Rep. Curtis Tarver

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that "employer" includes any person employing one (instead of 15) or more employees within Illinois during 20 or more calendar weeks within the calendar year of or preceding the alleged violation. Provides that "employer" does not include any place of worship with respect to the employment of individuals of a particular religion to perform work connected with the carrying on by the place of worship of its activities. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds an effective date of July 1, 2020.

Amends the Mortgage Foreclosure Article of the Code of Civil Procedure in relation to short sales of property. Provides that, if an offer to purchase either a mortgage or residential property is made by an entity with a tax-exempt filing status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code for the purpose of reselling that mortgage or residential property to the mortgagor, and financing for the repurchase will be provided by a certified community development financial institution, an affidavit, statement, agreement, or addendum limiting ownership or occupancy of the residential property by the mortgagor shall not provide a basis to avoid a sale or transfer, nor is it enforceable against the acquiring entity or any real estate broker, mortgagor, or settlement agent named in the affidavit, statement, agreement, or addendum. Provides that, at the time of an offer, specified disclosures shall be made to the mortgagee in connection with any purchase of a sale. Provides that, upon request by the mortgagee, a certified community development financial institution shall provide documentation evidencing its current certification status. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that "residential property" is limited to the primary (rather than the principal) residence of a person. Provides that specified disclosures shall be made to the mortgagee by the mortgagor. Provides that nothing in the new provisions shall impair, abrogate, or abridge in any manner the rights of the mortgagee to accept or reject an offer to purchase either a mortgage or residential property, nor shall it give rise to a cause of action.

Amends the Homelessness Prevention Act. Changes certain types of assistance grantees shall offer households to prevent homelessness as follows: (1) payment of a rent or mortgage arrearage (rather than payment of a rent or mortgage arrearage in an amount established as necessary to defeat the eviction or foreclosure, but shall in no event be greater than 3 months of rental or mortgage arrears); (2) payment of a security deposit (rather than payment of a rent deposit or security deposit and payment of not more than 2 months rent or mortgage payments); and (3) payment of rent or mortgage. Provides that in no case shall the total assistance for a household be greater than the equivalent of 6 months of rent or mortgage payments. Provides that, on an annual basis, a grantee's administrative costs and case management expenses shall not exceed 15% of the grant amount it receives.

Amends the Jury Act. Provides that except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, no person who is qualified and able to serve as a juror may be excluded from jury service in any court of this State on the basis of, among other things, sexual orientation.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Removes sunset date of December 31, 2020 for the provision creating the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council. Adds the Cook County Sheriff, or his or her designee as an ex-officio member of the Council. Provides that the Council shall determine the qualifications for and hire the Executive Director. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law in a Section concerning business processing reengineering and efficient government planning to provide that specified cost savings may (rather than shall) be paid into the General Revenue Fund (rather than the Efficiency Initiative Revolving Fund). Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law to repeal a Section concerning loans to qualified ex-offenders. Amends the Brownfields Redevelopment and Intermodal Promotion Act to correct references to the South Suburban Brownfields Redevelopment Fund. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law to repeal Sections concerning various Funds and grants. Amends the State Finance Act to repeal various Funds and make conforming changes. Repeals the Transportation Development Partnership Act. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to repeal Sections concerning Fund checkoffs. Amends the Counties Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, and the Clerks of Courts Act to remove language concerning moneys to be deposited in specified Funds. Makes other changes in statutes concerning the use or repeal of specified Funds. Provides a State mandate exemption. Effective immediately.

Creates the Blockchain Business Development Act. Provides for the creation and regulation of personal information protection companies. Provides for the creation and regulation of blockchain-based limited liability companies as businesses that utilize blockchain technology for a material portion of their business activities. Provides for a public record blockchain study and report. Provides for a blockchain insurance and banking study and report. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to incorporate into one or more of its economic development marketing and business support programs, events, and activities topics concerning blockchain technology and financial technology. Defines terms. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Removes provisions concerning the creation and regulation of personal information protection companies. In provisions concerning a public record blockchain study and report, provides that the Secretary of State shall recommend legislation, including uniform laws, necessary to support the possible use of blockchain technology for public records (currently, support the possible use of blockchain technology for the recording of land records and for other public records). Provides for the blockchain banking study (currently, blockchain insurance and banking study). Makes conforming changes. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Modifies the definition of "blockchain" to mean an electronic record created by the use of a decentralized method by multiple parties to verify and store a digital record of transactions which is secured by the use of a cryptographic hash of previous transaction information (as introduced, "blockchain" is defined as a cryptographically secured, chronological, and decentralized consensus ledger or consensus database maintained via Internet, peer-to-peer network, or other interaction). Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill, and makes the following changes: (1) removes a Section concerning blockchain-based limited liability companies; (2) removes a Section concerning a public record blockchain study and report; and (3) removes specified defined terms. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the School Code. Provides that every public elementary school shall include in its 6th, 7th, or 8th grade curriculum, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, at least one semester of civics education; specifies course content requirements and requires the education to be in accordance with Illinois Learning Standards for social science. Allows school districts to consult with civics education stakeholders, as deemed appropriate by the State Board of Education. Allows school districts to utilize private funding available for the purposes of offering civics education. Effective July 1, 2019. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that, beginning with the 2020-2021 school year (rather than the 2019-2020 school year), every public elementary school shall include in its 6th, 7th, or 8th grade curriculum at least one semester of civics education. Changes the effective date of the Act to July 1, 2020 (rather than July 1, 2019).

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that no rail carrier shall operate a train or light engine used in connection with the movement of freight unless it has an operating crew consisting of at least 2 individuals. Provides that the minimum freight train crew size shall remain in effect until a federal law or rule encompassing the subject matter has been adopted. Grants the Illinois Commerce Commission the power to conduct evidentiary hearings, make findings, and issue and enforce orders, including sanctions, with respect to freight train crew member size. Provides that "train or light engine" does not include trains operated by a hostler service or utility employees. Fiscal Note (Illinois Commerce Commission) The Commision does not anticipate needing additional resources to fulfill the requirements of this bill.

Amends the Equitable Restrooms Act. Provides that all restrooms that are open and accessible to the public in a public building shall be equipped with baby changing facilities that are physically safe, sanitary, and usable for that purpose. Provides that the requirement is in addition to any accommodations that may be made for individuals in accordance with any local, State, or federal laws regarding access for persons with disabilities and to existing fire, health, and safety codes or standards. Defines "public building". Makes a conforming change. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 410 ILCS 35/20 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Equitable Restrooms Act. Requires every public building with restrooms open and accessible to the public to have at least one safe, sanitary, convenient, and publicly accessible baby diaper changing station that is accessible to women entering a restroom provided for use by women and one that is accessible to men entering a restroom provided for use by men, or at least one such baby diaper changing station that is accessible to both men and women. Provides exceptions to the requirement for: industrial buildings, nightclubs, or bars that do not permit anyone who is under 18 years of age to enter the premises; restrooms located in a health facility, if the restroom is intended for the use of one patient or resident at a time; and renovations, if a local building permitting entity or building inspector determines that the installation of a baby diaper changing station is not feasible or would result in a failure to comply with applicable building standards governing the right of access for persons with disabilities. Requires a public restroom that is open and accessible to the public and includes a baby diaper changing station to include signage at or near the entrance to the baby changing station indicating the location of the baby diaper changing station. Provides that the requirements are not enforceable by a private right of action.