Rep. Lindsey LaPointe

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that the appointing authorities of the Legislative Ethics Commission shall (rather than may) appoint at least one commissioner from the general public. Allows the Legislative Inspector General to issue subpoenas without the advance approval of the Commission. Provides that within 60 days after the Legislative Ethics Commission's receipt of a summary report and response from the ultimate jurisdictional authority or agency head regarding a potential violation of this Act or potential wrongful acts within the jurisdiction of the Legislative Inspector General, the Legislative Inspector General (rather than the Commission) shall make available to the public the report and response or a redacted version of the report and response. Provides that the Legislative Inspector General (rather than the Commission) may make available to the public any other summary report and response of the ultimate jurisdictional authority or agency head or a redacted version of the report and response without prior approval from the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall adopt no rule requiring the Legislative Inspector General to seek the Commission's advance approval before publishing summary reports. Provides for the redaction of summary reports by the Legislative Inspector General and related requirements. Makes conforming and other changes.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that in a ratemaking proceeding, the Illinois Commerce Commission shall not approve for ratemaking purposes either a cost of equity exceeding 8% unless clear and convincing record evidence demonstrates that a higher return on equity is strictly necessary to prevent an imminent and significant threat of negative credit action that would be expected to increase the cost of service for the utility's ratepayers; or a capital structure comprised of more than 50% common equity unless clear and convincing record evidence demonstrates that a higher equity ratio is strictly necessary to prevent an imminent and significant threat of negative credit action that would be expected to increase the cost of service for the utility's ratepayers. Provides that the Commission shall not treat the utility's interest in offsetting the revenue impact of enforcing either of these limitations as justification for approving or adjusting any other proposed revenues. Makes corresponding changes to the Multi-Year Rate Plan.

Amends the Life Care Facilities Act. Defines "governing body", "proposed action", and "residents' association". Provides that a resident of a life care facility has the right to organize and participate in a residents' association. Prohibits reprisal by a provider for various actions taken by a residents' association. Requires a provider's governing body to hold annual meetings on and after July 1, 2023 at each of the provider's facilities located in the State for open discussion of specified subjects. Directs providers to make statements of financial activities for the facility and a written explanation of all material variances of actual costs with budget costs calculated in the statements of financial activities on and after January 1, 2024. Requires the Department of Public Health to ensure that providers comply with the provisions. Contains requirements for notice of noncompliance. Requires providers to cure noncompliance within 30 days after being notified by the Department. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that, for purposes of the Act, "public body" includes judicial bodies of the State. Exempts preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, memoranda and other records in which opinions are expressed, or policies or actions are formulated, that pertain to the preparation of judicial opinions and orders. Exempts judicial records already subject to fees imposed under the Clerks of Courts Act.

Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Removes a birthdate restriction on eligibility at age 55 for a 3% automatic annual increase in retirement annuity that is not subject to a maximum increase of 30%. Makes a related change. Specifies the timing of an initial increase in retirement annuity for persons who have not received the initial increase before January 1, 2023. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act. Removes all references to and the definition of "small employer". Provides that the Act applies to employers with at least one employee (rather than employers with fewer than 25 employees). Requires the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Board to (i) establish annual automatic increases to the contribution rates and (ii) verify employee eligibility for auto-enrollment in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code and applicable federal and State laws. Makes changes regarding penalties for employers who fail, without reasonable cause, to enroll an employee in the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program (Program). Provides that, for purposes of the penalties, the Department of Revenue shall determine total employee count for employers using the annual average from employer-reported quarterly data. Provides that the Department may provide notice regarding penalties in an electronic format to be determined by the Department. Removes a provision authorizing the Department to implement the penalties 9 months after the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Board notifies the Director of Revenue that the Program has been implemented. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the Act applies to employers with at least 5 employees, rather than at least one employee. (Current law applies to employers with fewer than 25 employees.) Provides that a small employer is an employer that employed less than 5 employees during any quarter of the previous calendar year, rather than less than 25 employees at any one time throughout the previous calendar year. Provides enrollment deadlines. Provides that small employers may, but are not required to, establish payroll deduction arrangements for retirement savings arrangements. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 820 ILCS 80/5 820 ILCS 80/30 820 ILCS 80/60 820 ILCS 80/85 Adds reference to: 820 ILCS 115/15 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-15 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Pension Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) SB 208, 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) SB 0208, 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 Senate Bill 208, 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. Land Conveyance Appraisal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Dept. of Transportation) No land conveyances are included in Senate Bill 208, House Amendment #3; therefore, there are no appraisals to be filed. Housing Affordability Impact Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Housing Development Authority) This bill will have no effect on the cost of constructing, purchasing, owning, or selling a single-family residence. Correctional Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (Dept of Corrections) Corrections Population Impact: None; Fiscal Impact: $68,984,327 over a ten-year period House Floor Amendment No. 4 Deletes reference to: 820 ILCS 115/15 Adds reference to: New Act 30 ILCS 105/5.990 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Requires employers to provide paid leave to employees for any purpose. Sets forth provisions regarding employer responsibilities, unlawful employer practices, and other matters. Provides that an employee who works in this State is entitled to earn and use a minimum of 40 hours of paid leave during a 12-month period. Makes it unlawful for an employer to interfere with, restrain, deny, change scheduled work days or hours to avoid paid leave, or discipline an employee for the exercise of any right under the Act. Authorizes the Department of Labor to administer and enforce the Act. Provides for the imposition of civil penalties. Authorizes individuals to file civil actions with respect to violations. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Paid Leave for All Workers Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective January 1, 2024

