Rep. Justin Slaughter

Creates the Wrongful Prosecution Commission Act. Creates the Wrongful Prosecution Commission as an independent commission under the Illinois Human Rights Commission for administrative purposes. Defines "claim of wrongful prosecution" as a claim by or on behalf of a living person convicted of a crime in a county of more than 3,000,000 inhabitants asserting that the person was falsely incriminated for the crime and there is credible evidence related to allegations of the use of false evidence to obtain the conviction. Defines other terms. Provides that the Commission shall conduct inquiries into claims of wrongful prosecution. Provides that if the Commission concludes there is sufficient evidence of wrongful prosecution to merit judicial review, the Chair of the Commission shall request that the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County assign the case to a trial judge for consideration. Provides that the Act applies to claims of wrongful prosecution filed not later than 5 years after the effective date of the Act. Repeals the Act 10 years after the effective date. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that if an offender defaults in the payment of a fine or any installment of that fine, the court may issue a summons for his or her appearance (deletes warrant of arrest). Provides that the court may issue a warrant of arrest, if after being served with a summons, the offender fails to appear for the scheduled hearing. House Committee Amendment No. 2 Deletes language of the introduced bill. Provides that no less than 30 days before the issuance of a warrant for an offender who failed to appear before the court because of the offender's nonpayment of a fine levied against him or her, a notice shall be mailed to the offender by first class mail to the most recent address which the offender has provided to the court. Provides that the notice shall contain the following information: (1) the amount of the fine which is due and owing; (2) the docket number of the case in which the fine was assessed; (3) the due date for payment of the fine; (4) instructions as to how payment of the fine may be made; (5) an explanation that willful refusal to pay the fine may result in imprisonment; and 6) instructions as to how the offender may request a hearing to present evidence that the offender did not willfully refuse to pay the fine, and that failure to pay was the result of the offender's inability to pay the fine.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall provide educational programs in each of its institutions and facilities for all committed persons. Provides that the Department must allow into each institution and facility of the Department teachers who hold Professional Educator Licenses issued by the State Superintendent of Education under the School Code to teach committed persons. Provides that the Department shall provide vocational training for committed persons in each institution and facility of the Department. Provides that each institution and facility of the Department of Juvenile Justice shall provide educational and vocational training for all persons committed to the Department. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections Ombudsman Bureau is established as a separate bureau within the Department of Corrections. Provides that the Governor shall appoint a Director of the Bureau within 30 days of the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that the Ombudsman may receive, investigate, and attempt to resolve complaints that the Department: (1) violated a specific law, rule, or Department written policy; or (2) endangered the health or safety or any person. Provides that if the Ombudsman discovers evidence that the Ombudsman reasonably believes constitutes the commission of a crime, the Ombudsman immediately shall, if the Ombudsman considers it appropriate, inform the Director of the Department, who shall conduct an investigation. Provides that an Ombudsman shall be given: (1) appropriate access to the records of an offender who files a complaint; and immediate access to any correctional facility administered or supervised by the Department. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the offense of obstruction of the Ombudsman. This offense is a Class A misdemeanor. Makes other changes. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the Ombudsman shall not investigate complaints alleging violations of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that if the Ombudsman determines that a possible violation of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act has occurred, he or she shall immediately refer the incident to the Office of the Inspector General. Fiscal Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Dept of Corrections) The fiscal impact of this legislation would range from $267,370,000 to $531,870,000 over the first 10 years after enactment. There would also be unknown costs for such amenities as consultants, monitors, outside contracts, as well as any unanticipated requirements and needs, making the full fiscal impact on the Department unknown. There would be no corrections population impact on the Department. Finally, there would be tasks currently conducted by Department staff that would not be able to be completed due to responsibilities required within House Bill 2925 as amended by House Amendment #1. State Mandates Fiscal Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate.

Amends the Vital Records Act. Removes language requiring that the State Registrar of Vital Records establish a new certificate of birth when he receives a declaration stating that a person has undergone treatment for the purpose of gender transition, or that the individual has an intersex condition, and that the sex designation on such person's birth record should therefore be changed. Provides that the State Registrar of Vital Records must establish a new certificate of birth when he receives a statement signed by the person in which the person attests to making the request for the purpose of affirming the person's gender identity or intersex condition and that the sex designation on the person's certificate of birth should therefore be changed. Provides that the fee for a new certificate of birth shall not be required from persons upon release from the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice, but the person is entitled to only one new certificate of birth fee waiver. Provides that the fee for a new certificate of birth shall be waived for homeless persons, youths in care, and persons under the age of 27 who were youths in care. Effective January 1, 2021. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 410 ILCS 535/25.6 new Provides that fees for a new certificate of birth and for a search of a birth record or a certified copy of a birth record shall be waived for all requests by a person who resides in a shelter for domestic violence. Requires the State Registrar of Vital Records to establish standards and procedures for the waiver of fees. Provides that a person who resides in a shelter for domestic violence must not be charged for verification. Provides that a person who knowingly or purposefully falsifies verification is subject to a penalty of $100. Provides that a person who resides in a shelter for domestic violence shall be provided no more than 4 birth records annually under the provisions.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall make information about the availability of referral services to any other State or local agencies known to a parolee or releasee prior to his or her release from the correctional facility where the parolee or releasee has been residing. Effective immediately. Correctional Note (Dept of Corrections) As the amendment provided for in House Bill 2250 is already current practice, the Department will continue to provide resources to assist persons with their successful reentry efforts. The Department estimates that the requirements of this proposed registration can be managed by current staff at no additional cost to the Department. There are no new incarceration sanctions or enhanced incarceration penalties for the Department associated with these provisions. Therefore population impact on the Department. Fiscal Note (Dept of Corrections) There is no corrections population impact on the Department.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that immediately upon arrival at a police station or other place where an arrestee is detained, but no later than one hour after arrival, an arrested person has the right to make at least 3 completed telephone calls at no expense to himself or herself. Provides that an arrested person must be given access to a phone within one hour of arrival at a police station or any other place where detained by law enforcement. Provides that at every police facility where an arrestee may be detained, a sign containing at minimum, the following information in bold block type must be posted in a conspicuous place: (1) a short statement notifying an arrestee of his or her right to have access to a phone within one hour of arrival at the police station; (2) that an arrestee has the right to make at least 3 completed phone calls at no expense to himself or herself; and (3) that phone calls can be made to an attorney, relative, or acquaintance. Provides that in addition to the information required, if the police station is located in a jurisdiction where the court has appointed the public defender or other attorney to represent an arrestee, the telephone number to the public defender or appointed attorney's office must also be displayed. Makes other changes.

