Rep. Theresa Mah

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that for community-based providers serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, the rates taking effect for services delivered on or after January 1, 2024 shall be increased sufficiently to: (i) provide a minimum $4.00 per hour wage increase over the wages in for front-line personnel; and (ii) provide wages for all other residential non-executive direct care staff, excluding direct support personnel, at the U.S. Department of Labor's average wage. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for ID/DD facilities and MC/DD facilities, the rates taking effect for services delivered on or after January 1, 2024 shall be increased sufficiently to: (i) provide a minimum $4.00 per hour wage increase over the wages in for front-line personnel; and (ii) provide wages for all other residential non-executive direct care staff, excluding direct support personnel, at the U.S. Department of Labor's average wage. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Grants the Departments of Human Services and Healthcare and Family Services emergency rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Creates the Transition and Emergency Home Services Article. Provides that within 4 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department of Human Services shall create a program to provide nursing services and assistance with activities of daily living sufficient to allow individuals who otherwise qualify for placement in a nursing facility to receive short-term services in the community. Provides that the short-term services shall cover both: (1) emergency home services for individuals currently receiving home services who experience a temporary need for a substitute personal assistant because of the unavailability of their other home services providers; and (2) short-term services to bridge periods between release from medical or institutional settings and establishment of long-term home services under a State waiver or other arrangements that allow the individual to live in the community. Provides that a person receiving benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act and residing in a facility, shall receive a personal needs allowance of $90 per monthly, with the Department providing $60 per month in addition to the amount required under Title XVI of the Social Security Act. Provides that facility owners, management, and employees are prohibited from retaliating against facility residents or employees who complain about facility services, including the facility's physical condition, medical care, social supports and services, access to visitation and time outside the facility, and any other attribute connected to a resident's experience of living in a facility. Makes other changes.

Declares March 14, 2023 as "Equal Pay Day". Encourages the citizens of this State to learn about the pay gap that women experience in society and to learn about these various dates that bring attention to the pay gap that specific groups experience.

Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that the State shall not expend or invest any public funds in any organization, nonprofit organization, religious organization, or any other entity that performs conversion therapy. Provides that any public funds owed by the State to an organization performing conversion therapy shall be withheld from such organization, and any contract between the State and that organization shall be void.

Appropriates $9,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for grants to the Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics for expenses of free and charitable clinics. Provides that the funds shall be used to provide care or make referrals for uninsured or underinsured people living with acute and chronic health issues. Provides for reappropriations to the Department of Public Health. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to annually review and update the underlying data for, and use of, indicators used to determine whether a community is designated as an environmental justice community and to establish a process by which communities not designated as environmental justice communities may petition for such a designation. Provides that an applicant for a permit for the construction of a new source that will become a major source subject to the Clean Air Act Permit Program to be located in an environmental justice community or a new source that has or will require a federally enforceable State operating permit and that will be located in an environmental justice community must conduct a public meeting prior to submission of the permit application and must submit with the permit application an environmental justice assessment identifying the potential environmental and health impacts to the area associated with the proposed project. Provides requirements for the environmental justice assessment. Provides that a supplemental fee of $100,000 for each construction permit application shall be assessed if the construction permit application is subject to the requirements regarding the construction of a new source located in an environmental justice community. Contains provisions regarding public participation requirements for permitting transactions in an environmental justice community. Provides that, if the Agency grants a permit to construct, modify, or operate a facility that emits air pollutants and is classified as a minor source, a third party may petition the Pollution Control Board for a hearing to contest the issuance of the permit. Contains provisions regarding environmental justice grievances. Defines terms. Contains other provisions.

Declare's March 8, 2023 as International Women's Day. Reaffirms the State's commitment to pursue strategies that guarantee the basic human rights of women and girls, to promote meaningful and significant participation of women in all aspects of our society, to encourage equitable access to and healthcare for all women and girls, and to support policy initiatives that seek to achieve gender parity and empower all women.

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that the board shall create an educator pipeline development program. Provides that the program shall seek to develop a licensed practical nurse seeking to become a health service nurse, a paraprofessional and related service personnel seeking to become a licensed teacher, or a multilingual staff employee seeking to become a licensed bilingual teacher. Provides that the program shall support up to 120 people per school year. Provides that the program shall partner with Chicago State University, Northeastern Illinois University, and the City Colleges of Chicago. Provides that members of the pipeline program shall complete necessary collegiate course work to attain the members' additional licensure. Provides that program members shall continue to work normally until required student teaching or clinical experiences are required. Provides that members of the program will work with cooperating instructors from the member's affiliate institution toward the successful completion of the member's required work experience. Provides that members of the program will have 3 years to complete the member's coursework and required work experience. Provides that members of the program who successfully complete the member's training will be placed, to the extent practicable, in the school where they completed the member's required work experience. Provides that those members who were unable to be placed at the school where the member completed the work experience shall be placed elsewhere in the school district. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education and the board shall split the costs of the program equally.

Amends the Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act. Requires each law enforcement entity that seizes, forfeits, or receives property under the Act to report specified information about the seizure and forfeiture of that property no later than 60 days after December 31 of the year in which the property is seized or forfeited. Provides that neither a law enforcement entity nor the Illinois State Police shall report the seizure, forfeiture, or receipt of property subject to reporting under federal law through equitable sharing agreements with the federal government. Provides that if a law enforcement entity does not seize, forfeit, or receive forfeiture funds during the reporting period, it shall file a null report. Makes changes concerning the information required in reports filed with the Illinois State Police under the Act. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall post annually on its website certain data. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall, within 120 days after the end of the calendar year, submit to the General Assembly, Attorney General, and Governor a written report summarizing activity in the State for the preceding year. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that the Director's designee may sell or dispose of forfeited property. Amends the Drug Asset Forfeiture Procedure Act. Provides that the Director's designee may dispose of forfeited property.

Creates the Literary and Justice for All Act. Provides that the State Board of Education shall adopt and make available to school districts a rubric by which districts may evaluate curricula and select and implement evidence-based, culturally inclusive core reading instruction programs, a template to develop literacy plans, and guidance on evidence-based practices. Requires the State Board to develop training opportunities in teaching reading and a comprehensive literacy plan for this State. Amends the School Code. Makes changes concerning the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program, the requirements to receive a Professional Educator License, taking a test in reading foundations for certain licensure, and the requirements for educators trained in other states or counties. Effective immediately.