Rep. Theresa Mah

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a sheriff in a county of the third class may receive a fee of $60 for serving or attempting to serve any summons filed in person on a defendant and $40 for serving or attempting to serve any summons filed electronically on a defendant (rather than $35 for serving or attempting to serve any summons on a defendant). Provides that a sheriff in a county of the third class may receive a fee of $60 for serving or attempting to serve all other process, filed in person on a defendant and $40 for serving or attempting to serve all other process filed electronically on a defendant (rather than $35 for serving or attempting to serve all other process on each defendant). Provides that a sheriff in a county of the third class may receive a fee of $25 for returning each process initially filed in person and $15 for returning each process initially filed electronically (rather than $15 for returning each process).

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that a school shall provide written notice to the parents or guardian of a child with disabilities that the parents or guardian have the right to have an individualized education program (IEP) advocate present at any meeting regarding the child's current or prospective individualized education program and that the parents or guardian have the right to ask for an IEP facilitator for the child's IEP. Provides that the school may provide the written notification as a part of other provided documentation, including, but not limited to, admission and enrollment documents.

Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Creates the Anesthesia Review Panel. Provides that the Panel shall consist of 6 members and that members of the Panel shall be licensed dentists in the State of Illinois whose licenses are active and in good standing. Provides that the Panel shall meet on a regular basis or as needed to consider and recommend applications for permits to administer sedation or anesthesia in a timely manner and that members of the Panel shall be reimbursed for all legitimate, necessary, and authorized expenses incurred for attending meetings. Requires that the Panel recommend to the Director of the Division of Professional Regulation when an onsite inspection of a permit holder or applicant may be necessary and conduct an inspection with a Board of Dentistry member present. Requires that the Panel evaluate results of onsite inspections and make recommendations to the Board and the Director as to the eligibility of applicants. Requires that the Panel advise the Board and the Director regarding anesthesiology-related matters that include mortality and morbidity statistics. Effective immediately.

Amends the Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act. Provides that an employer shall provide 30 minutes of paid break time (rather than reasonable break time) to an employee who needs to express breast milk for her nursing infant child each time the employee has the need to express milk for one year after the child's birth. Provides that the employee may use other paid break time or meal time for any time needed in excess of 30 minutes. Provides that an employer shall provide paid break time (rather than reasonable break time) as needed by the employee unless to do so would create an undue hardship.

Creates the Safe Gun Storage Act. Provides that a firearm owner shall not store or keep any firearm in any premises where the firearm owner knows or reasonably should know a minor without the lawful permission of the minor's parent, guardian, or person having charge of the minor, an at-risk person, or a prohibited person is likely to gain access to the firearm unless the firearm is secured in a locked container, properly engaged so as to render the firearm inaccessible or unusable to any person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user. Provides that if the firearm is carried by or under the control of the owner or other lawfully authorized user, then the firearm is deemed lawfully stored or kept. Provides that a violation of the Act is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $500, except (i) if any person knows or reasonably should know that a minor, an at-risk person, or a prohibited person is likely to gain access to a firearm belonging to or under the control of that person, and a minor, an at-risk person, or a prohibited person obtains the firearm, the civil penalty shall not exceed $1,000 and (ii) if a minor, an at-risk person, or a prohibited person obtains a firearm and uses it to injure or cause the death of a person or uses the firearm in connection with a crime, the civil penalty shall not exceed $10,000. Provides that the court may order a person who is found in violation of the Act to perform community service or pay restitution in lieu of the civil penalties imposed under this Section if good cause is shown. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to preclude civil liabilities for violations of the Act. Provides that a violation of the Act is prima facie evidence of negligence per se in any civil proceeding if a minor, an at-risk person, or a prohibited person obtains a firearm and causes personal injury to the death of oneself or another or uses the firearm in the commission of a crime. Provides that an action to collect a civil penalty under the Act may be brought by the Attorney General or the State's Attorney of the county in which the violation occurred. Provides that any money received from the collection of a civil penalty under the Act shall be deposited in the Mental Health Fund. Defines terms. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2026.

Creates the Child Welfare Agency Liability Task Force to develop and recommend a permanent solution to address the unavailability of liability insurance for child welfare agencies in the State.

Urges full restoration of all eliminated direct support professionals (DSP) hours in the final FY26 State budget to protect the services individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) depend on.

Appropriates $5,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for a grant to Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA for program and operating expenses for youth-development based sports initiatives. Effective July 1, 2025.

Urges the implementation of interventions to support vaccine uptake and reduce disparities in vaccine coverage among children. Urges the Illinois Department of Health, the Illinois State Board of Education, and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to work with pediatricians, clinicians, families, and other stakeholders to ensure infants and children are vaccinated on time and students begin school fully vaccinated. Urges the Illinois Department of Health, the Illinois State Board of Education, and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to continue to invest in immunization initiatives and infrastructure to ensure timely reporting of vaccine coverage to ensure children are protected from vaccine-preventable illness in public and private schools, child care facilities, and pre-kindergarten programs and beyond.

Appropriates $9,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for continued funding to the Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. Effective July 1, 2025.