Rep. Lisa Hernandez

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to annually include information about the Child Care Assistance Program and the federal dependent care allowance in the language that schools are required to provide to students eligible for Monetary Award Program grants. Specifies the information that must be included. Provides that an institution of higher learning that participates in the Monetary Award Program shall provide, at a minimum, the information to all students who are enrolled, or who are accepted for enrollment and are intending to enroll, and who have been identified by the Commission as Monetary Award Program-eligible at the institution. Provides that an institution of higher learning shall also provide the information to any student identified by the institution of higher learning as a student with dependents. Provides that an institution of higher learning may designate a public benefits liaison or single point person to assist students in taking the necessary steps to obtain public benefits if eligible. Requires the Commission to adopt rules to implement the provisions on or before October 1, 2022. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that school counseling services may include the promotion of career and technical education by assisting each student to determine an appropriate postsecondary plan based upon the student's skills, strengths, and goals and assisting the student to implement the best practices that improve career or workforce readiness after high school. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the school counseling services of developing individual career plans with students and assisting all students with a college or postsecondary education plan includes planning for postsecondary education, as appropriate, and engaging in related and relevant career and technical education coursework in high school.

Amends the Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 15 ILCS 60/1 Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 100/5-45.21 new 20 ILCS 2505/2505-306 new 30 ILCS 105/5.970 new 30 ILCS 105/6z-130 new 40 ILCS 5/1-160 40 ILCS 5/7-142.2 new 40 ILCS 5/14-147.7 new 40 ILCS 5/14-152.1 40 ILCS 5/24-105.3 new 50 ILCS 705/3.2 new 50 ILCS 708/24 new 55 ILCS 5/3-6042 new 230 ILCS 10/5.4 new 730 ILCS 5/3-2-10.5 new 730 ILCS 110/15.2 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Employee, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), and Deferred Compensation Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Creates a deferred retirement option plan (DROP) for certain sheriff's law enforcement employees and State policemen who are eligible to retire and meet other criteria. Provides that a participant in the DROP may elect to participate for up to 5 years. Provides that on the effective date of the member's election, the System or Fund shall credit the member's account on a monthly basis, for as long as the member participates in the DROP, an amount equal to the monthly amount of retirement annuity the member would otherwise be eligible to receive had the member retired on the date of the election. Sets forth other provisions concerning interest on the account; termination of the DROP; and contributions. Provides that a State policeman, investigator for the Secretary of State, conservation police officer, investigator for the Department of Revenue or the Illinois Gaming Board, investigator for the Office of the Attorney General, Illinois Commerce Commission police officer, or arson investigator under the Tier 2 provisions is entitled to an annuity calculated under the alternative retirement formula, in lieu of the regular or minimum retirement annuity, only if the person has withdrawn from service with not less than 20 years of eligible creditable service and has attained age 55 (instead of age 60), regardless of whether the attainment of age 55 (instead of age 60) occurs while the person is still in service. In the Deferred Compensation Article, provides that an employee under the State Employee Article who participates in the deferred retirement option plan shall have at least 7.6% of his or her pretax gross compensation for each compensation period deferred into his or her deferred compensation account. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize the Board of Trustees of the State Employees' Retirement System to adopt emergency rules. Amends the Law Enforcement Intern Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board and the Illinois Community College Board shall create a report with recommendations to the General Assembly for establishing minimum requirements for credits that may transfer from community colleges to satisfy the requirements of law enforcement and correctional intern courses under the Act. Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Counties Code, the Illinois Gambling Act, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the Probation and Probation Officers Act. Provides that programs shall be established for specified officers, investigators, agents, and employees who are retiring in good standing to purchase either one or both of the following: (1) any badge previously issued to the individual; or (2) if the individual has a currently valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card, the service firearm issued or previously issued to the individual. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Creates the Illinois Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention Board to review proposals and award grants for recruitment and retention efforts proposed by employers of law enforcement personnel in Illinois or nonprofit entities that have established experience in recruitment and retention efforts in Illinois. Effective immediately, except that the provisions amending the Illinois Police Training Act are effective July 1, 2023, and provisions amending the Law Enforcement Intern Training Act are effective January 1, 2023. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 15 ILCS 60/1 Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 100/5-45.21 new 20 ILCS 2505/2505-306 new 30 ILCS 105/5.970 new 30 ILCS 105/6z-130 new 40 ILCS 5/1-160 40 ILCS 5/7-142.2 new 40 ILCS 5/14-147.7 new 40 ILCS 5/14-152.1 40 ILCS 5/24-105.3 new 50 ILCS 705/3.2 new 50 ILCS 708/24 new 55 ILCS 5/3-6042 new 230 ILCS 10/5.4 new 730 ILCS 5/3-2-10.5 new 730 ILCS 110/15.2 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Employee, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), and Deferred Compensation Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Creates a deferred retirement option plan (DROP) for certain sheriff's law enforcement employees and State policemen who are eligible to retire and meet other criteria. Provides that a participant in the DROP may elect to participate for up to 5 years. Provides that on the effective date of the member's election, the System or Fund shall credit the member's account on a monthly basis, for as long as the member participates in the DROP, an amount equal to the monthly amount of retirement annuity the member would otherwise be eligible to receive had the member retired on the date of the election. Sets forth other provisions concerning interest on the account; termination of the DROP; and contributions. Provides that a State policeman, investigator for the Secretary of State, conservation police officer, investigator for the Department of Revenue or the Illinois Gaming Board, investigator for the Office of the Attorney General, Illinois Commerce Commission police officer, or arson investigator under the Tier 2 provisions is entitled to an annuity calculated under the alternative retirement formula, in lieu of the regular or minimum retirement annuity, only if the person has withdrawn from service with not less than 20 years of eligible creditable service and has attained age 55 (instead of age 60), regardless of whether the attainment of age 55 (instead of age 60) occurs while the person is still in service. In the Deferred Compensation Article, provides that an employee under the State Employee Article who participates in the deferred retirement option plan shall have at least 7.6% of his or her pretax gross compensation for each compensation period deferred into his or her deferred compensation account. