Rep. Marcus Evans

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a person under 21 years of age at the time of the commission of an offense or offenses, other than first degree murder, shall be eligible for sentencing review after serving 10 years or more of his or her sentence or cumulative sentences. Provides that a person under 21 years of age at the time of the commission of first degree murder shall be eligible for sentencing review after serving 20 years or more of his or her sentence or cumulative sentences, except for those subject to a term of natural life imprisonment under the Code or any person subject to sentencing for first degree murder for killing certain victims committed when the person was under 18 years of age, who shall be eligible for sentencing review after serving 30 years or more of his or her sentence or cumulative sentences. Establishes procedures for filing petitions for sentencing review and the manner in which hearings on those petitions are held. Provides that the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council shall report on the impact of resentencing motions on the prison population contingent on having sufficient reliable data to support the analysis. Provides that the report shall be due 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Congratulates the 2024-2025 graduates of the City Colleges of Chicago Student Government Association (SGA). Thanks them for their commitment to serving their fellow students, their colleges, and the City of Chicago.

Recognizes Caterpillar Inc. on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. Commends the company for its remarkable achievements, enduring legacy, and continued contributions to the economy, society, and the global community.

Amends the Uniform Arbitration Act. Allows a party to serve upon another party a demand for arbitration or a notice of intention to arbitrate, specifying the agreement under which arbitration is sought and the name and address of the party serving the notice and stating that unless the party served applies to stay the arbitration within 20 days after service the party shall be precluded from objecting that a valid agreement was not made or has not been complied with and from asserting in court the bar of a limitation of time. Provides that in an arbitration brought by a consumer or employee that requires the drafting party to pay certain fees and costs before the arbitration can proceed, if the fees or costs to initiate an arbitration proceeding are not paid within 30 days after the due date, the drafting party is in material breach of the arbitration agreement, is in default of the arbitration, and waives its right to compel arbitration. Sets forth various actions a party may take if the drafting party materially breaches the arbitration agreement. Includes sanctions an arbitrator or court may impose for materially breaching the agreement. Provides that, if a party is represented by an attorney, papers to be served on the party shall be served upon the attorney for that party, and any agreement which discriminates against or penalizes a party for retaining the services of counsel in an arbitration is null and void. In a provision regarding venue, provides that: if the name of the county is not specified, the application shall be brought in the county where the party seeking arbitration resides or is doing business, and other proceedings affecting arbitration are to be brought in the county where at least one of the parties resides or is doing business or where the arbitration was held or is pending; if there are multiple parties seeking arbitration against the same party or parties, the proceeding may be brought in any court and county where any of the parties seeking arbitration resides or is doing business or where the arbitration was held or is pending; and if there is no county in which the proceeding may be brought, the proceeding may be brought in any county.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Increases the amount of the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities from $2,000 to $4,000 beginning in tax year 2025. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for contributions to an ABLE account. Provides that the credit shall be in an amount equal to 25% of that matching contribution, but not to exceed $500 per contributing employee per taxable year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act. Provides that a day and temporary labor service agency may charge a placement fee to a third party client for employing a day or temporary laborer for whom a contract for work was effected by the day and temporary labor service agency as agreed upon in advance by the day and temporary labor service agency and the third party client. Makes changes to an alternative calculation of a placement fee.

Amends the School Code. Provides that any public school employee who is a member of a statewide association and is appointed to a State board, advisory council, committee, commission, or task force to represent the association in State work may spend up to 10 days during a school term representing the association in State work. Provides that no deduction of wages may be made for such absence. Effective immediately.

Amends the Video Gaming Act. Provides that an applicant or licensee is not in violation of the Act or any of the Illinois Gaming Board rules, and shall not be subject to disciplinary action, delay of any Board consideration, or denial of any license for operating a game device if operation of the gaming device is in compliance with and not considered gambling under the Criminal Code of 2012. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a gambling offense involving a specific gambling device is a Class 4 felony. Prohibits a municipality from imposing any restriction or prohibition related to an activity which is lawful under under a provision that set forth activities that a person may not be convicted of gambling for participating. Includes specified vending or other electronic machines or devices in the definition of gambling device. Amends the Prizes and Gifts Act. Provides that it is unlawful for a person to operate on any premises a prize and gift kiosk that fails to meet the specified technical standards. Prohibits a prize and gift kiosk from being connected directly or indirectly to the Internet in order to participate in the game or contest or to receive or retrieve any data related to the kiosk or device unless the connected device is a redemption vault. Provides that is unlawful for a prize and gift kiosk to offer the sale of anything other than a bona fide product. Provides that it is unlawful to operate a prize and gift kiosk without a self contained fill system which permits the operation of the device solely determined on a fee basis or the amount of revenue generated but does not include a system based on time, number of spins or spin equivalent, or other non-revenue based system, and automatically ceases to operate upon the completion of a predetermined cycle. Provides that it is unlawful to operate a prize and gift kiosk without a route boost plus internal monitoring system that accounts and records (i) cash in, (ii) winnings, (iii) entries used, (iv) power failures, disconnections from the monitoring system, and malfunctions, and (v) remote activations and disabling. Requires a prize and gift kiosk to be registered with the Department of Revenue and to remit the annual fee as set by the Department of Revenue. Effective immediately.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish the Adult Learner Flexible Education Grant Program to facilitate access to online postsecondary education provided by a qualified institution of higher learning, including a not-for-profit postsecondary institution that offers classes exclusively online and meets other criteria, for adults over the age of 25 pursuing careers in fields facing workforce shortages, as determined by the Commission. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, subject to appropriation, the Commission shall receive and consider applications for grant assistance. Provides that an applicant is eligible for a grant if the Commission finds that the applicant meets specified criteria. Provides that all grants are applicable only to tuition and mandatory fees. Provides that the Commission shall determine the grant amount for each student, which amount must not exceed $5,000. Sets forth provisions concerning conditions on the grant amount, grant applications, the distribution of grant funds, and rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2025.