Rep. Thaddeus Jones

Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Includes the Village of Crete among the municipalities in Cook County or Will County in which a standardbred racetrack may be located. Removes provisions restricting the racetrack from being located within 35 miles of another organization license. Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Includes the Village of Crete among the municipalities in Cook County or Will County in which a casino may be located. Amends the Eminent Domain Act. Provides that quick-take proceedings may be used for a period of no more than 24 months after the effective date by the Village of Crete for the nullification of any restriction of record on private real property by means of a recorded deed or other recorded instruments that in any way prohibits, restrains, or has any impact whatsoever on private real property for the purpose of applying for an organization license under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 or an owners license under the Illinois Gambling Act. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Insurance Data Security Law. Sets forth provisions concerning an information security program, investigations of cybersecurity events, and notifications of cybersecurity events. Provides that the Director of Insurance shall have power to examine and investigate the affairs of any licensee to determine whether the licensee has been or is engaged in any conduct in violation of the Act. Provides that whenever the Director has reason to believe that a licensee has been or is engaged in conduct in the State which violates the Act, the Director may take action that is necessary or appropriate to enforce the provisions of the Act. Provides that any documents, materials, or other information in the control or possession of the Department of Insurance that are furnished by a licensee or an employee or agent acting on behalf of a licensee or that are obtained by the Director in an investigation or examination shall be confidential by law and privileged, shall not be subject to the Freedom of Information Act, shall not be subject to subpoena, and shall not be subject to discovery or admissible in evidence in any private civil action. Sets forth provisions concerning exceptions, penalties, and severability. Provides that the Department may adopt rules necessary to carry out the provisions of the Act. Defines terms. Makes a conforming change in the Freedom of Information Act. Effective January 1, 2023.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that no later than 30 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the corporate authorities of a municipality with a population of fewer than 40,000 inhabitants in which alderpersons or trustees are elected for 2-year terms shall adopt an ordinance providing that, at the first election of alderpersons or trustees that occurs after July 1, 2022 (if the effective date of the amendatory Act is on or before July 1, 2022) or July 1, 2023 (if the effective date of the amendatory Act is after July 1, 2022), one alderperson or trustee shall be elected from each even-numbered ward for a 2-year term and one alderperson or trustee shall be elected from each odd-numbered ward for a 4-year term, after which their successors shall be elected for 4-year terms. Provides that, if the municipality elects its alderpersons or trustees from at-large districts, then one-half of the alderpersons or trustees (plus one if there is an odd number of alderpersons or trustees) shall be elected to a 2-year term and one-half shall be elected to a 4-year term, after which their successors shall be elected to 4-year terms. Prohibits municipalities from reducing the length of the terms from 4 years to 2 years. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. With regard to the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant Program, provides that for Fiscal Year 2022 only, the State Board of Education must award grants to eligible applicants under the Program to establish 50 after-school programs in 50 disadvantaged communities where the household income is greater than 95% of the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Effective immediately.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Removes the requirement that educator licensure candidates pass a teacher performance assessment. Makes related changes. Effective July 1, 2021.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning construction of the Code.

Amends the Illinois Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association Law of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an Association must submit a plan of operation to the Director of Insurance within 200 days.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall design and implement the New Remote Worker Grant Program. Provides for the awarding of grants under the Program. Specifies the amounts that may be awarded under the Program. Provides for the adoption of rules. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Calls on the U.S. Congress to authorize a policy change to allow existing interstates built with federal funding to become state tollways, enabling Illinois to convert the Dan Ryan Expressway I-57 into a toll road for the safety of its citizens.