to reimburse providers of services covered under the amendatory Act at the same rates as the Medicare program's rates for similar services.

Declares the week of August 5, 2019 as "Adolescent Immunization Week" in Illinois to increase public awareness of the importance of preteens and adolescents receiving vaccines against meningococcal disease, human papillomavirus, influenza, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, measles, mumps, and rubella, and to promote outreach and education efforts concerning vaccination. Urges the Illinois Department of Public Health to promote Adolescent Immunization Week and to disseminate educational resources on infectious diseases.