Rep. Theresa Mah

Creates the Equitable Access to Electronic Literature Act. Provides that any publisher who offers a contract or license for electronic literary product acquisition to the public shall offer to license the electronic literary product to libraries, if purchased with public funds, on reasonable terms and under reasonable technological protection measures that will permit libraries to provide their patrons with access to the electronic literary products. Provides that a contract or license shall not restrict a library's right or ability to loan or circulate electronic books and digital audiobooks in specified ways. Provides that a person who violates the provisions of the Act commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Effective January 1, 2023.

Amends the Pawnbroker Regulation Act. Clarifies that it shall be unlawful for any pawnbroker to charge or collect a greater benefit or percentage upon money advanced, and for the use and forbearance thereof, than permitted under the Predatory Loan Prevention Act. Amends the Predatory Loan Prevention Act. Provides that the definition of "loan" includes transactions subject to the Pawnbroker Regulation Act. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for any person or entity to solicit, broker, or otherwise engage in any other activity intended to facilitate or result in, or that in fact facilitates or results in, the origination of a loan that violates the Act. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for any person or entity to advertise or cause to be advertised a loan that violates the Act. Provides that a violation of the Act by a person or entity licensed under the Pawnbroker Regulation Act shall subject the person or entity to discipline in accordance with that Act. Makes other changes. Effective June 1, 2023.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Deletes provision that no person serving a term of natural life imprisonment may be paroled or released except through executive clemency. Provides that a person serving a term of natural life imprisonment is eligible for parole or mandatory supervised release. Provides that a committed person who has attained the age of 60 years and served at least 20 consecutive years of imprisonment or a committed person who has served 25 consecutive years of imprisonment may submit a petition to the Prisoner Review Board seeking parole. Provides for the requirements of the petition. Provides that victims' families shall be notified in a timely manner and provided opportunity to participate at the parole hearing concerning the petitioner's application for parole under this provision in accordance with the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act, the Open Parole Hearings Act, and this Code. Provides that Prisoner Review Board hearings under this provision shall be conducted by a panel of at least 8 members of the Board and a majority vote of the panel is required to grant the petition and release the petitioner on parole. Provides that if parole is denied, the petitioner shall be eligible to reapply for parole no later than 3 years after denial. Effective immediately. Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Prisoner Review Board) HB 2399 (H-AM 1) will have an increased cost to the Prisoner Review Board of over $4.0 Million in first 10 years of program.

Amends the Landscape Architecture Registration Act. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may adopt rules of continuing education for persons registered under the Act. Provides that the Department shall consider the recommendations of the Registered Landscape Architecture Registration Board in establishing the guidelines for the continuing education requirements. Provides that these requirements apply to any person seeking renewal or restoration under provisions concerning registration, renewal, and restoration of the Act.

Creates the Tenant Protection Act. Provides that a landlord may increase the rent no more than once every 12 months, by an amount no greater than the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for the same 12-month period or 3%, whichever is lower. Creates the Residential Rental Registry and requires a landlord to pay a rental registry fee. Requires a landlord to register all dwelling units with the Illinois Housing Development Authority by January 15th of each year. Creates the Right to Counsel Program and directs the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts to contract with or enter a memorandum of agreement with an administering entity to administer the Right to Counsel Program. Creates the Small Rental Property Owner Repairs and Improvement Fund and provides that money in the Fund shall be used by the Illinois Housing Development Authority to provide financial support in the form of grants, zero-interest loans, or low-interest loans to owners with no more than 12 dwelling units. Provides that a landlord found liable for charging rent in excess of the Act shall pay the prevailing tenant damages. Creates the Tenant Bill of Rights, with provisions governing exclusions, the identification of an owner and agent, a landlord's right of access, prohibited harassment, required notices, a landlord's responsibility to maintain, a tenant's remedies, security deposits, notification of foreclosure actions, and the prohibition of retaliatory conduct by a landlord. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides for a rental property capital improvement credit. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Adds provisions governing the refusal to renew and the termination of a tenancy for other good cause. Removes a provision regarding the notice to terminate a tenancy for less than a year. Makes other changes. Makes conforming changes in the State Finance Act and the Condominium Property Act. Repeals the Rent Control Preemption Act. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $6,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department on Aging for services provided under the Family Caregiver Act. Effective July 1, 2021.

Amends the School Visitation Rights Act. Provides that an employer that terminates an employee for absences to attend school conferences is liable in a civil action for damages resulting to the employee. Imposes upon the employer the burden of proof to demonstrate that termination is not related to an employee's absence for attendance at a school conference, behavioral meeting, or academic meeting. Effective August 1, 2021.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall encourage the owners of structures to eliminate nonflashing (steady burning) L-810 lights by January 1, 2024. Provides that the owners of structures constructed on or after March 1, 2022 that are located within migratory flyways, or in ecologically sensitive areas, or are within one mile of a forest preserve or federal or State park or wildlife area shall turn off all lights not required for safety or maintenance between 12:00 a.m. through 7:00 a.m. during migratory seasons. Provides the Department of Natural Resources with rulemaking authority. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: New Act Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Creates the Bird Conservation Commission Act. Creates the Bird Conservation Commission for the purpose of promoting bird conservation and providing education and awareness on issues concerning bird conservation. Adds provisions concerning the membership, duties, powers, and reporting requirements of the Commission. In provisions amending the Wildlife Code, provides that the owners of structures with a height over 50 feet above ground level constructed on or after March 1, 2022 that are located in ecologically sensitive areas, or are within one-half mile of a forest preserve or federal or State park or wildlife area shall turn off all lights not required for safety or maintenance between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. during migratory seasons (instead of requiring owners of structures constructed on or after March 1, 2022 that are located within migratory flyways, or in ecologically sensitive areas, or are within one mile of a forest preserve or federal or State park or Wildlife area to turn off all lights not required for safety or maintenance between 12:00 a.m. through 7:00 a.m. during migratory seasons). Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that acupuncture services performed by an acupuncturist licensed under the Acupuncture Practice Act, who is acting within the scope of his or her license, shall be covered under the medical assistance program. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to apply for any federal waiver or State Plan amendment, if required, to implement such coverage. Permits the Department to adopt any rules necessary for implementation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Public Health Act. Provides that the Director of Public Health shall create an award for individual hospitals that achieve an NTSV cesarean birth rate of 23.6% or lower. The Director shall grant this award to hospitals that achieve the target NTSV cesarean birth rate on an annual basis. Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act and the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a hospital shall record and internally report the NTSV cesarean birth rate for each obstetrician-gynecologist who works at the hospital every 6 months. Provides that the hospital shall submit a copy of this report to the Department of Public Health with the names of the providers redacted. Provides that a hospital shall publicly record and report its cumulative NTSV cesarean birth rate on its website every 6 months. Provides that a hospital shall submit a copy of this report to the Department of Public Health. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 2305/7.6 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act and the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires hospitals organized or licensed under the Acts to record and internally report the NTSV cesarean birth rate for each obstetrician-gynecologist who works at the hospital every 6 months. Provides that the hospital shall submit a copy of this report annually and upon request to the Department of Public Health with the names of the providers redacted. Defines "NTSV cesarean birth rate". Provides that the amendatory provisions are repealed on January 1, 2030.