Rep. Kam Buckner

Creates the Illinois Broadband Deployment, Equity, Access, and Affordability Act of 2022. Provides that access to affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband service is essential to full participation in modern life in the State and throughout the United States. Defines terms. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall establish and implement a statewide broadband service grant program. Provides that the Department shall use money from the grant program only for the exclusive purpose of awarding grants to applicants for projects that are limited to the construction and deployment of broadband service into unserved areas in the State and for the Department's cost to administer the program. Provides that the Department shall not award grant money to a governmental entity or educational institution. Provides that the Department shall not, as a condition of an award of grant money, impose an open network architecture requirement, rate regulation, or other term or condition of service that differs from the applicant's terms or conditions of service in its other service areas. Includes provisions providing for the criteria for determining the award of funds, the information an applicant must provide for an application for a grant, the priority by which the Department shall follow in granting awards, and when the Department shall not award a grant to an applicant. Provides that when a grant is awarded, the Department shall provide notice on its website of each application receiving a grant. Provides that the Department shall require an applicant awarded a grant to submit a semi-annual report from the time the applicant receives the grant to 3 years after completion of the project. Makes a conforming change in the Freedom of Information Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Increases the threshold amount of theft not from the person and retail theft that enhances the offense from a misdemeanor to a felony to $2,000. Provides that an enhancement from a misdemeanor to a felony based on a prior conviction must only be for felony theft.

Amends the State Property Control Act. Provides for the sale of property located at 2900 S. Damen Avenue, Chicago, Illinois (which may be referred to as the South Branch Sea Change property) to Primera Group, Inc. Provides further requirements and conditions concerning the sale of the property.

Amends the Election Code. Requires an election authority to provide a designated free parking location for the duration of early voting at any permanent polling place for early voting.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that if a licensee has more than 800 persons at the licensed location at any time while hosting live music, the licensee shall ensure that it has opioid antagonists available at the premises and that there is a sufficient number of staff members on the premises who have been sufficiently trained on how to properly administer an opioid antagonist. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 215 ILCS 5/388h new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Defines "music venue" as an indoor or outdoor location with a capacity of more than 800 persons used as a space to hold a live concert or musical performance. Provides that if a licensee operates as a music venue, the licensee shall ensure that, during its hours of operation as a music venue, it has opioid antagonists available at the premises and that there is a staff member on the premises who has been sufficiently trained on how to properly administer an opioid antagonist. Provides that a person who has been certified in the administration of opioid antagonists by a governmental or private entity, regardless of when the person received that certification, is deemed to be sufficiently trained. Provides an exemption from civil liability for the good faith administration or provision of an opioid antagonist. Amends the Casualty Insurance, Fidelity Bonds, and Surety Contracts Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an insurer may not increase the amount of an insured's premium based on the insured's compliance with the amendatory Act. Effective June 1, 2023. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that any person who is sufficiently trained and in good faith (rather than any person who in good faith) administers or provides an opioid antagonist in accordance with the provisions, shall not, as a result of his or her acts or omissions, except willful or wanton misconduct on the part of the person, in administering or providing the opioid antagonist, be liable for civil damages.

Amends the Title Insurance Act. In provisions concerning choice of title insurance company, provides that it is the public policy of the State that consumers obligated to pay for title insurance services are afforded the opportunity to make an informed decision and, in so doing, have the option to consult with legal counsel before title insurance payment obligations are effective.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that it is an unlawful practice to send to a consumer an unsolicited check that, when cashed, obligates the recipient to repay the amount of the check plus interest and fees. Provides that the provision does not apply to a transaction in which a consumer has submitted an application for, or requested an extension of, credit from the person before receiving the check or instrument, or when the consumer has an existing relationship with the person. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds provisions extending applicability of the bill to unsolicited negotiable instruments, credit cards, debit cards, and other forms of payment or transfer delivered to a consumer. Provides that a consumer is not liable for any debt or other obligation arising out of the negotiation of an unsolicited instrument delivered to the consumer.

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that a local school council shall be established for each public small school, contract school, and military school within the school district. Provides that in each attendance center enrolling students in 7th or 8th grade, one full-time student member shall be appointed, although no attendance center shall have more than one student member. Requires a supermajority of 8 votes by the local school council to veto any action proposed or approved regarding certain schools placed on probation and intervention actions by the Chicago Schools Academic Accountability Council. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/34-8.4 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that a local school council shall be established for each public small school within the school district. Provides that in each attendance center enrolling students in 7th or 8th grade, one full-time student member shall be appointed, although no attendance center shall have more than one student member. With respect to the appointment of teacher members to local schools councils by the Chicago Board of Education, requires the Board to make public the vetting process of teacher candidates. Allows any member of the school community to make an inquiry to the Board to determine if the Board may challenge a teacher's candidacy. Provides for binding elections (rather than non-binding, advisory polls) for the appointment of student members to local school councils. Allows the Board to establish criteria for students to be considered eligible to serve as a student member. Makes changes concerning limitations upon applicability and remediation and probation of attendance centers. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Requires the Chicago Board of Education to make public the vetting process of staff member candidates (rather than teacher candidates). Allows any member of the school community to inquire if the Board may challenge a staff member's (rather than a teacher's) candidacy; requires an inquiry to be made in writing in accordance with Board rules. Specifies that a local school council retains the right to reject or modify any school improvement plan or implementation thereof, as long as the rejection or modification of the school improvement plan or implementation thereof is consistent with State and federal requirements.

Amends the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Act. In provisions regarding the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority's Chief Executive Officer's requirement to certify to the State Comptroller and the State Treasurer the amounts of incentive grant funds used during the current fiscal year, provides that, during the years 2022 through 2024, the certification shall demonstrate registered attendance in excess of 3,000 individuals or in excess of 5,000 individuals, as appropriate, rather than registered attendance in excess of 5,000 individuals or in excess of 10,000 individuals, as appropriate. Provides that, on July 15, 2022 and each July 15 thereafter through July 15, 2026, the Comptroller shall order transferred, and the Treasurer shall transfer, into the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Incentive Fund from the General Revenue Fund an amount equal to the incentive grant funds certified by the Chief Executive Officer as having been lawfully paid under the provisions of the Section in the previous fiscal year that have not otherwise been transferred into the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Incentive Fund, except that transfers in excess of $15,000,000 shall not be made in any fiscal year. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, dispensing organizations and cultivation centers must have at least 40% of ancillary services required for their operation, including accounting, janitorial, and printing services, provided under contract with at least one business that has received certification under the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act.