Rep. André M. Thapedi

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Restaurant Meals Program to permit individuals who are elderly, persons with a disability, and homeless individuals to redeem their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits at private establishments that contract with the Department to offer meals for eligible SNAP recipients at concessional prices. Requires the Restaurant Meals Program to be operational no later than January 1, 2020. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Effective immediately.

Amends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Removes a provision requiring the Department of Human Services to increase TANF grant amounts in effect on June 30, 2008 by 15%. Provides that TANF grant amounts shall be apportioned as follows: 75% shall be designated for the child or children of the assistance unit; and 25% shall be designated for the adult member or members of the assistance unit. Removes a provision that permits the discontinuance of all or a part of a TANF recipient's grant amount as a penalty for noncompliance with TANF education, training, and employment programs. Requires the Department to, by rule, impose a 30% reduction of the portion of the grant amount designated for the adult member or members of an assistance unit when a member is found to be in noncompliance with program requirements without good cause. Provides that no sanction shall reduce the portion of the grant amount that is designated for any child of the assistance unit. Requires the full grant amount to be restored when an adult member or members are determined to be in compliance with program requirements. Provides that homelessness, receipt of an eviction notice, discontinued utilities, and other specified circumstances shall constitute good cause for failure to participate in required TANF education, training, and employment programs. Provides that beginning October 1, 2019, and each October 1 thereafter, the maximum TANF benefit levels shall be annually adjusted to remain equal to at least 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 immediately.

Creates the Parkinson's Disease Public Awareness and Education Act. Provides that the Director of Public Health shall establish a Parkinson's Disease Public Awareness and Education Program. Provides that the purpose of the Program shall be to promote public awareness of Parkinson's disease and the value of early detection and possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments. Provides that the Department of Public Health may accept for that purpose any special grant of moneys, services, or property from the federal government or any of its agencies, or from any foundation, organization, or medical school. Provides that the Program shall focus on the development of specified programs and services. Provides that the Department shall prepare an information booklet in English, Spanish, and Mandarin which provides information about the symptoms and treatment of Parkinson's disease. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that establishment of the Program is subject to appropriation.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates a homestead exemption in the amount of a reduction of $5,000 from the equalized assessed value of property of police officers and firefighters with duty-related disabilities. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 35 ILCS 200/15-169.1 new Adds reference to: 30 ILCS 105/5.891 new 30 ILCS 105/6z-107 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund. Provides that moneys in the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund shall be used to pay rebates to residential property taxpayers in the State. Provides that the Fund may accept moneys from any lawful source. Provides that the State Comptroller shall calculate a property tax rebate amount for the applicable property tax year by dividing the total amount appropriated from the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund by the total number of homestead exemptions granted for homestead property in the State. Provides that the property tax bills of non-delinquent taxpayers who received a general homestead exemption under the Property Tax Code shall be reduced by the property tax rebate amount. Effective immediately.

Creates the Expressway Safety Act. Provides that the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority shall work together to conduct a program to increase the amount of cameras along expressways in Cook County. Provides that images from the cameras may be used to investigate offenses and detect roadway hazards, but not to enforce petty offenses. Provides that the program shall be funded by the Road Fund. Repeals the Act on July 1, 2023. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that funds from the Road Fund shall be for use on highways under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill and House Amendment No. 1, and makes the following changes. Renames the Act the Expressway Camera Act and provides that the Act may be referred to as the Tamara Clayton Expressway Camera Act. Provides that images from expressway cameras may be used by any municipal police department, county sheriff's office, State Police officer, or other law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the expressway (instead of "roadway") in Cook County in the investigation of any offense involving the use of a firearm (instead of by law enforcement agencies in the investigation of offenses). Provides that funds needed to conduct the program for use on expressways (instead of "highways") under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation shall be taken from the Road Fund.

Amends the Developmental Disability and Mental Disability Services Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall establish family centers throughout the State to provide counseling and mental health services to families who are indigent based on any behavior or mental health condition as determined by Department rule. Provides that the Department shall employ or contract with psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, and licensed marriage and family therapists to provide those services. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Developmental Disability and Mental Disability Services Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services' Division of Mental Health shall make available funding for the development and implementation of a comprehensive and coordinated continuum of community-based pilot programs for persons with or at risk for a mental health diagnosis that is sensitive to the needs of local communities. Provides that the funding shall allow for the development of one or more pilot programs that will support the development of local social media campaigns that focus on the prevention or promotion of mental wellness and provide linkages to mental health services, especially for those individuals who are uninsured or underinsured. Sets forth certain criteria a provider must meet to be considered for the pilot program, including the ability to: (i) implement the pilot program in an area that shows a high need or underutilization of mental health services; (ii) collaborate with other systems and government entities that exist in a community; and (iii) provide a presence staffed by mental health professionals in natural community settings, which includes any setting where an individual who has not been diagnosed with a mental illness typically spends time. Authorizes the Department to adopt and implement administrative rules necessary to carry out the pilot program.

Amends the Business Corporation Act of 1983. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 805 ILCS 5/1.01 Adds reference to: 805 ILCS 105/103.05 from Ch. 32, par. 103.05 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986. Authorizes the ownership and operation of a medical practice as part of a comprehensive hemophilia diagnostic treatment center, as authorized under Section 501(a)(2) of the Social Security Act. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Amends the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986. Deletes provisions authorizing the ownership and operation of a medical practice as part of a comprehensive hemophilia diagnostic treatment center, as authorized under Section 501(a)(2) of the Social Security Act, as a purpose of a not-for-profit corporation. Authorizes a not-for-profit corporation to own and operate a hemophilia program, including comprehensive hemophilia diagnostic treatment centers, under Section 501(a)(2) of the Social Security Act and employ physicians, other health care professionals and staff. Provides that the program and the corporate board may not exercise control over, direct, or interfere with a physician's exercise and execution of his or her professional judgment in the provision of care or treatment. Effective immediately.

Urges an investment of $1 billion by the State for affordable housing to be included in the next capital budget.

Directs the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Financial & Professional Regulation to conduct a disparity study on whether minority-owned businesses face any barriers that prevent the equitable participation in the business of cultivating, manufacturing, delivering, distributing, testing, transporting, and other avenues within the business of legalized cannabis in Illinois.

Urges Cook County to grant an extension to Montford Point Marine Association, Inc. Chicago Chapter 2 so that they might raise funds to pay off $75,000 in back taxes and continue to provide valuable support to the community.