Rep. Christian L. Mitchell

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that any museum in this State that, as of the effective date of the amendatory Act, has provided professional development and is approved by the State Superintendent of Education shall be designated as approved to provide professional development activities for the renewal of Professional Educator Licenses. Makes a technical correction. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Changes the date in which the provisions creating the Sentencing Policy Advisory Council are repealed from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2020. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that it is an affirmative defense to a charge of prostitution that the accused engaged in or performed prostitution as a result of being a victim of involuntary servitude or trafficking in persons as defined in the Code, or was a victim of trafficking as defined in the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that in prosecutions for prostitution, when the accused intends to raise at trial the affirmative defense of being a victim of involuntary servitude or trafficking in persons as defined in the Code, or was a victim of trafficking as defined in the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and has reason to believe that the evidence presented in asserting that defense may jeopardize the safety of the accused, courtroom personnel, or others impacted by human trafficking, the accused may file under seal a motion for an in camera hearing to review the accused's safety concerns. Upon receipt of the motion and notice to the parties, the court shall conduct an in camera hearing, with counsel present, limited to review of potential safety concerns. Provides that the court shall not consider the merits of the affirmative defense during the in camera review. Provides that if the court finds that the assertion of an affirmative defense by the accused in open court could jeopardize the safety of the accused, court personnel, or other persons, the court may clear the courtroom with the agreement of the accused, order additional in camera hearings, seal the records, prohibit court personnel from disclosing the proceedings without prior court approval, or take any other appropriate measure that in the court's discretion will enhance the safety of the proceedings and ensure the accused a full and fair opportunity to assert his or her affirmative defense. Provides that statements made by the accused during the in camera hearing to review safety concerns shall not be admissible against the accused for the crimes charged. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person who knowingly places, posts, or reproduces on the Internet a photograph, video, or digital image of a person in a state of nudity, in a state of sexual excitement, or engaged in any act of sexual conduct or sexual penetration, without the knowledge and consent of that person, is guilty of a Class 4 felony. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that it is an unlawful practice for any person engaged in placing, posting, publishing, reproducing, or maintaining an Internet site to solicit or accept the payment of a fee or other consideration for removal of a person's private material or identifying information, which has been placed, posted, published, reproduced, or maintained on an Internet site without knowledge and consent of that person.

Provides for the ratification of the proposed equal rights amendment to the United States Constitution.

Amends the Department of Employment Security Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title and applicability of the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997.

Creates the Nursing Home Residents' Managed Care Rights Act. Contains a short title provision and a provision on findings. Effective immediately.

Amends the Budget Stabilization Act. Provides for transfers from the General Revenue Fund to the Pension Stabilization Fund according to a specified schedule beginning in FY 2016 and continuing until FY 2045 or until the retirement funds have achieved a 100% funding ratio, whichever is earlier. Amends the General Assembly, State Employee, State Universities and Downstate Teacher Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Changes the manner in which the annual required State contribution is calculated so that the affected systems are 100% funded by 2045. Provides that employee contributions to the retirement systems are increased an additional 1% on July 1, 2013 and 2% on July 1, 2014. Provides that the State is contractually obligated to each retirement plan participant and retiree to provide funding to the retirement systems according to the specified amortization schedule beginning in FY 2016 and continuing until FY 2045 or until the retirement funds have achieved a 100% funding ratio, whichever is earlier, in addition to the annual required State contribution certified by the Board for each fiscal year. Provides that each retirement system has the right to bring a mandamus action against the State to compel the State to make any installment of the annual required State contribution certified by the Board and the transfers required under the Budget Stabilization Act. Further provides that if a retirement system fails to bring a mandamus action against the State to compel the State to make any required installment, then any participant or retiree may bring such a mandamus action. Effective July 1, 2013.

Amends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the first $100 of child support collected on behalf of a family in a month for one child and the first $200 of child support collected on behalf of a family in a month for 2 or more children shall be passed through to the family and disregarded in determining the amount of the assistance grant provided to the family. Provides that any amount of child support that would be disregarded in determining the amount of the assistance grant shall be disregarded in determining eligibility for cash assistance. Effective immediately.