Rep. Justin Slaughter

Mourns the death of Sylvia P. Cato.

Recognizes the accomplishments of poet Tyehimba Jess.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.

Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Excludes from the definition of "employee" an employee employed as a player who is 28 years old or younger, a manager, a coach, or an athletic trainer by a minor league professional baseball team not affiliated with a major league baseball club, if (A) the minor league professional baseball team does not operate for more than 7 months in any calendar year or (B) during the preceding calendar year, the minor league professional baseball team's average receipts for any 6-month period of the year were not more than 33 1/3% of its average receipts for the other 6 months of the year. Effective immediately.

Creates the Collective Bargaining Freedom Act. Provides that it is the policy of the State that employers, employees, and their labor organizations are free to bargain collectively. Provides that the authority to enact laws or rules that restrict the use of union security agreements between an employer and a labor organization vests exclusively with the General Assembly. Prohibits local governments from enforcing any such law or rule. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Public Health Act and the School Code. Provides that school districts may serve students produce grown and harvested by students in school-owned or community gardens if the produce meets requirements adopted by rule by the Department of Public Health. Requires the requirements to include, but not be limited to, testing soil and water used in the growing of the produce for contaminants. Makes similar changes to the Article concerning the Chicago school district.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections and the Office of the Secretary of State shall establish an automatic voter registration program pursuant to an interagency contract and jointly-adopted rules. Provides that an application for a driver's license, other than a temporary visitor's driver's license or a State identification card, shall also serve as an application to register to vote; allow an update to registration; and perform other specified functions. Requires specified agencies to provide certain information regarding registration. Establishes designated automatic voter registration agencies, and requires the establishment of dual-purpose applications to register to vote. Sets forth provisions and requirements for the State Board of Elections regarding the program. Amends the Freedom of Information Act to exempt certain information. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Training Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the New Markets Development Program Act. Provides that, to be considered a "qualified equity investment" under the Act, 100% (currently, 85%) of the cash purchase price of the investment must be used by the issuer to make qualified low-income community investments in the State of Illinois. Requires qualified community development entities to submit an annual job creation report. Provides that the application for certification as a qualified community development entity must include the amount of qualified equity investment authority the applicant agrees to designate as a federal qualified equity investment under Section 45D of the Internal Revenue Code. Provides that no qualified active low-income community business that receives a qualified low-income community investment from a qualified community development entity that issues qualified equity investments under the Act may directly or indirectly (i) own or have the right to acquire an ownership interest in a qualified community development entity or member or affiliate of a qualified community development entity or (ii) loan to or invest in a qualified community development entity or member or affiliate of a qualified community development entity. Provides that the annual cap on credits under the Act is $50,000,000 (currently, $20,000,000). Effective immediately.

Amends the Direct Pay Permit Implementation Act. Makes a technical change in a Section creating the direct pay permit pilot program.