Rep. Bob Rita

Amends the Illinois Aeronautics Act. Allows a unit of local government to adopt reasonable rules related to the use of the first 150 feet of airspace that is above ground level of public property owned or controlled by that unit of local government. Establishes that a unit of local government may only adopt rules for publicly owned or controlled property that is intended or permitted to be used for recreational or conservation purposes, including, but not limited to, parks, playgrounds, aquatic facilities, wildlife areas, or other recreational facilities. Provides that reasonable rules adopted by a unit of local government shall not supersede any administrative rules adopted by the Department of Transportation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Township Code. When the electors in a township in a county with a population of 1,000,000 or more authorize the township board to contract with one or more municipalities in the township or with the county within which the township is located to furnish police protection in the unincorporated area of the township, requires using funds levied under the provisions to furnish the police protection. Provides that a township board's authority to declare the unincorporated area of the township a special police district is to provide and maintain police protection in the unincorporated area of the township. Allows the township board to use the special police district funds levied under the provisions for public safety services, including, but not limited to, crime prevention measures and community safety measures, such as license plate readers, graffiti abatement, and anti-gang and anti-violence community support and intervention programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Early Childhood Education Act to establish a framework for early childhood education in Illinois. A specific provision within the legislation ensures that the rights, benefits, and employment status of state employees and their agencies remain unchanged by the new act. It explicitly states that the law does not affect existing personnel codes, labor relations, collective bargaining agreements, or pension plans. The bill was signed into law and became effective on June 25, 2024, with some provisions taking effect on July 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that on January 1, 2025, or as soon thereafter as practical, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer the remaining balance from the Electronic Health Record Incentive Fund into the Public Aid Recoveries Trust Fund. Provides that upon completion of the transfer, the Electronic Health Record Incentive Fund is dissolved, and any future deposits due to that Fund and any outstanding obligations or liabilities of that Fund shall pass to the Public Aid Recoveries Trust Fund. Provides that on January 1, 2026, or as soon thereafter as practical, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer the remaining balance from the Juvenile Rehabilitation Services Medicaid Matching Fund into the Public Aid Recoveries Trust Fund. Provides that upon completion of the transfer, the Juvenile Rehabilitation Services Medicaid Matching Fund is dissolved, and any future deposits due to that Fund and any outstanding obligations or liabilities of that Fund shall pass to the Public Aid Recoveries Trust Fund. Repeals a provision requiring the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to conduct annual audits of the County Provider Trust Fund to determine that amounts received from or paid to county providers were correct. Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that on January 1, 2025, or as soon thereafter as practical, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer the remaining balance from the Provider Inquiry Trust Fund into the Healthcare Provider Relief Fund. Provides that upon completion of the transfer, the Provider Inquiry Trust Fund is dissolved, and any future deposits due to that Fund and any outstanding obligations or liabilities of that Fund shall pass to the Healthcare Provider Relief Fund. Repeals provisions in the Illinois Public Aid Code concerning the Medicaid Research and Education Support Fund and enhancement payments for Medicaid research and education. Repeals the Supportive Living Facility Funding Article and the Supportive Living Facility Fund. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the state to move specific funds directly into the Audit Expense Fund to support audit-related expenses. It amends the existing State Finance Act to authorize these transfers and takes effect on July 1, 2024. The legislation directly impacts the state's financial management by adjusting how certain budgetary resources are allocated for auditing purposes.

Amends the Tobacco Products Tax Act of 1995. Provides that remote retail sellers that meet certain sales criteria are required to collect and remit the tax under the Act. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2025, the tax under the Act is 36% of (i) the actual cost paid by a distributor or remote retail seller for the stock keeping unit or (ii) if documentation of the actual cost is not available due to matters beyond the distributor or remote retail seller's control, the actual cost list paid by the distributor or remote retail seller for the stock keeping unit. Effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Provides that the tax imposed on receivers of motor fuel applies until January 1, 2040 (currently, January 1, 2025). Amends the Environmental Impact Fee Law. Extends the repeal of the Environmental Impact Fee Law until January 1, 2040. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if a veteran with a surviving spouse dies while an application for a veteran's homestead exemption is being reviewed, the review of that application shall continue, and any subsequent approval granted to the veteran shall carry over to the surviving spouse as long as the spouse meets specified requirements. Effective immediately.

Amends the Parking Excise Tax Act. Reinserts the definitions of "booking intermediary" and "charge or fee paid for parking" removed by Public Act 102-700 and reinserts those terms into the definition of "operator". Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In a provision requiring the Department on Aging to require an annual audit from all personal assistant and home care aide vendors contracting with the Department, provides that the annual audit shall assure that each audited vendor's procedures are in compliance with the Department's financial reporting guidelines requiring an 80% or higher employee wage and benefits cost split and an administrative cost split of no more than 20% (rather than an administrative and employee wage and benefits cost split as defined in administrative rules). Provides that subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2025, rates for homemaker services shall be increased to $32.75 to sustain a minimum wage of $20 per hour for direct service workers. Provides that rates in subsequent State fiscal years shall be no lower than $32.75 upon federal approval. Requires providers of in-home services to be required to certify to the Department that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Provides that fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, paid time off and payment for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation, shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases. Provides that subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2025, the Department shall pay a rate add-on under the Community Care Program to those in-home service provider agencies that attest and document their direct service workers attend paid, quarterly, in-person training sessions to fulfill the in-service training requirements. Provides that the add-on shall be 1% of the homemaker services rate. Requires the Department to adopt rules.