Creates the Public Empowerment and Community Act and provides that the Act may be referred to as the PEACE Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer the PEACE Grant Pilot Program, subject to appropriation. Requires the Department to award annual grants to eligible grantees to create and strengthen community-based alternatives to law enforcement to lessen the reliance on law enforcement agencies as first responders to crisis situations unrelated to fire department or emergency medical service response. Provides that each grantee shall receive a minimum award of $250,000 per year and that the community-based alternatives may include, but are not limited to, mobile crisis response teams or community paramedicine programs. Requires the Department to prioritize grantees that propose interventions that serve historically marginalized populations and that serve communities with a demonstrated need for community-based alternatives to law enforcement. Contains provisions on grantee requirements and reports; a stakeholder workgroup; a public report by the Department; the Public Empowerment and Community Engagement Program Fund; and other matters. Provides that the Act is repealed on December 31, 2028. Amends the State Finance Act to include the Public Empowerment and Community Engagement Program Fund as a special fund. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that the Chicago Board of Education shall (rather than may), by majority vote, appoint a general superintendent of schools to serve pursuant to a performance-based contract for a term ending on June 30 of the third calendar year after the appointment. Provides that the general superintendent shall have all of the powers and duties of a chief executive officer as set forth in the Article. Effective immediately.
Amends the Counties Code. Provides that the county boards of Kankakee County and Tazewell County (currently, Kane County, Kendall County, and Will County) may also, by ordinance, impose a judicial facilities fee to be used for the building of new judicial facilities. Effective immediately.
Creates the Community-Based Foster Care Organization Safety Net Act. Provides that it is the purpose of the Act to provide community-based foster care organizations with a financial safety net for liabilities incurred in excess of $2,000,000 for tort claims arising out of the foster care services they provide to the children of this State. Provides that if any civil proceeding is commenced against a community-based foster care organization alleging death or bodily injury or other injury to the claimant arising out of any act or omission within the scope of the organization's provision of foster care services, the State shall indemnify the community-based foster care organization for any damages incurred in excess of $2,000,000. Provides that damages, court costs, litigation expenses, and other costs of indemnification, including attorney's fees obligated under this Section, whether by settlement or by judgment, shall be presented by the claimant in the Court of Claims subject to the procedures set forth in the Court of Claims Act. Provides that upon entry of a final judgment in excess of $2,000,000 against the community-based foster care organization, or upon the settlement of a claim in excess of that amount, the claimant or his or her representative shall file a copy of such judgment or settlement within 60 days after the effective date of such settlement or judgment with the Court of Claims. Provides that the Act applies to all judgments or settlement proceedings finalized on or after the effective date of the Act, and to any proceeding pending on the effective date of the Act. Provides that indemnification provided under the Act shall apply to any employee acting within the scope of his or her employment with the community-based foster care organization. Sets forth when indemnification does not apply. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to prohibit a community-based foster care organization from providing representation to an employee who is a witness in a criminal matter arising out of the employee's employment with the community-based foster care organization. Amends the Court of Claims Act to make conforming changes. Effective April 1, 2023.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable years 2023 and thereafter, the maximum income limitation for the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption is $72,000 for all qualified property. Effective immediately.
Honors and thanks State Representative Frances Ann Hurley for her years of dedicated service. Wishes her the best on her future success.
Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. In provisions concerning notification of the status of classes, provides that each governing board must notify an adjunct professor and a nontenured-track faculty member about the status of enrollment of the class the person was hired to teach (instead of just an adjunct professor). Makes corresponding changes.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. To the extent allowed under federal law, caps the civil penalties that can be levied against a municipality for NPDES-related violations of the Act at $50,000. Provides that, if the Agency brings an enforcement action under the Act against a municipality for an NPDES-related violation, then it is the affirmative obligation of the Environmental Protection Agency (i) to provide the municipality with all technical assistance requested by the municipality and necessary to resolve the environmental condition that is responsible for the violation and (ii) to make available to the municipality financial assistance that the Agency is authorized under State or federal law to supply to the municipality to resolve that condition. Requires the Agency, before seeking civil penalties against a municipality under the Act or before taking any other legal action against a municipality under this Act, to hold a public hearing within the municipality to explain the rationale for the enforcement action. Requires public notice of the meeting to be published by the Agency in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected municipality.
Amends the State Treasurer Act. Makes changes concerning banking and teller machine services. Provides that the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer the remaining balance from the Treasurer's Rental Fee Fund into the State Treasurer's Bank Services Trust Fund.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Deletes a provision that authorizes the Secretary of State to decline to process the renewal of a driver's license of any person who has not paid any fee or tax due under the Code and is not paid upon reasonable notice and demand. Provides that, whenever a person fails to appear in court and the court continues the case, if the clerk of the court elects to establish a system to send text, email, and telephone notifications, the clerk of the court may send notifications to an email address, may send a text message to the person's last known cellular telephone number, and if the person does not have a cellular telephone number, may telephone the person regarding the continued court date at the person's last known non-cellular telephone number. Deletes a provision that requires a court to enter an order of failure to appear if a person does not appear in court on or before the continued court date or satisfy the court that the person's appearance in and surrender to the court is impossible for no fault of the person. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Deletes language providing that an offender who defaults in the payment of a fine or any installment of that fine may be held in contempt and imprisoned for nonpayment and that the court may issue a summons for his or her appearance or a warrant of arrest. Effective immediately.