Rep. Will Guzzardi

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall award competitive grants under a Teen Responsibility, Education, Achievement, Caring, and Hope (Teen REACH) Grant Program to community-based agencies. Provides that successful grantees under the Teen REACH grant program shall plan and implement activities that address outcomes associated with 6 core services: (i) the improvement of educational performance; (ii) life skills education; (iii) parental education; (iv) recreation, sports, cultural, and artistic activities; (v) the development of positive adult mentors; and (vi) service learning opportunities. Provides that successful grantees under the Teen REACH grant program shall be in compliance with policies and procedures on program, data, and expense reporting as developed by the Department, in consultation with the Governor's Office of Management and Budget. Provides that the Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement the program.

Amends the Cannabis Control Act. Provides that the possession of 10 grams or less of cannabis is a civil law violation punishable by a minimum fine of $100 and a maximum fine of $200. Creates the offense of unlawful use of cannabis-based product manufacturing equipment. Provides that a violation is a Class 2 felony. Provides that the provisions of any ordinance enacted by any municipality or unit of local government which imposes a fine upon cannabis other than as defined in the Cannabis Control Act are not invalidated or affected by this Act. Amends the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act. Provides that if a person is convicted of 10 grams or less of cannabis, the penalty for possession of any drug paraphernalia seized during the arrest for that offense shall be a civil law violation punishable by a minimum fine of $100 and a maximum fine of $200. Provides for distribution of these fines. Amends Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person shall not drive or be in actual physical control of any vehicle, snowmobile, or watercraft within this State when the person has, within 2 hours thereof, a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration in the person's whole blood or other bodily substance of 5 nanograms or more of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol per milliliter of whole blood or 10 nanograms or more of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol per milliliter of other bodily substance from the unlawful consumption of cannabis (rather than a cannabis THC concentration in any amount). Amends various other Acts to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Speech Rights of Student Journalists Act. Defines "student journalist" as a public high school student. Provides that a student journalist has the right to exercise freedom of speech and of the press in school-sponsored media, regardless of whether the media is supported financially by the school district or by use of school facilities or produced in conjunction with a class in which the student is enrolled. Provides that a student journalist is responsible for determining the news, opinion, feature, and advertising content of school-sponsored media. Provides that the Act does not authorize or protect expression by a student journalist that (1) is libelous or slanderous; (2) constitutes an unwarranted invasion of privacy; (3) violates federal or State law; or (4) so incites students as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of an unlawful act, the violation of policies of the school district, or the material and substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school. Provides that an employee of a school district shall not be dismissed, suspended, disciplined, reassigned, transferred, or otherwise retaliated against solely for acting to protect a student journalist engaged in conduct authorized under the Act. Effective immediately.

Creates the Child Bereavement Leave Act and amends the State Finance Act. Provides that an employee may use specified amounts of bereavement leave to grieve the death of the employee's child, attend services in relation to the death of the employee's child, or make arrangements necessitated by the death of the employee's child. Provides for enforcement by the Department of Labor. Provides for civil penalties. Authorizes the Attorney General to collect penalties. Creates the Child Bereavement Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, before the 30th day of each school year, beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, the principal of each public school shall report to the State Board of Education certain information concerning the administration of assessments to students. Requires the State Board of Education to compile the reported information and make that information available to the public. Requires each school to make that information publicly available to the parents and guardians of its students. Effective January 1, 2016.

Amends the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act. Makes it unlawful for an employer or prospective employer to request or require an employee or applicant to authenticate or access a personal online account in the presence of the employer, to request or require that an employee or applicant invite the employer to join a group affiliated with any personal online account of the employee or applicant, or join an online account established by the employer. Prohibits retaliation against an employee or applicant. Defines terms.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to adopt rules, no later than 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, for the legally recognized services of persons licensed under other laws of this State as a clinical social worker.

Amends the Credit Card Marketing Act of 2009. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Mourns the death of Peter (Piotr) Krystian Domaradzki.

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois University for its FY 16 ordinary and contingent expenses.