Rep. Edgar González

Amends the Housing Authorities Act. Requires every housing authority to collect: (i) the number of applications submitted for admission to federally assisted housing; (ii) the number of applications submitted for admission to federally assisted housing by individuals with a criminal history record, if the authority is conducting criminal history records checks of applicants or other household members; (iii) the number of applications for admission to federally assisted housing that were denied on the basis of a criminal history record, if the housing authority is conducting criminal history records checks of applicants or other household members; and other matters. Requires the information to be submitted annually to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority and to the General Assembly. Defines "criminal history record" and "criminal history report". Prohibits housing authorities from considering certain information when determining whether to rent or lease to an applicant for housing, including: (1) an arrest or detention; (2) criminal charges or indictments that do not result in a conviction; (3) a conviction that has been vacated, ordered, expunged, sealed, or impounded by a court; and other information. Requires housing authorities to create a system for the independent review of an applicant's criminal history in accordance with certain criteria. Sets forth when a housing authority may deny an application for housing because of the applicant's or another household member's criminal history record. Requires housing authorities to provide a housing applicant with written notice that details why the applicant was denied housing, including information on the applicant's right to an individualized criminal records assessment hearing regarding the authority's decision. Contains provisions on the criminal records assessment hearing process and other matters. Pension Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 5574, as amended by HA 1, will not impact any public pension fund or retirement system in the State of Illinois. Judicial Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Admin Office of the Illinois Courts) Based on a review of the bill, it has been determined that the proposed legislation would neither increase nor decrease the number of judges needed in the state of Illinois. State Debt Impact Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 5574, as amended by House Amendment 1, would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued or State-supported bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. Balanced Budget Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Office of Management and Budget) Please be advised that the Balanced Budget Note Act does not apply to House Bill 5574, House Amendment 1 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 Committee Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Transportation) No land conveyances are included in House Bill 5574 House Amendment #1 ; therefore, there are no appraisals to be filed. State Mandates Fiscal Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate. Home Rule Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not pre-empt home rule authority. Correctional Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Dept of Corrections) This amendment has no fiscal impact or population impact on the department. Housing Affordability Impact Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Housing Development Authority) This bill will have no effect on the cost of constructing, purchasing, owning, or selling a single-family residence.

Amends the School Code. With respect to school districts with more than 275,000 inhabitants, requires a school to provide written notification to the parent or guardian of any student who commits an act or acts of misconduct, and requires a copy of any statement made by the student to be provided to the parent or guardian within 24 hours after the statement has been made. Sets forth the information that must be included in the disciplinary report. Requires that a copy of the disciplinary report be provided to the parent or guardian of the disciplined student. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Requires a school district to provide notification to the parent or guardian of a student with an individualized education program (IEP) that the student may be eligible to receive additional specified services, benefits, or resources. Provides that the written notification must be provided no later than 30 days following the implementation of the initial IEP and once a year thereafter. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning instruction.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that an employee is entitled to absent himself or herself from work for a period of 4 hours (rather than 2) to vote. Provides that an employee receiving an hourly wage shall be compensated for the time used to vote, up to 4 hours.

Amends the Blind Vendors Act. Renames the Act the Vending Facilities Act. Provides that priority shall be given to blind vendors in the operation of 50% of the vending facilities on State property (rather than priority shall be given to blind vendors in the operation of vending facilities on State property). Requires each State agency controlling State property or parts thereof where vending machines or vending facilities are located to implement an aspirational goal of awarding contracts representing 50% of the vending machines or vending facilities under its control to minority-owned or women-owned businesses. Provides that each State-operated facility that has 6 or more vending machines under its control shall award at least 2 contracts for vending, where practical. Provides that the provisions of the amendatory Act apply to written contracts or agreements entered into on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act; and that any written contract or agreement in place prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act between a State agency and the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind shall be maintained and fully adhered to including any moneys paid to individual vending facilities. Defines terms. Provides that to ensure adequate competition and to encourage new participants, all written contracts or agreements for vending machines or vending facilities shall be limited to a 5-year term. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a home rule municipality with a population in excess of 1,000,000 may restructure the rates of an existing real estate transfer tax to specified amounts. Provides that if the municipality increases the real estate transfer tax rates as provided in this subsection, then of the entire proceeds received from the real estate transfer tax, 75% shall be dedicated to the city's general budget and 25% shall be dedicated to housing and services to combat homelessness.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that it is an unlawful practice for a person selling or offering for sale goods or services at retail to: refuse to accept cash from a consumer as a form of payment; post signs on the premises that cash payment is not accepted; or charge a higher price to consumers who pay cash than they would pay using any other form of payment. Provides that "at retail" includes any retail transaction conducted in person and excludes any telephone, mail, or Internet-based transaction.

Creates the Financial Transaction Tax Act. Beginning January 1, 2020, imposes a tax on the privilege of engaging in a financial transaction on any of the following exchanges or boards of trade: the Chicago Stock Exchange; the Chicago Mercantile Exchange; the Chicago Board of Trade; or the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Provides that the tax is imposed at a rate of $1 per transaction for all transactions for which the underlying asset is an agricultural product, a financial instruments contract, or an options contract. Provides that transactions executed via open outcry that are physically filled on the exchange floor are exempt from the tax. Provides that the term "financial transaction" means a transaction involving the purchase or sale of a stock contract, futures contract, swap contract, credit default swap contract, or options contract, but does not include a transaction involving securities held in a retirement account or a transaction involving a mutual fund. Effective January 1, 2020.

Amends the Illinois Freedom to Work Act. Expands the scope of the Act to apply to all employees (rather than only low-wage employees). Prohibits all covenants not to compete. Effective immediately.