Rep. Cynthia Soto

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2017, feminine hygiene products and incontinence products are exempt from the taxes imposed under those Acts. Provides that the Acts' automatic sunset provisions do not apply to that exemption. Effective immediately.

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a patient discharged to a skilled nursing facility who is not assessed prior to discharge or whose pre-screening information does not accompany the patient to the skilled nursing facility shall (i) be admitted to the skilled nursing facility pending the case coordination unit completing a post-screening evaluation or the delivery of the pre-screening information to the skilled nursing facility and (ii) be eligible for Medicaid funded care from the date of admission if the patient meets all eligibility criteria for medical assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that a nursing home resident determined to be eligible for medical assistance for long term care services shall be entitled to have his or her care paid retroactive to the date of admission to a nursing home or the date the resident converted from Medicare or private funds as a payer source if it is determined that the resident met the financial eligibility standards for medical assistance on the date of admission or conversion and the admission or conversion date is within the retroactive window established under the Code. Provides that an outstanding application for medical assistance for long term care services shall not be closed or denied based solely on the applicant's death or the absence of certain documentation if services authorized under the Code were provided pending a determination of eligibility. Provides that a nursing home resident who is unable to comply in securing financial documents requested by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to prove financial eligibility shall be assigned a long term care ombudsman to assist the resident in securing medical assistance.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation to the State Board of Education, there is created an agriculture education teacher grant program to fund personal services costs for agriculture education teachers in school districts. Provides that a school district may apply for a grant to fund 50% of the personal services cost for an agriculture education teacher; however, a school district that is creating a new agriculture education program may apply for a grant to fund 100% of an agriculture teacher's personal services cost in the first and second year of the new agriculture education program and 80% of an agriculture teacher's personal services cost in the third and fourth years of the new agriculture education program. Allows a school district to apply for a grant for more than one teacher. Sets forth the duties of the State Board. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act with respect to teacher shortage scholarships. Specifies that agricultural education is a course of study included in the definition of "areas of identified staff shortages".

Amends the School Code. Establishes the State Global Scholar Certification Program to recognize public high school graduates who have attained global competence, sufficient for meaningful use in college and a career. Provides that school district participation in this certification is voluntary. Sets forth the purposes of certification. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt such rules as may be necessary to establish the criteria that students must achieve to earn certification, which shall minimally include attainment of units of credit in globally focused courses, service learning experiences, global collaboration and dialogue, and passage of a capstone project demonstrating global competency, as approved by the participating school district for this purpose. Sets forth the duties of the State Board and of participating school districts. Provides that no fee may be charged to a student. Effective immediately.

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 Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning appeals by the State.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that, for the purposes of defining "day care center", "special activities programs" includes programs or portions of programs that: (1) serve school-age children only; (2) are operated by an entity that is a local affiliate of a national organization and a non-profit as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and (3) meet appropriate State or local health and fire safety standards and those of its associated national entity, including performing background checks on employees. 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 Illinois Identification Card Act. Provides for the application and fee for first identification cards issued to a youth for whom the Department of Children and Family Services is legally responsible for or foster children upon turning the age of 16 years old until they reach the age of 21 years old. Defines "Youth for whom the Department of Children and Family Services is legally responsible for" or "Foster child". Effective one year after becoming law.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that a peace officer taking cash bail or bail deposits shall accept payments made in the form of currency, and may accept other forms of payment as authorized by the sheriff. Defines "currency".