Rep. Edgar González

Amends the Public Community College Act and the Housing Authorities Act. Permits community colleges and housing authorities to develop affordable housing for community college students. Amends the Illinois Affordable Housing Act. Permits non-exempt local governments to develop affordable housing for community college students in coordination with nonprofit affordable housing developers and housing authorities.

Creates the Higher Education Housing and Opportunities Act. Requires an institution of higher education (including a business, technical, or vocational school) to designate at least one employee who works within the financial aid department, campus housing services, or any other appropriate office or department, as may be determined by the institution, to serve as a liaison between the institution and a homeless student or student in care who is enrolled at the institution. Sets forth the responsibilities of the liaison, the Board of Higher Education, and the institution. Effective August 1, 2022. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill with the following changes. Adds the Illinois Community College Board as a governing body with responsibilities under the Act. Requires an institution to create a position to carry out the responsibilities of a liaison if the number of students experiencing homelessness or students in care exceeds 2% (rather than 1%) of the student body. Effective August 1, 2022.

Amends the School Code and various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. Provides that the governing board of each school district, public university, and community college district must allow a student athlete to modify his or her athletic or team uniform for the purpose of modesty in clothing or attire that is in accordance with the requirements of his or her religion. Provides that a modification to the uniform may include, but is not limited to, the wearing of a hijab, an undershirt, or leggings. Provides that the student is responsible for all costs associated with the modification of the uniform, but allows a school or institution of higher education to provide the modification to its students. Provides that the school or the institution must approve the request from a student to modify the uniform to ensure that the modification does not pose a safety hazard to the student or to other athletes or players. Sets forth requirements for modified headgear. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/22-90 new 105 ILCS 5/27A-5 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill with the following changes. Provides that the governing board must also allow a modification for the purpose of modesty in clothing or attire that is in accordance with his or her cultural values or modesty preferences. Removes language that provides that the request from a student to modify his or her athletic or team uniform must be approved by the governing board and the board shall reasonably accommodate the student's request. Provides instead that the student shall not be required to receive prior approval from the governing board for the modification. Provides that recognized nonpublic schools and charter schools must also allow a student athlete to modify his or her athletic or team uniform for the purpose of modesty in clothing or attire that is in accordance with the requirements of his or her religion or his or her cultural values or modesty preferences. Effective immediately.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Requires every public elementary school and high school to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Asian American history; contains provisions governing this instruction. Provides that the teaching of history of the United States shall include the study of the wrongful incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and the heroic service of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team of the United States Army during World War II. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/27-21 Removes the provisions relating to the history of the United States.

Urges the U.S. Congress to take action in passing the necessary legislation to advance the human rights and protections of the immigrant community in the United States.

Urges Congress to adopt an affirmative right to vote and condemns voter suppression efforts across the United States.

Calls upon the Illinois Department of Employment Security to make an immediate public commitment to reopen their public-access public employment offices to provide face-to-face help to Illinois residents who urgently need assistance. Calls upon all of the other departments of the State of Illinois to provide the Department of Employment Security with advice, technical assistance, and guidance on how to safely reopen public-access office spaces under current conditions. Expresses support for the working people of Illinois and recognizes the stressful circumstances of operating a publicly accessible office in a time of pandemic.

Urges the Governor to sign the Multi-State Memorandum of Understanding calling for 30 percent of new truck and bus sales to be zero-emission by 2030 and 100 percent zero-emission by 2050.

Proposes to amend the Bill of Rights Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that employees shall have the fundamental right to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions, and to protect their economic welfare and safety at work. Provides that no law shall be passed that interferes with, negates, or diminishes the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively over their wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and work place safety, including any law or ordinance that prohibits the execution or application of agreements between employers and labor organizations that represent employees requiring membership in an organization as a condition of employment. Provides that these provisions are controlling over home rule powers. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Commends the National Mexican Museum of Art for its contributions to Mexican-American Culture and community.