Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin

States that Illinois hospitals should be required to report instances of preterm birth, infant mortality, and maternal mortality within reporting under the Hospital Report Card Act, including racial and ethnic information about the mother and the disparity of these occurrences across racial and ethnic groups. Urges the Illinois Department of Public Health to work with the review committees to implement policy and corrective actions to address causes of preventable maternal death.

Declares March 14, 2023 as "Equal Pay Day". Encourages the citizens of this State to learn about the pay gap that women experience in society and to learn about these various dates that bring attention to the pay gap that specific groups experience.

Recognizes the month of May 2023 as National Foster Care Awareness Month.

Declare's March 8, 2023 as International Women's Day. Reaffirms the State's commitment to pursue strategies that guarantee the basic human rights of women and girls, to promote meaningful and significant participation of women in all aspects of our society, to encourage equitable access to and healthcare for all women and girls, and to support policy initiatives that seek to achieve gender parity and empower all women.

Amends the Financially Distressed City Law of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if a financially distressed city or the city's Financial Advisory Authority is awarded a State grant, any moneys the financially distressed city or Authority would be required to match under the grant are waived unless the moneys under the grant come from federal moneys that require the match. Provides that a municipality's status as a financially distressed city may not negatively impact a decision of whether or not to award a State grant to the municipality or negatively impact the amount of moneys received by the municipality from a State grant. Provides that, in addition to a request by the corporate authorities of a municipality to be certified and designated as a financially distressed city, the State Treasurer may conduct a preliminary review of the municipality's finances and establish a review team to make recommendations to the Governor for a municipality to be certified and designated as a financially distressed city. Provides an additional method for a municipality to qualify as a financially distressed city. Includes provisions allowing the municipality's Financial Advisory Authority to commence an action in circuit court to enforce the Law if the corporate authorities or employees of the municipality materially violate the provisions of the Law. Makes conforming and other changes.

Amends the Business Assistance and Regulatory Reform Act. Provides that, within 30 days after the beginning of its fiscal year, each State agency shall publicly report its expenditures for the previous fiscal year by submitting a report with specified information to the General Assembly electronically or in writing. Requires the report to be made available to the 10 news outlets in the State that have the highest circulation, listenership, or viewership.

Appropriates $5,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for YouthBuild Illinois. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "low-speed electric scooter". Provides that a person may not operate a low-speed electric scooter without a driver's license, instruction permit, or State identification card and unless he or she is 16 years of age or older. Provides that a person may operate a low-speed electric scooter where the operation of bicycles is permitted, including, but not limited to, bicycle lanes and bicycle paths, and shall have all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the rider of a bicycle. Provides requirements for lamps and reflectors for use at nighttime. Provides requirement for brakes. Prohibits the equipping or use of sirens, with the exception of scooters that are police vehicles or fire department vehicles. Effective immediately.

Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that a local government may submit a request to the Grant Accountability and Transparency Unit to be exempt from certain audit requirements if the local government is unable to meet the audit requirements due to circumstances beyond the local government's control, including, but not limited to, a natural disaster in which financial records of the local government are destroyed or alleged employee misconduct involving the destruction or withholding of financial records. Effective immediately.

Creates the University Park Development Authority Act. Creates the University Park Development Authority for the purpose of facilitating and promoting the redevelopment of certain property. Provides that the jurisdiction of the Authority extends over the Village of University Park and any and all property that the Village may annex during the course of the existence of the Authority. Provides that the Authority is governed by a 5-member Board of Directors. Sets forth the powers and responsibilities of the Authority, including the power to acquire, own, lease, sell, and dispose of real property and, under the supervision of the Illinois Finance Authority, the power to issue revenue bonds. Contains other provisions. Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Provides that all bond issuances of the University Park Development Authority are subject to supervision, management, control, and approval of the Illinois Finance Authority. Effective immediately.