Rep. Marcus Evans

Amends the Worker's Compensation Act and the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act. Provides that specified Sections limiting recovery do not apply to injuries or death resulting from an occupational disease as to which the recovery of compensation benefits under the Act would be precluded due to the operation of any period of repose or repose provision. Provides that, as to any such injury occupational disease, the employee, the employee's heirs, and any person having the standing under law to bring a civil action at law has the nonwaivable right to bring such an action against any employer or employers. Effective immediately. State Debt Impact Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) SB 1596 would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued or State-supported bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. Pension Note (Government Forecasting & Accountability) SB 1596 amends the Worker's Compensation Act and the Worker's Occupational Diseases Act in a way that does not impact any State pension fund. Land Conveyance Appraisal Note (Dept. of Transportation) No land conveyances are included in Senate Bill 1596; therefore, there are no appraisals to be filed. Balanced Budget Note (Office of Management and Budget) Please be advised that the Balanced Budget Note Act does not apply to this bill, as it is not a supplemental appropriation that increases or decreases appropriations. Under the Act, a balanced budget note must be prepared only for bills that change a general funds appropriation for the fiscal year in which the new bill is enacted. Correctional Note (Dept of Corrections) There is no fiscal or population impact on the Department of Corrections. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate. Home Rule Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not pre-empt home rule authority. Housing Affordability Impact Note (Housing Development Authority) This bill will have no effect on the cost of constructing, purchasing, owning, or selling a single-family residence. Fiscal Note (Dept. of Central Management Services) It is not possible to calculate an exact fiscal impact of this proposed legislation due to the case­specific nature of any claims that may arise pursuant to this legislation. However, based on the average cost of a workers' compensation claim and the percentage of claims that are denied for untimely filing, the Department of Central Management Services estimates the proposed legislation would result in a cost increase of approximately $250,000 annually.

Creates the Employee Background Fairness Act. Provides that an employer may not refuse to hire an individual and may not discharge an individual because of the individual's criminal history unless the individual has one or more convictions and there is a direct relationship between one of more of an individual's convictions and the specific employment sought. Prohibits retaliation for exercising rights under the Act. Provides that an individual denied or discharged from employment because of his or her criminal history in violation of the Act may recover from the employer in a civil action: (1) damages in the amount of $2,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater; (2) costs and reasonable attorney's fees as allowed by the court; and (3) any other appropriate relief, including punitive damages. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Governor Transition Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the orderly transition of the office of Governor.

Amends the Public Defender and Appointed Counsel Division of the Counties Code. Creates the Public Defender Quality Defense Task Force. Provides that the Task Force is established to: (i) examine the current caseload and determine the optimal caseload for public defenders in the State; (ii) examine the quality of legal services being offered to defendants by public defenders of the State; and (iii) make recommendations to improve the caseload of public defenders and quality of legal services offered by public defenders. Provides that the Task Force shall hold a minimum of 2 public hearings and at other times of its choosing. Provides that the Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study to the General Assembly and Governor no later than December 31, 2020. Repeals the provisions on December 31, 2021. Effective immediately. Fiscal Note (Office of the State Appellate Defender) If the only responsibility to the Agency would be to provide space for meetings, the cost would be minimal because meetings could be held in our Chicago or Springfield office. If the Agency was responsible for administrative costs, travel reimbursement for board members, preparation of meeting materials or research and analysis, the cost could be significantly more. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Removes a requirement that the Governor appoint at least one Task Force member from the Legal Resources Division of the Office of the Cook County Public Defender. Provides that the Governor shall appoint 5 (rather than 3) public defenders or assistant public defenders to the Task Force from 5 (rather than 3) counties other than Cook County.

Mourns the death of James Lee Falls Sr.

Mourns the death of Mildred Bell.

Amends the Counties Code. In provisions concerning winds farms and electric-generating wind devices, makes the provisions applicable even if a county has or has not formed a zoning commission and adopted formal zoning. Clarifies that only a county may establish standards for wind farms, electric-generating wind devices, and commercial wind energy facilities in unincorporated areas of the county outside of the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality and the 1.5 mile radius surrounding the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that only a county may establish standards for wind farms outside the 1.5 mile radius (rather than in the 1.5 mile radius) surrounding the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, beginning with the 2019-2020 academic year, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission must implement and administer a program to award Early Childhood Workforce Free College grants to all eligible child care workers seeking an associate or bachelor's degree from a public institution or a regionally accredited, online-only early childhood education degree program; defines terms. Specifies grant eligibility and renewal requirements. Creates the Early Childhood Workforce Advisory Committee to advise the Commission on all matters relating to the Early Childhood Workforce Free College grant program and on the ways to improve and expand the early childhood workforce in this State. Provides for the membership and support of the Committee and requires the Committee to (i) study and make recommendations to the Commission that are related to the implementation of the Early Childhood Workforce Free College grant program, (ii) conduct an analysis from data received by the Commission to ensure the program is at full utilization, (iii) address access issues to the program, including, but not limited to, geographic, financial, cultural, and workplace settings, and (iv) address ways to expand the early childhood workforce in this State. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Early Childhood Workforce Free College Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. In language prohibiting parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection or within 30 feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign, or traffic control signal, exempts vehicles parked in a designated parking space created before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that an approved waiver from or modification to a physical education mandate may remain in effect for a period not to exceed 2 school years (rather than 5 school years like other mandate waivers) and may be renewed no more than 2 times upon application by an eligible applicant. Provides that an approved waiver from or modification to a physical education mandate may be changed within the 2-year period by the school board or regional superintendent of schools, whichever is applicable, following the procedure set forth in the Code for the initial waiver or modification request. Provides that a school board may determine the schedule or frequency of physical education courses, provided that an elementary school pupil engage in a course of physical education for a minimum of 150 minutes per week and a middle school, junior high school, or high school pupil engage in a course of physical education for a minimum of 225 minutes per week (rather than engage in a course of physical education for a minimum of 3 days per 5-day week). Provides that if a student non-attendance day is scheduled for a day that would otherwise include a physical education class or if the school building is not otherwise open to students on a day that would otherwise include a physical education class, a student is not required to make up the minutes from that class; defines "student non-attendance day". Effective July 1, 2019.