Rep. Kam Buckner

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the chief county assessment officer in a county of more than 3,000,000 residents, and in any other county where the county board has authorized such action by ordinance or resolution, may automatically renew the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities without application for any person who applied for the exemption and presented a Disability Identification Card stating that the claimant is under a Class 2 disability. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds provisions to the introduced bill providing that an applicant for the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities may be examined by an optometrist if the person qualifies because of a visual disability. Provides that provisions of the introduced bill concerning automatic renewal (i) apply for taxable years 2021 through 2026 and (ii) apply if the person presents proof of eligibility (in the introduced bill, a Disability Identification Card stating that the claimant is under a Class 2 disability). Provides that the chief county assessment officer shall not automatically renew the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities if the physician, advanced practice registered nurse, optometrist, or physician assistant who examined the claimant determined that the disability is not expected to continue for 12 months or more. House Committee Amendment No. 3 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 2505/2505-805 new 35 ILCS 200/9-275 35 ILCS 200/15-10 35 ILCS 200/15-169 35 ILCS 200/15-170 35 ILCS 200/15-172 35 ILCS 200/15-175 35 ILCS 200/18-185 35 ILCS 200/18-190.7 new 105 ILCS 5/17-1.3 new 105 ILCS 5/17-2A from Ch. 122, par. 17-2A 320 ILCS 30/3 from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 453 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for levy years 2022 and later, the taxing district's aggregate extension base is the greater of (A) the district's last preceding aggregate extension limit or (B) the district's last preceding aggregate extension, subject to certain adjustments. Provides that the term "aggregate extension limit" means the district's last preceding aggregate extension if the taxing district had utilized the maximum limiting rate permitted without referendum for each of the 5 immediately preceding levy years. Provides that the maximum reduction under the General Homestead Exemption is $10,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and counties that are contiguous to a county of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $6,000 in all other counties (currently, $10,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $6,000 in all other counties). Provides that the maximum reduction under the senior citizens homestead exemption is $8,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and counties that are contiguous to a county of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $5,000 in all other counties (currently, $8,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $5,000 in all other counties). In provisions concerning the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities, makes changes concerning the surviving spouse. Provides that the interest rate under the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Act is reduced from 6% to 4%. Amends the School Code. Contains provisions concerning interfund transfers and disclosure of cash reserve balances. Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to require the Department of Revenue to conduct a study concerning the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 5 Makes changes to the bill as amended by House Amendment No. 3 to provide that the maximum amount of the general homestead exemption is $10,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, $8,000 in counties that are contiguous to a county of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, and $6,000 in all other counties (rather than $10,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and counties that are contiguous to a county of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $6,000 in all other counties).

Amends the Public Community College Act. With regard to the members of a board of trustees of a community college district, provides that if a vacancy in the board occurs, the secretary of the board must publish the vacancy through at least one public notice for a minimum of 30 days before the remaining board members meet to fill the vacancy, at which time the board must accept applications for the position. Provides that notice of the vacancy must also be given by publication in a newspaper published in the community college district at least 30 days before the remaining board members meet to fill the vacancy and if there is no newspaper published in the district, notice of the vacancy may be given by posting notices in 5 of the most public places in the district. Provides that notice of the vacancy must comply with the Notice By Publication Act and the Newspaper Legal Notice Act. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill, but provides that the secretary of the board must publish the vacancy through at least one public notice for a minimum of 15 (rather than 30) days before the remaining board members meet to fill the vacancy and notice of the vacancy must be given by publication in a newspaper published in the community college district at least 15 (rather than 30) days before the remaining board members meet to fill the vacancy. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 110 ILCS 805/3-7 Adds reference to: (H.B. 1175, 102nd G.A., Sec. 99 new) Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Adds an immediate effective date to House Bill 1175 of the 102nd General Assembly. Effective immediately.