Creates the Grow Your Own STEM and Vocational Education Teachers Act. Provides that a public institution of higher education shall, if funds are appropriated to the Board of Higher Education under the Act, waive any tuition, fees, and on-campus housing costs for a student who (i) agrees to pursue a minimum of a bachelor's degree in agriculture, science, technology, engineering, or mathematics for certain teaching occupations, (ii) agrees to attend a public institution of higher education to pursue an undergraduate degree or an advanced degree in one of those concentrations, (iii) agrees to teach at a hard-to-staff school, as determined by the Board of Higher Education, (iv) maintains a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (or its equivalent) at all times, and (v) agrees to fully reimburse the public institution of higher education for any waived tuition, fees, or costs if the student fails to teach at least 3 years at a high school located in this State or at least 5 years at a public institution of higher education or a public community college located in this State. Provides that a public institution of higher education shall, if funds are appropriated to the Board of Higher Education under the Act, waive any tuition and fees for a student who is a licensed Illinois teacher with a master's degree and who (i) agrees to pursue up to a maximum of 18 graduate hours necessary to qualify the student to teach dual credit consistent with applicable accreditation and State standards for dual credit faculty and (ii) agrees to fully reimburse the public institution of higher education for any waived tuition or fees if the student fails to teach at least 5 years at a high school located in this State after the completion of the graduate hours. Requires the Board of Higher Education to adopt rules. Effective July 1, 2020.

Creates the Racial Impact Note Act. Provides that every bill which has or could have a disparate impact on racial and ethnic minorities, upon the request of any member, shall have prepared for it, before second reading in the house of introduction, a brief explanatory statement or note that shall include a reliable estimate of the anticipated impact on those racial and ethnic minorities likely to be impacted by the bill. Specifies the contents and provides for the preparation of each racial impact note. Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Prohibits racial discrimination and harassment by State officers and employees. Provides that each State officer and employee shall annually complete a racial bias, discrimination, and harassment training program approved by the appropriate jurisdictional authority. Expands the jurisdiction of the Executive Ethics Commission to include allegations of racial discrimination and harassment by persons registered under the Lobbyist Registration Act. Provides that the personnel policies of units of local government shall prohibit racial discrimination and harassment. Defines "racial discrimination and harassment". Provides for rulemaking, including emergency rulemaking. Amends the Secretary of State Act. Provides the Secretary of State's Inspector General with jurisdiction to investigate complaints of racial discrimination and harassment by persons registered under the Lobbyist Registration Act. Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Prohibits racial discrimination and harassment by persons registered under the Lobbyist Registration Act. Provides that each registered lobbyist shall annually complete a racial bias, discrimination, and harassment training program approved by the Secretary of State. Defines "racial discrimination and harassment". Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Requires the Department of Human Rights to establish a racial discrimination and harassment hotline for the anonymous reporting of racial discrimination and harassment in both public and private places of employment, and to provide for reporting by both telephone and Internet. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to provide for emergency rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Creates the Medicaid Technical Assistance Center Act. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish a Medicaid Technical Assistance Center (Center). Provides that the Center shall operate as a cross-system educational resource to strengthen the business infrastructure of health care provider organizations in Illinois to ultimately increase the capacity, access, and quality of Illinois' Medicaid managed care program, HealthChoice Illinois. Requires the Center to be established within the Department's Office of Medicaid Innovation. Requires the Center to collaborate with public and private partners throughout the State to identify, establish, and maintain best practices necessary for health providers to ensure their capacity to participate in HealthChoice Illinois. Requires the Center to: (i) create and administer ongoing trainings for health care providers; (ii) maintain an independent, easy to navigate, and up-to-date website that includes, but is not limited to, recorded training archives, a training calendar, and provider resources and tools; and (iii) host regional learning collaboratives that will supplement the Center's training curriculum to bring together groups of stakeholders to share issues, best practices, and escalate issues. Provides that the Department, to the extent allowable under federal law, shall maximize federal financial participation for any moneys appropriated to the Department for the Medicaid Technical Assistance Center. Provides that any federal financial participation funds obtained shall be used for the further development and expansion of the Medicaid Technical Assistance Center. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Medicaid Technical Assistance Center Fund. Effective immediately.