Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Requires the Department on Aging, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to identify all programs operating in the State, both public and private, that provide services to meet the unique needs and circumstances of senior citizens. Requires the Department on Aging to compile and maintain a list of the identified programs that includes for each program listed: (i) a brief description of program services; (ii) eligibility requirements; and (ii) instructions on how to apply to the program. Requires the Department on Aging and the Departments of Human Services and Healthcare and Family Services to post the list of identified programs on their websites in a relevant and conspicuous place. Requires the Department on Aging to ensure that printed copies of the list of identified programs are available for distribution to senior citizens at each local agency that contracts with a designated area agency on aging. Requires the Secretary of State to ensure that printed copies of the list of identified programs are available for distribution to senior citizens at each driver services facility operated by the Secretary of State.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Allows an authorized official of Cook County under the county's veteran-owned business program to certify to the Department of Veterans' Affairs that Cook County's certification standards do not conflict with the requirements of the Code concerning veteran-owned businesses. Requires that, upon certification, the Department of Central Management Services will notify Cook County businesses of certain information concerning the notification and ensure that parties who obtain certification under Cook County's program are immediately registered with the State as certified and qualified businesses under the Code. Requires the Department to contribute money to support the program under available appropriations. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Requires the Department of Central Management Services to submit an annual report concerning certifications issued to veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Requires the Department to conduct a minimum of 2 outreach events per year to ensure that veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses know about the procurement opportunities and certification requirements with the State. Adds additional requirements concerning the certification program for veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services, in consultation with the Department of Veteran Affairs, may develop programs and agreements to encourage cities, counties, towns, townships, and other certifying entities to adopt uniform certification procedures and certification recognition programs. Provides that a business shall be certified by the Department of Central Management Services as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business or a veteran-owned small business if the Department determines that the business has been certified as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business or a veteran-owned small business by the Vets First Verification Program of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and the business has provided to the Department with specified information. Provides that the policies of the Department of Central Management Services regarding recognition of the Vets First Verification Program shall be reviewed annually. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code, the Pharmacy Practice Act, and the Wholesale Drug Distribution Licensing Act. Prohibits the licensure, transference, use, or sale of any records relative to prescription information containing patient-identifiable or prescriber-identifiable data by any licensee or registrant of the Acts for commercial purposes.

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.

Amends the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act. Provides that the State Police shall by rule establish a sexual assault evidence tracking system that conforms to the recommendations made by the Sexual Assault Evidence Tracking and Reporting Commission in its report dated June 26, 2018. Provides that the Department of State Police shall design the criteria for the sexual assault evidence tracking system so that, to the extent reasonably possible, the system can use existing technologies and products. Provides that the sexual assault evidence tracking system shall be operational no later than than one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that a treatment hospital, a treatment hospital with approved pediatric transfer, an out-of-state hospital approved by the Department of Public Health to receive transfers of Illinois sexual assault survivors, or an approved pediatric health care facility must comply with rules relating to the collection and tracking of sexual assault evidence adopted by the Department of State Police. Provides for the operations of the sexual assault tracking system to be funded by appropriations from the State Crime Laboratory Fund, together with asset forfeiture and other funds appropriated by the General Assembly. Authorizes emergency rulemaking. Exempts information in the sexual assault evidence tracking system from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act, and the Unified Code of Corrections to make conforming changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill. Adds requirements and recommendations of the report created by the Sexual Assault Evidence Tracking and Reporting Commission issued on June 26, 2018 for implementation of the sexual assault evidence tracking system. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Carolyn Jean Boddie Gibson.

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 Municipal Code and Fire Protection District Act. Removes the requirement that a person with a minimum of 10 years' experience as a firefighter may not be appointed a fire chief for more than 180 days if the experience is not at the fire department from which the appointment is being made. Provides that a person not meeting any of the 4 specified qualifications for a fire chief may be hired as fire chief for up to one year on the condition that the person obtain one of the applicable certifications within one year of appointment. Effective January 1, 2020.

Amends the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act. Provides that the Business Enterprise Council has the authority and responsibility to, among other authorities and responsibilities, (1) devise a certification procedure that certifies like certifications, including, but not limited to, such certifications for the City of Chicago and Cook County, and (2) annually evaluate certification procedures to ensure efficient standardization with like certifications to ensure current procedures do not cause undue burden to potential vendors owned by minorities, women or persons with disabilities.

Amends the Illinois Freedom to Work Act. Expands the scope of the Act to apply to all employees (rather than only low-wage employees). Prohibits all covenants not to compete. Effective immediately. Fiscal Note (Dept of Labor) This legislation has no fiscal impact on the Department. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate.