Rep. Delia C. Ramirez

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. Requires the governing board of each public university and community college district to deem an individual admitted to the United States as a refugee or an individual who has special immigrant status an Illinois resident for tuition purposes. Effective January 1, 2021.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Makes the Task Force on Children of Incarcerated Parents permanent. Provides that the Task Force shall continue to meet and issue reports at its discretion. Effective immediately.

Creates the Financial Transaction Tax Act. Beginning January 1, 2020, imposes a tax on the privilege of engaging in a financial transaction on any of the following exchanges or boards of trade: the Chicago Stock Exchange; the Chicago Mercantile Exchange; the Chicago Board of Trade; or the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Provides that the tax is imposed at a rate of $1 per transaction for all transactions for which the underlying asset is an agricultural product, a financial instruments contract, or an options contract. Provides that transactions executed via open outcry that are physically filled on the exchange floor are exempt from the tax. Provides that the term "financial transaction" means a transaction involving the purchase or sale of a stock contract, futures contract, swap contract, credit default swap contract, or options contract, but does not include a transaction involving securities held in a retirement account or a transaction involving a mutual fund. Effective January 1, 2020.

Repeals the Rent Control Preemption Act.

Amends the School Code. Prohibits a school district employee or volunteer or an independent contractor of a school district from placing a student in seclusion; defines seclusion. Provides that this prohibition does not apply to the use of seclusion in a court-ordered placement, other than a placement in an educational program of a school district, or in a placement or facility to which other laws or rules apply. Requires State Board of Education rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Creates the Emergency Solutions Grant Program Act. Provides that no landlord, mortgage company, rental property owner, or other vendor shall charge an administrative or processing fee on any application for housing submitted by an applicant for assistance provided under the Emergency Solutions Grant Program (formerly the Emergency Shelter Grant Program) established under the federal Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act. Provides that a violation of the Act constitutes an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Makes a conforming change in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides for a reduction in the assessed value of newly-constructed or rehabilitated rental property if the owner of the residential real property commits that, for a period of 10 years, at least 15% of the multifamily building's units will have rents that are at or below maximum rents and are occupied by households with household incomes at or below maximum income limits. Provides that the chief county assessment officer of a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants shall establish such a program. Sets forth application requirements and the amount of the reduction. Effective immediately.

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 Election Code. Makes changes to the information required on a voter registration record card. Provides that electronic voter registration records shall be furnished at a reasonable cost to any person who makes a sworn affidavit that the list will solely be used for bona fide election, scholarly, or journalistic purposes, as determined by the State Board of Elections. Provides that voter registration records shall be furnished without charge or at a reduced charge if the person requesting the records states the specific purpose for the request and indicates that a waiver or reduction of the fee is in the public interest. Provides that voter registration records or data shall not be placed for unrestricted access on the Internet. Provides that voter registration records or data shall not be furnished to any person residing outside of the United States and any person who knowingly does so shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony. Makes other changes.

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.