Amends the Collegiate Athletic Association Compliance Enforcement Procedures Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 110 ILCS 25/1 Adds reference to: 110 ILCS 190/5 110 ILCS 190/10 110 ILCS 190/15 110 ILCS 190/20 110 ILCS 190/22 new 110 ILCS 190/25 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act. Permits a student athlete to retain an agent (instead of certified agent) for any matter or activity relating to compensation for the use of the name, image, likeness, or voice of the student athlete while enrolled at a postsecondary educational institution. Requires a student athlete to provide the postsecondary educational institution with written notice and a copy of any agreement entered into for professional representation in a manner and time prescribed by the institution (rather than within 7 days). Requires a student athlete to provide to the postsecondary educational institution any written contract for publicity rights in a manner and at a time prescribed by the institution (rather than prior to the execution of the agreement and before any compensation is provided to the student athlete). Provides that compensation for a student athlete's name, image, likeness, or voice shall not be conditioned on the athletic performance (rather than performance or attendance) at a particular postsecondary educational institution. Provides that a postsecondary educational institution is not required to directly or indirectly identify, create, facilitate, arrange, negotiate, or otherwise enable opportunities for a prospective or current student athlete to enter into a publicity rights agreement with a third party (instead or prohibiting a postsecondary educational institution from directly or indirectly arranging for a third party to provide compensation to, or entering into a publicity rights agreement with, a prospective or current student athlete). Adds a provision encouraging postsecondary educational institutions to provide financial literacy, brand management, and life skills programming designed for student athletes. Makes other changes.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity, provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall notify each owner of record of land included in a right-of-way over which the utility seeks in its application to construct a high-voltage electric line of the time and place scheduled for the initial hearing on the public utility's application by certified mail (rather than registered mail). Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 220 ILCS 5/8-406 220 ILCS 5/8-406.1 Adds reference to: 720 ILCS 5/24-5.1 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly sell, offer to sell, or transfer an unserialized unfinished frame or receiver or unserialized firearm, including those produced using a three-dimensional printer, unless the party purchasing or receiving the unfinished frame or receiver or unserialized firearm is a federal firearms importer, federal firearms manufacturer, or federal firearms dealer. Provides that 180 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, it shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly possess, transport, or receive an unfinished frame or receiver, unless: (A) the party possessing or receiving the unfinished frame or receiver is a federal firearms importer or federal firearms manufacturer; (B) the unfinished frame or receiver is possessed or transported by a person for transfer to a federal firearms importer or federal firearms manufacturer; or (C) the unfinished frame or receiver has been imprinted with a serial number issued by a federal firearms importer or federal firearms manufacturer as specified. Provides that 180 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, unless the party receiving the firearm is a federal firearms importer or federal firearms manufacturer, it shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly possess, purchase, transport, or receive a firearm that is not imprinted with a serial number by (1) a federal firearms importer or federal firearms manufacturer in compliance with all federal laws and regulations regulating the manufacture and import of firearms or (2) a federal firearms manufacturer, federal firearms dealer, or other federal licensee authorized to provide marking services in compliance with the unserialized firearm serialization process. Specifies requirements for the firearm serialization process. Requires the Director of the Illinois State Police to issue a public notice regarding the provisions concerning serialization of unfinished frames or receivers, prohibition on unserialized firearms, exceptions, and penalties within 30 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides exemptions and establishes penalties for violations. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Council on Aging, provides that at least 7 citizen members shall represent underrepresented communities, including, but no limited to: one member who is a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer individual; one member who is a transgender or gender-expansive individual; one member who is an African-American or Black individual; and one member who is an Asian-American or Pacific Islander individual. Creates the Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging to investigate, analyze, and study the health, housing, financial, psychosocial, home-and-community-based services, assisted living, and long-term care needs of LGBTQ older adults and their caregivers. Requires the Commission to make recommendations to improve access to benefits, services, and supports for LGBTQ older adults and their caregivers. Requires the Commission to: examine the impact of State and local laws, policies, and regulations on LGBTQ older adults and make recommendations to ensure equitable access, treatment, care and benefits, and overall quality of life; and examine strategies to increase provider awareness of the needs of LGBTQ older adults and their caregivers and to improve the competence of and access to treatment, services, and ongoing care, including preventive care; and carry out other duties. Contains provisions concerning: members appointed to the Commission; Commission meetings and reports; an LGBTQ Older Adult Advocate to advocate for LGBTQ older adults and older adults living with HIV who experience barriers to accessing and utilizing services; an LGBTQ Older Adult Curriculum and Training Program; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that any spouse, natural child, legally adopted child under the age of 18 at the time of adoption, minor child younger than 18 who is under a court-ordered