Rep. Lisa Hernandez

Creates the Office of Language Equity and Access Act. Provides that the Office of Language Equity and Access is created in the Governor's Office of New Americans to ensure equitable and meaningful access to State information, services, programs, and activities for persons who have limited English proficiency. Provides that the Director of the Office shall work with State agencies and use available resources within the Office of New Americans and Office of Equity to ensure that, among other things, each State agency takes reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to services, programs, and activities by persons with limited English proficiency. Provides that the Office shall have a full-time Director who is bilingual and has experience in serving immigrant populations. Describes the duties and responsibilities of the Director. Provides that there shall be a bilingual employment plan, which would require designations of positions as bilingual and result in the hiring of qualified personnel who are bilingual. Provides that the Director shall comply with specified requirements concerning the need for interpreters and translators. Provides that the Director shall develop a template and mechanism for collecting, storing, and analyzing language access plans.

Amends the Invest in Kids Act. Provides that a taxpayer may take a credit under the Act for tax years ending before January 1, 2029 (currently January 1, 2024). Provides that, beginning in calendar year 2024, the aggregate amount of credits the Department of Revenue may award under the Act in any calendar year may not exceed $50,000,000 (currently, $75,000,000). Provides that contributions under the Act may be directed to students whose permanent address is located in an underserved area but may not be directed to a particular student. Provides that, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, the amount of the credit under the Act shall be 100% of the first $5,000 in contributions made by the taxpayer during the taxable year, plus (i) 55% of the portion of the qualified contributions made by the taxpayer that exceeds the first $5,000 and is not directed to students whose permanent address is located in an underserved area and (ii) 65% of the of the portion of the qualified contributions made by the taxpayer that exceeds the first $5,000 and is directed to students whose permanent address is located in an underserved area. Effective immediately.

Congratulates Chef Atzimba Perez on her accomplishments as a chef and as a community advocate. Congratulates her on becoming a legal resident of the United States.

Appropriates $50,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security for supplemental disaster relief grants. Effective July 1, 2024.

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Provides that all agency rules establishing procedures for contested cases may include procedures for requesting language assistance. Provides that, in a contested case, all parties shall be afforded an opportunity for an administrative hearing after reasonable notice in the preferred spoken language of the parties, if known by the agency. Provides that notice for the administrative hearings shall include instructions at the top of the notice, written in, at a minimum, English, Spanish, Polish, Gujarati, Urdu, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, and Tagalog, for assistance in translating the contents of the notice, and a statement written in those languages. Defines "language assistance". Provides that the administrative law judge has the duty to inquire and determine if a participant in the hearing needs language assistance to participate in or understand the hearing. Provides that if an individual for whom English is a second language knows some English, it should not prohibit that individual from being allowed to receive language assistance. Provides that the examination of the individual believed to be in need of language assistance must be done on the record, and the conclusion of the administrative law judge must be stated on the record. Provides that any party or witness has the right to request language assistance to participate in or understand the hearing at any time during the course of the hearing. Creates qualifications for the certification of administrative hearing interpreters.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the month of September of each year is designated as Alopecia Awareness Month to be observed throughout the State to bring awareness to the disease of alopecia.

Creates the Graduate and Retain Our Workforce Act. Establishes the GROW Illinois Program, in which public institutions of higher education award incentive loans to applicants. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission may, each year, administer applications for assistance under the GROW Illinois Program. Sets forth qualifications for recipients, degrees, and jobs. Provides for loan repayment and rulemaking. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (GROW) Illinois Fund as a special fund in the State treasury.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the notice of the transfer of property that is exempt for orphanage, school, or religious purposes shall be filed with the county clerk (currently, the county recorder).

Amends the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, for State Fiscal Year 2024 only and in addition to other amounts provided for school breakfast and lunch programs, the State Board of Education shall provide supplemental nutrition aid to participants in the national school breakfast and lunch programs. Provides that a participant's supplemental nutrition aid shall equal the participant's State Fiscal Year 2023 actual expenditures for providing school breakfast and lunch programs, minus the participant's State Fiscal Year 2023 State reimbursement, minus the participant's State Fiscal Year 2023 federal contribution. Repeals these provisions on January 1, 2026. Effective immediately.

Amends the Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act. Provides that all applicants and registrants shall: (1) provide a valid address and email address to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which shall serve as the address of record and email address of record, respectively, at the time of application for registration or renewal of a registration; and (2) inform the Department of any change of address of record or email address of record within 14 days after such change. Provides that the Secretary (rather than the Department) shall observe the rehearing proceedings. Provides that in a denial for a rehearing, the Secretary may enter an order in accordance with the recommendations of the hearing officer (rather than the Department). Provides that the hearing officer shall report the hearing officer's findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations to the Secretary (rather than the Department). Removes a provision providing that exhibits shall be certified without cost. Makes corresponding and other changes. Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Repeals the Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act on January 1, 2029 (rather than January 1, 2024). Provisions amending the Regulatory Sunset Act are effective immediately.