Rep. Will Davis

Amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. Provides that a business that intends to establish a new utility-scale solar power facility may apply for a high impact business designation. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Increases the long-term renewable procurement plan goals after the 2025 delivery year. Requires the long-term renewable procurement plan to include the procurement of new renewable energy credits. Provides that the Adjustable Block program shall be designed to be continuously open. Authorizes utilities to recover certain costs related to the Adjustable Block program. Excludes certain costs from a limitation on the costs of the Adjustable Block program. Makes other changes concerning the Adjustable Block program. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to open a proceeding to update the interconnection standards and applicable utility tariffs. Requires the Commission to revise certain standards for interconnection based on specified criteria. Establishes an interconnection working group. Makes changes to provisions concerning net metering and the distributed generation rebate. Requires the Commission, in consultation with the Illinois Power Agency, to study and produce a report analyzing the potential for and barriers to the implementation of energy storage in Illinois. Requires the Agency to include a plan to procure energy from energy storage resources as part of its procurement plan for 2021. Extends a provision concerning a review, reconciliation, and true-up associated with renewable energy resources' collections and costs. Makes other changes. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize emergency rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Creates the Renewable Gas and Low-Carbon Fuels Act. Provides that a public utility that provides natural gas distribution services in the State shall incorporate low-carbon fuels into its gas supply portfolio. Provides for goals for the total amount of renewable gas and other low-carbon fuels incorporated by the natural gas utility. Provides that for purposes of meeting the goals, low-carbon fuels that are purchased by the natural gas utility must include environmental commodities associated with the gas. Provides that a natural gas utility may seek authorization from the Illinois Commerce Commission to engage in low-carbon fuels activities. Provides that the Commission shall approve a low-carbon fuels activity if it determines the low-carbon fuels activity investment and expenses are consistent with the provisions of the Act and the natural gas utility has demonstrated that the low-carbon fuels activity provides one or more specified benefits. Provides that the Commission shall review and, by order, approve, or approve as modified, the natural gas utility's low-carbon fuels activity proposal within 180 days after the date on which it is filed. Provides that the Commission shall adopt rules governing filing requirements, reporting requirements, and the process for natural gas utilities to fully recover prudently incurred costs associated with low-carbon fuels activity. Provides that all environmental commodities from low-carbon fuels resulting from the purchase of low-carbon fuels for gas supply or the ownership of a low-carbon fuels facility shall be applied to the benefit of gas customers. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to allow the Illinois Commerce Commission to adopt emergency rules. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Removes language providing that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall approve a low-carbon fuels activity if the natural gas utility has demonstrated that the low-carbon fuels activity alleviates a local nuisance within this State that is associated with the emission of odors.

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act to provide that if an individual's benefit year begins on or after March 8, 2020, but before the week following the last week of a disaster period established by the gubernatorial disaster proclamations in response to COVID-19, recovery by suit in the name of the People of the State of Illinois or recoupment from benefits payable to an individual for any week shall be permanently waived if the sum was received by the individual without fault on his or her part. Provides that, in cases of such permanent waiver of recovery or recoupment, the Director of Employment Security may not request the Comptroller or the Secretary of the Treasury to withhold a sum of benefits for which an individual is found to be ineligible. Effective immediately. Fiscal Note (Dept. of Employment Security) The legislation may have a fiscal impact on the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. The reported data indicates that for the programs payable under Illinois state law: (1) Fiscal Year 2019, non-fraudulent recovery totaled approximately $14,303,046.00; (2) Fiscal Year 2020, non-fraudulent recovery totaled approximately $16,552,059.00; and (3) First and Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2021, non-fraudulent recovery totaled approximately $10,147,378.00. Based on the above data, it appears the legislation could forgive $3.5 million to $5.1 million for each quarter the waiver provision remained in effect. While the system is generally designed to replenish the state’s Unemployment Trust Fund account by charging employers for benefits paid from the account, employers would not be directly charged for the forgiven overpayments as the bill is currently written.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that an amount equal to the sum of (i) 8% of the net revenue realized from the tax imposed upon individuals, trusts, and estates and (ii) 9.11% of the net revenue realized from the tax imposed upon corporations shall be deposited into the Local Government Distributive Fund (currently, an amount equal to the sum of (i) 6.06% of the net revenue realized from the tax imposed upon individuals, trusts, and estates and (ii) 6.85% of the net revenue realized from the tax imposed upon corporations shall be deposited into the Local Government Distributive Fund). Amends the State Revenue Sharing Act to provide that amounts paid into the Local Government Distributive Fund are appropriated on a continuing basis. Effective July 1, 2022.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Ratifies and approves the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows for the issuance of multistate licenses that allow nurses to practice in their home state and other compact states. Provides that the Compact does not supersede existing State labor laws. Provides that the State may not share with or disclose to the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators or any other state any of the contents of a nationwide criminal history records check conducted for the purpose of multistate licensure under the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, provides that the child support collected on behalf of a family shall be passed through to the family and disregarded in determining the amount of the assistance grant provided to the family under the program (rather than the first $100 of child support collected on behalf of a family in a month for one child and the first $200 of child support collected on behalf of a family in a month for 2 or more children shall be passed through to the family and disregarded in determining the amount of the assistance grant provided to the family under the program). Provides that beginning October 1, 2022 (rather than October 1, 2018) the Department of Human Services shall increase TANF grant amounts in effect on September 30, 2022 (rather than September 30, 2018) to at least 50% (rather than 30%) of the most recent United States Department of Health and Human Services Federal Poverty Guidelines for each family size. Provides that beginning October 1, 2023 (rather than October 1, 2019), and each October 1 thereafter, the maximum benefit levels shall be annually adjusted to remain equal to at least 50% (rather than 30%) of the most recent poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for each family size. Effective October 1, 2022.

Amends various Acts to make changes concerning references to noncitizen individuals. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 430 ILCS 65/1.1 from Ch. 38, par. 83-1.1 Makes further changes concerning references to noncitizen individuals.

Creates the State Procurement Task Force Act. Establishes the State Procurement Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall survey the State procurement process and make recommendations to ensure that the process is equitable and efficient; provide departments with the flexibility needed to be successful; and increase women-owned and minority-owned business participation. Provides for membership of the Task Force. Provides that members shall serve without compensation. Provides for meetings of the Task Force. Provides for administrative support for the Task Force. Provides that on or before January 1, 2024, the Task Force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations on its survey of State procurement processes to the Governor and the General Assembly. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2025. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds the Chairperson of the Commission on Equity and Inclusion as a member to the State Procurement Task Force. Makes conforming changes.

Urges the federal government to expand legal protections for asylum seekers and expedite authorization for them to join the workforce, provide for their families, and truly live out the American dream. Expresses support of policies that welcome and support immigrant communities across the United States and urges the federal government to act as swiftly as possible to modernize federal immigration law.

Proposes to amend the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that the oath of office for each prospective holder of a State office shall include an affirmation to protect and honor the diversity of the people of Illinois. Effective upon being declared adopted.