Rep. Lisa Hernandez

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to design, implement, and maintain a statewide program to provide voluntary short-term universal newborn home visiting services to all Illinois families with newborn infants for the purpose of promoting the physical, mental, and social well-being of newborn infants and their parents or caregivers. Requires the Department to: (i) consider recommendations from the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems grant report when adopting rules to implement the universal newborn home visiting program; and (ii) consult, coordinate, and collaborate with specified stakeholders when designing the universal newborn home visiting program. Contains provisions concerning grant awards for the establishment or expansion of local universal newborn home visiting programs; criteria for the selection of eligible service models; program requirements; program data collection and reporting; and other matters. Effective July 1, 2027.

Amends the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985. Provides that all apprentices shall be employed under an apprenticeship agreement between the sponsoring salon or shop and the apprentice that is approved by the Department of Labor. Provides requirements for the completion of an apprenticeship program, including training hours and supplemental instruction. Provides that an apprentice shall only provide licensed services under the supervision of a cosmetologist, barber, esthetician, or nail technician with an active license and for the scope of services for which the supervising licensed professional is licensed to practice. Requires apprentices to be trained in all branches of practical work and related supplemental instruction for the scope of practice for the license the apprentice seeks to obtain. Defines "apprentice". Provides that a person is qualified for a license as a barber if the person has graduated from a school of barbering or school of cosmetology approved by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or completed an apprenticeship under the Act (rather than only if the person has graduated from a school). Provides that the Department shall prescribe reasonable rules for the registration of apprentices.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a grocery store that offers a digital coupon to consumers shall make available a corresponding paper coupon of equal value. Provides that the paper coupons shall be easily accessible at the service desk and may also be placed in other locations around the store. Provides that a grocery store that violates the requirement commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Responsible Gun Manufacturing Act. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits the offense of unlawful possession of weapons when the person knowingly manufactures, sells, or offers to sell, purchases, receives, manufactures, imports, or transfers a convertible pistol. Establishes penalties. Provides exemptions. Provides that a machine gun also includes any convertible pistol equipped with a switch. Defines "convertible pistol", "switch", and "common household tool". Contains a severability provision.

Amends the Motor Vehicle Franchise Act. Provides that it shall be deemed a violation for a manufacturer, a distributor, a wholesaler, or other specified entity to distribute new motor vehicles directly to consumers or to circumvent franchise distribution obligations under the Act. Provides that it shall be deemed a violation for any manufacturer with an established franchise dealer network in the State to engage in the sale, lease, or servicing of new motor vehicles in a manner that bypasses or competes with the manufacturer's existing franchisee network. Makes conforming and other changes. Defines terms.

Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, a person or entity shall not manufacture a food product for human consumption that contains brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, or red dye 3. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2028, a person or entity shall not sell, deliver, distribute, hold, or offer for sale a food product for human consumption that contains any of those substances. Provides that a person or entity that violates the prohibition shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for a first violation and not to exceed $10,000 for each subsequent violation, with enforcement by the Attorney General or a State's Attorney. Makes a conforming change.

Creates the Dependency Determinations for Unaccompanied Children Act. Creates a process for an unaccompanied child in the custody of the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement housed in Illinois who is alleged to have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by one or both parents to file a petition seeking a finding of dependency under the Act. Provides that a child declared dependent is eligible for oversight and services as ordered by the court and may be referred for psychological, educational, medical, or social services deemed necessary as a result of parental abuse, abandonment, or neglect or for protection against trafficking or domestic violence. Defines terms. Makes legislative findings. Effective immediately.

Amends the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act. Requires non-exempt local governments to provide residents with notice and the opportunity for comment at a public hearing prior to adopting an affordable housing plan. Requires a non-exempt local government to provide proof of its compliance with the notice and public hearing requirements when it submits a copy of its affordable housing plan to the Illinois Housing Development Authority. Expands the list of information that must be provided in the affordable housing plan to include, (i) an identification of "specific lands" (rather than "lands") within the jurisdiction that are most appropriate for the construction of affordable housing, (ii) proposed timelines to commence "specific actions and deadlines" (rather than "actions") to implement the components of the affordable housing plan, and (iii) incentives, including certain measures to address the need for affordable housing, that the local government may provide for the purpose of attracting affordable housing. In a provision permitting certain persons to appeal a local government's denial of a proposed affordable housing plan, expands the list to include a service provider that is under contract to provide services for potential residents of a proposed supportive housing project or community-integrated living arrangement that is included in the proposed affordable housing plan. Contains provisions concerning final actions or decisions by the governing body of the local government on the proposed affordable housing plans; appeal procedures and timelines; and other matters. Expands the Illinois Housing Development Authority's rulemaking authority to include the adoption of rules and regulations concerning the substance of affordable housing plans consistent with the changes made in the amendatory Act.

Maddy summaryHB 878 amends the State Comptroller Act. It makes a technical change to a section within the Act that concerns its short title. This bill primarily affects the text of the existing law rather than introducing new policy.

Commends Dr. Ronald "Ron" Perlman for his extraordinary lifetime of leadership, advocacy, mentorship, educational service, and enduring contributions to the people and communities of the State of Illinois and thanks him for his lasting impact on generations of educators, administrators, students, families, and community leaders.