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize the Board of Trustees of the State Employees' Retirement System to adopt emergency rules. Amends the Law Enforcement Intern Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall collaborate with the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education to create a report with recommendations to the General Assembly for establishing minimum requirements for credits that may transfer from public institutions of higher education to satisfy the requirements of law enforcement and correctional intern courses under the Act. Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Counties Code, the Illinois Gambling Act, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the Probation and Probation Officers Act. Provides that programs shall be established for specified officers, investigators, agents, and employees who are retiring in good standing to purchase either one or both of the following: (1) any badge previously issued to the individual; or (2) if the individual has a currently valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card, the service firearm issued or previously issued to the individual. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Creates the Illinois Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention Board to review proposals and award grants for recruitment and retention efforts proposed by employers of law enforcement personnel in Illinois or nonprofit entities that have established experience in recruitment and retention efforts in Illinois. Effective immediately, except that the provisions amending the Illinois Police Training Act are effective July 1, 2023, and provisions amending the Law Enforcement Intern Training Act are effective January 1, 2023. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 5 ILCS 100/5-45.21 new 30 ILCS 105/5.970 new 30 ILCS 105/6z-130 new 40 ILCS 5/7-142.2 new 40 ILCS 5/14-147.7 new 40 ILCS 5/14-152.1 40 ILCS 5/24-105.3 new 50 ILCS 705/3.2 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause with only the following portions of the engrossed bill: (i) provisions amending the Law Enforcement Intern Training Act requiring the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to collaborate with the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education to create a report with recommendations to the General Assembly for establishing minimum requirements for credits that may transfer from public institutions of higher education to satisfy the requirements of law enforcement and correctional intern courses; (ii) provisions amending the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code providing that a State policeman, investigator for the Secretary of State, conservation police officer, investigator for the Department of Revenue or the Illinois Gaming Board, investigator for the Office of the Attorney General, Illinois Commerce Commission police officer, or arson investigator under the Tier 2 provisions is entitled to an annuity calculated under the alternative retirement formula, in lieu of the regular or minimum retirement annuity, only if the person has withdrawn from service with not less than 20 years of eligible creditable service and has attained age 55 (instead of age 60), regardless of whether the attainment of age 55 (instead of age 60) occurs while the person is still in service; and (iii) provisions amending the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Counties Code, the Illinois Gambling Act, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the Probation and Probation Officers Act requiring programs to be established for specified officers, investigators, agents, and employees who are retiring in good standing to purchase specified badges or service firearms. Effective immediately, except that Section 15 takes effect January 1, 2023.

Amends the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Services Act. Repeals provisions regarding the Act's repealer. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the fee that must be paid to a foreign fire insurance board by a corporation, company, or association that is not incorporated under the laws of the State and which is engaged in effecting fire insurance in the municipality or fire protection district shall be 2% of the gross receipts received from fire insurance upon property situated within the municipality or district (rather than a sum not exceeding 2%). Allows a foreign fire insurance board aggrieved by a violation relating to foreign fire insurance board fees to file suit. Provides that a department foreign fire insurance board may: (i) establish, manage, and maintain an account for the holding and expenditure of all funds paid to the board; (ii) contract for the purchase of goods and services; and (iii) sue all parties necessary to enforce its rights. Limits home rule powers. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 65 ILCS 5/11-10-0.01 new 65 ILCS 5/11-10-2.5 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Provides that the Foreign Fire Insurance Company Fees Division may be cited as the Foreign Fire Insurance License Fee Act. Provides that a license fee may be recovered from a third party. Provides that a foreign fire insurance board's or board secretary's designee may examine the books, records, and other papers for verification purposes. Provides that the provisions are applicable to receipts from contracts of marine fire insurance (rather than the entire Section shall not be applicable to receipts from contracts of marine insurance). Provides that the board may elect other officers, in addition to a chairman and treasurer, deemed necessary by the board. Strikes provisions concerning the treasurer giving bond to the municipality in which the fire department is organized. Provides that, in the contracting for the purchase of services using funds paid to the board, services may include, but are not limited to, the procurement and payment of all accounting, legal, collection, or other professional services deemed by the board to be necessary to the execution of its duties under the Division. Provides that binding arbitration is the exclusive method to solve disputes between a fire chief and the remaining members of a foreign fire insurance board concerning whether any expenditure of funds by the board is for the maintenance, use, or benefit of the department or for any other purpose authorized by the Division. Adds provisions concerning collection of licensing fees. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2023 (rather than effective immediately).