Creates the Counseling Compact Act. Provides that the State of Illinois enters into the Counseling Compact. Specifies that the Compact's purpose is to facilitate interstate practice of licensed professional counselors with the goal of improving public access to professional counseling services. Sets out provisions concerning the privilege to practice, obtaining a new home state license, active duty military personnel, telehealth, adverse actions, Counseling Compact Commission, data systems, rulemaking, oversight, dispute resolution, and enforcement. Contains other provisions concerning the Commission, the Compact, and the procedures governing participating in and construction of the Compact. Amends the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act. Requires the Professional Counselor Licensing and Disciplinary Board to submit a report to the General Assembly with recommendations of any statutory changes and budgetary changes needed to comply with the requirements of the Counseling Compact. Requires the Board and Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to modify, if needed, Board and Department rules to comply with the requirements of the Counseling Compact. Provides that the changes to the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act are effective immediately.

Creates MSR Justice Reinvestment Task Force Act. Creates the Justice Reinvestment Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall study the use of mandatory supervised release for different populations, including conditions required by statute and by agency action, resources available to serve people on mandatory supervised release, supervision policies and practices, responses to possible violations, and other features of the mandatory supervised release system in Illinois. Establishes membership on the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall meet no less than 4 times and shall provide recommendations for legislation to the General Assembly and the Governor's Office on or before January 1, 2024. Provides that the members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation. Provides that the Council of State Governments Justice Center may provide convening and analytical support for the Task Force and ensure the requirements of the Task Force are met. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2025. Effective immediately.

Creates the Veterans I.O.U. Act. Provides that the General Assembly finds that veterans are owed a debt of gratitude for their service; that there is a known and large gap between veterans and their awareness of the resources, services, and benefits available to them, especially in times of need; and that closing this gap begins with being able to identify a veteran, which can eliminate the disconnect between a veteran and the resources, services, and benefits the veteran may need. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to develop, by rule, standards for identifying veterans and making them aware of resources, services, and benefits that veterans may need. Provides that the rules shall require State agencies, local government agencies, as well as licensed individuals and entities, to ask an individual at the point of initial contact if the individual has ever served in any branch of the military of the United States, including the National Guard, reserve, or active duty. Defines "points of contact" to include, but not be limited to, stops by law enforcement, arrest and booking, emergency room visits, visits to food pantries, and visits to homeless shelters. Provides that if an individual affirmatively answers at the point of contact that the individual is a veteran, the veteran shall be offered information and outreach in accordance with the Department's standards. Requires outreach by the Department to commence within 48 hours after the initial contact and to include, but not be limited to: information regarding available resources, services, and benefits; assistance in contacting providers of the resources, services, and benefits; assistance in enrolling in the resources, services, and benefits; and where available, support for the veteran's family. Provides that outreach regarding resources, services, and benefits shall not be limited to resources of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Requires State agencies, local government agencies, and licensed individuals and entities to comply with the Department's standards that apply to them. Grants the Department rulemaking authority and requires State agencies, local government agencies, and licensed individuals and entities to comply with those rules.

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Veterans in Justice Act. Includes legislative findings. Amends the Emergency Telephone System Act. Provides that the Illinois State Police, with the advice and recommendation of the Statewide 9-1-1 Administrator, shall adopt rules to allow a veteran to submit his or her name and phone number to the Administrator so that each time that veteran would call 9-1-1 or 9-8-8 that the 9-1-1 or 9-8-8 operator would see that the individual is a veteran and transmit that information to first responders, crisis responders, and deflection teams. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 and the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that evidence related to a person's veteran status is not admissible in any civil or criminal proceeding, except in specified circumstances. Further amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 to provide that a person's veteran status shall not be used by the court to enhance the person's sentence. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections and the County Jail Act. Provides that a facility or county jail may not classify an inmate or prisoner as more dangerous or otherwise treat the inmate or prisoner less favorably than other inmates or prisoners due to the fact that the inmate or prisoner is a veteran or a combat veteran. Provides that each facility or county jail shall make available to all veterans within the facility or jail resources available to those inmates because of their veteran status, including benefits provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, and other, non-VA benefits.