guardianship for at least 2 continuous years prior to application, or step-child under the age of 18 at the time of marriage of an eligible veteran or serviceperson shall, upon application and proper proof, be awarded a MIA/POW Scholarship. Provides that the holder of a MIA/POW Scholarship shall not be required to pay any tuition or mandatory fees while attending a State-controlled university or public community college in this State for a period equivalent to 4 years of enrollment, including summer terms. Amends the Children of Deceased Veterans Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Veterans' Dependents Educational Opportunity Grant Act. Requires the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide, subject to appropriation, for matriculation and tuition fees, board, room rent, books and supplies for the use and benefit of any natural child, adopted child, minor child who is under a court-ordered guardianship for at least 2 continuous years prior to application, or step-child of an eligible veteran or serviceperson, if the child is not under 10 and not over 18 years of age. Requires the child to provide proof of compliance with Illinois compulsory attendance requirements as provided under the School Code. Defines "eligible veteran or service person". Requires the Department to adopt rules on how to render payments to eligible minor children of deceased veterans or servicepersons. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. In the year following each federal decennial census year, requires the Chicago Board of Education to redraft high school attendance boundaries and compile demographic information for each redrafted high school attendance boundary in a report to be made public on the school district's website. Effective July 1, 2022. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Requires the Department of School Demographics and Planning ("DSP"), at least once every 5 years, to evaluate the enrollment at existing schools in the school district to determine if there is a need to revise existing boundaries. Specifies factors for DSP to consider in its evaluation. Requires DSP to submit a written report of its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the chief executive officer and the Chicago Board of Education. Requires the report to be made public on the district's website within 30 days after its completion. If it is determined that there is a need to revise any existing boundaries or establish attendance boundaries for new schools, requires DSP to develop and recommend any proposed changes to existing boundaries or proposed boundaries for new schools to the chief executive officer prior to the beginning of the school year in which the changes to existing boundaries or the new boundaries will take effect. Specifies factors to be considered in developing proposed changes to boundaries for existing schools and proposing attendance boundaries for new schools. Requires DSP to develop at least 2 alternatives for each proposed attendance boundary and prepare a report for each alternative with specified factors and considerations. Requires the report to be made public on the district's website within 30 days after its completion. Requires the chief executive officer to review the report, and authorizes the chief executive officer to suggest additional alternatives. Requires the chief executive officer to report to the Board if he or she recommends any changes to existing boundaries or establishing boundaries for new schools. Requires the chief executive officer, if he or she is recommending any changes to existing boundaries or any boundaries for new schools, to provide the Board with the report of the alternatives considered, including data on the specified factors, and requires the chief executive officer to inform the Board of the alternative that is being recommended. Requires the chief executive officer's report to be made public on the district's website within 30 days after its completion. Requires the Board to conduct public hearings on the proposed establishment of or changes to attendance boundaries and the chief executive officer's recommendation prior to taking action on the establishment or revision of any attendance boundaries. Requires the Board to consider the factors of capacity, current and projected racial and ethnic considerations, geographic barriers, travel time and distance, and program considerations in making its decision on the establishment or revision of any attendance boundaries.

Amends the Employee Sick Leave Act. Removes language exempting from coverage under the Act an employee of an employer subject to the provisions of Title II of the federal Railway Labor Act. House Committee Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Employee Sick Leave Act. Provides that the rights afforded under the Act serve as the minimum standard in a negotiated collective bargaining agreement.

Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Provides that the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall establish a field office in each legislative district (rather than such field offices as it shall find necessary to enable it to perform its duties). House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 2805/3 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 2805/3.01 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Provides that, subject to sufficient appropriations, the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall contract for a market research analysis of field services in this State. Provides that the analysis shall include the availability of veterans assistance commissions, veterans service organizations, and Department staff to assist veterans as well as the availability of nontraditional methods to deliver services through technology-based approaches. Provides that the analysis may use census data, as well as questionnaires, surveys, and town hall meetings to solicit input from veterans, their families, and other stakeholders. Provides that, within 18 months after sufficient appropriations, the Department shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a recommended plan for the future delivery of services by the Department's Field Division, including the estimated cost of implementing the plan. Repeals the new provisions on December 31, 2023.

Amends the Missing Persons Identification Act. Provides that a coroner or medical examiner with custody of human remains that are not identified within 72 hours of discovery shall promptly notify the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the location of those remains and the failure to identify the remains.