Creates the Student Confidential Reporting Act. Subject to appropriation, requires the Illinois State Police, in consultation with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, State Board of Education, Department of Children and Family Services, and the Department of Human Services, to establish a program for receiving reports and other information from the public regarding potential self-harm or potential harm or criminal acts directed at school students, school employees, or schools in this State. Requires the program to include a Safe2Help Illinois helpline (defined as a school helpline involving a statewide toll-free telephone number, social media, a website, or other means of communication, or a combination of a toll-free telephone number and another means of communication, that transmits voice, text, photographic, or other messages and information to the Safe2Help Illinois operators). Provides for referrals from and the discontinuance of other State-operated school violence help lines (excluding the CPS Violence Prevention Hotline). Sets forth other program and Illinois State Police requirements. Contains provisions concerning the confidentiality of reported information, funding, and annual reporting. Provides that a Safe2Help Illinois employee, law enforcement agency, or law enforcement official acting in good faith in compliance with the Act shall have immunity from any civil or criminal liability that might otherwise occur as a result of handling tips, with the exception of willful or wanton misconduct. Provides that the Illinois State Police may adopt emergency rules to implement the Act. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 5 ILCS 100/5-45.21 new Defines "Safe2Help Illinois Manager". Provides that beginning on the date that Safe2Help Illinois is operational, any State or locally operated school violence help line currently in operation shall work in conjunction with Safe2Help Illinois as needed. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall ensure that program personnel or call center staff, or both, are appropriately trained in the following areas: (1) crisis management, including recognizing mental illness and emotional disturbance; (2) the resources that are available for providing mental health and other human services; (3) matters determined by the Illinois State Police to be relevant to the operation of the program; and (4) handling of criminal intelligence information regarding primary and data collection, storage, and dissemination. Provides that the Safe2Help Illinois program manager, in consultation with the Illinois State Police and the State Board of Education, shall prepare an annual report. Deletes provisions requiring the Department of Innovation and Technology's dedicated website to provide risk assessment information for students. Deletes provisions requiring the Illinois State Police to be responsible for the administrative oversight of the Safe2Help Illinois program. Deletes the amendatory changes to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 705 ILCS 405/1-7 Further amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Permits the disclosure of juvenile law enforcement records to the appropriate school official only if the agency or officer believes that there is an imminent threat of physical harm to students, school personnel, or others (removing "who are present in the school or on school grounds").

Amends the School Code. Provides that a substitute teacher may teach up to 120 (instead of 90) school days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the same school year. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that substitute teachers may teach up to 120 school days beginning with the 2021-2022 school year through the 2022-2023 school year.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that a paraprofessional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who is at least 18 years of age and will be using the Educator License with Stipulations exclusively for elementary education. Makes a corresponding change. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill, but allows a paraprofessional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations to be issued to an applicant who is at least 18 years of age only until the individual reaches the age of 19 years and otherwise meets the criteria for a paraprofessional educator endorsement.

Amends the School Code. Provides that an individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License may teach up to 15 (instead of 5) consecutive days per licensed teacher who is under contract. Provides that a school district may hire an individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License for teacher absences lasting 6 or more days per licensed teacher who is under contract, if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that it is a violation for an owner or any other person engaging in a real estate transaction, or for a real estate broker or salesman to otherwise make unavailable or deny a dwelling because of unlawful discrimination, familial status, or an arrest record. Allows a plaintiff or defendant to demand a trial by jury for specified civil actions. Allows a circuit court or jury to award any remedy set forth under a provision regarding a hearing on a complaint upon the finding of a civil rights violation. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 775 ILCS 5/3-102 from Ch. 68, par. 3-102 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill, and makes the following change: Removes language providing that it is a civil rights violation for an owner or any other person engaging in a real estate transaction, or for a real estate broker or salesman to otherwise make unavailable or deny a dwelling because of unlawful discrimination, familial status, or an arrest record. Effective immediately.