Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin

Amends the Toll Highway Act. Provides that the written notice for an alleged instance of a vehicle's operation on a toll highway without the required toll having been paid must be provided by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority within 7 days of the alleged violation. Provides that a fine for an alleged instance of a vehicle's operation on a toll highway without the required toll having been paid shall not be imposed until 14 days after the alleged violation and shall not exceed $10 per violation. Provides that if the imposed fine is not paid within 30 days of receipt of the written notice, an additional $25 shall be imposed per violation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the maximum reduction for the senior homestead exemption is $9,000 in counties with a population of more than 500,000 but not more than 1,000,000, $8,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, and $5,000 in all other counties. Provides that the corporate authorities of the City of Chicago or the county board of a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants may, by ordinance, increase the maximum reduction for the senior homestead exemption for property under the jurisdiction of that city or county to not more than $9,000. Provides that the maximum reduction for the general homestead exemption is $12,000 in counties with a population of more than 500,000 but not more than 1,000,000, $10,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, and $6,000 in all other counties. Provides that the corporate authorities of the City of Chicago or the county board of a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants may, by ordinance, increase the maximum reduction for the general homestead exemption for property under the jurisdiction of that city or county to not more than $12,000.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that certain property located in Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Rich, Thornton, or Worth Township may be certified by the South Suburban Land Bank and Development Authority as a southland reactivation site. Provides that southland reactivation property shall be valued at 33 1/3% of the fair cash value of the land, without regard to buildings, structures, improvements, and other permanent fixtures located on the property. Provides that, for the first 3 tax years after the property is certified as southland reactivation property, the aggregate tax liability for the property shall be no greater than $75,000. Provides that, beginning with the fourth tax year after the property is certified as southland reactivation property and continuing through the twelfth tax year after the property is certified as southland reactivation property, the property's tax liability for each taxing district in which the property is located shall be increased over the tax liability for the preceding year by the percentage increase, if any, in the total equalized assessed value of all property in the taxing district.

Creates the Paid Family Leave Act. Requires private employers with 50 or more employees to provide 6 weeks of paid leave for an employee who takes leave: (1) because of the birth of a child of the employee and in order to care for the child; (2) to care for a newly adopted child under 18 years of age or a newly placed foster child under 18 years of age or a newly adopted or newly placed foster child older than 18 years of age if the child is incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability; or (3) to care for a family member with a serious health condition. Provides that paid family leave shall be provided irrespective of the employer's leave policies; and shall be provided to an employee who has been employed by the employer for at least one year. Permits employees to voluntarily waive paid family leave. Provides that the Department of Labor may adopt any rules necessary to implement the Act.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation must issue or deny a license no later than 30 days after completion of the application for practical nurse and registered professional nurse licensure. Provides that the Department must issue or deny a license no later than 30 days after receiving the required documentation for advanced practice registered nurse licensure. Effective immediately.

Directs the Illinois Gaming Board to conduct a disparity study on whether minority and women-owned businesses face any barriers that prevent their equitable participation in the business of legalized sports wagering.

Amends Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that Metra Electric Division and Rock Island Division fares for transportation wholly within the City of Chicago shall be equal to the fares set by the Chicago Transit Board for rail transportation. Provides that fares for Metra Electric Division and Rock Island Division transportation that originate or conclude outside of the City of Chicago shall be set by the Commuter Rail Board and be based on the zone in which the transportation originates and concludes. Provides that the Commuter Rail Board shall accept the Ventra card for use on the Metra Electric Division and Rock Island Division and riders using the Ventra card shall pay through the Ventra application or at a station. Provides that the Commuter Rail Board shall adopt a policy to periodically check riders' tickets, including Ventra tickets and the Ventra application, on the Metra Electric Division and Rock Island Division to determine whether a rider has paid for transportation at the station or on the Ventra application. Provides that transfer fees using Ventra cards or the Ventra application between transportation provided by the Chicago Transit Board, Suburban Bus Board, and the Electric District or Rock Island District of the Commuter Rail Board shall be equal to the transfer fare between Chicago Transit Board transportation. Provides that lost revenue experienced by the Commuter Rail Board due to the implementation of any requirement relating to specified Metra Eclectic Division and Rock Island Division fare provisions are not "costs" in the calculation of whether fares and charges received in each fiscal year equal at least 50% of the aggregate costs of providing public transportation. Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act making conforming changes. Effective June 1, 2020.

Creates the Higher Education Fair Admissions Act. Provides that a public institution of higher education may not require applicants to submit standardized college admissions test scores to the institution as a part of the admissions process. Provides that the submission of standardized test scores to the institution shall be at the option of the applicant. Requires the adoption of a policy. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that provides coverage for dependents may not terminate coverage for a dependent before a date not less than 90 days after the death of the insured.

Amends the Counties Code. Changes definitions of "population" to be the total number of inhabitants according to the last preceding federal decennial census (rather than number of inhabitants or number of persons). Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Adds a definition of "population" in the general definition Section.