Rep. Fred Crespo

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that an Executive Inspector General may issue a public statement when the Executive Inspector General concludes its investigation and (i) recommends systemic or procedural action based on the investigation or (ii) finds reasonable cause to believe that a violation has occurred and the Executive Inspector General believes that a complaint concerning the investigation should not be filed by the Attorney General with the Executive Ethics Commission. Limits the scope of a public statement that may be issued. Provides that, before issuing a public statement, the Executive Inspector General shall share the public statement with the agency head and ultimate jurisdictional authority affected by the investigation and allow the agency head and ultimate jurisdictional authority affected by the investigation a period of 10 business days to provide the Executive Inspector General with a response to the proposed public statement, which must be included with the public statement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, on and after July 1, 2024, a local tourism and convention bureau may not be certified to receive local tourism funds if all or part of the geographic area served by the local tourism and convention bureau is represented by another tourism and convention bureau that is certified by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Effective immediately.

Amends the Transportation Network Providers Act. Provides that no transportation network company (TNC) driver, after having accepted a request through the TNC's digital network or software application and having picked up the passenger, shall demand, force, or otherwise require the passenger to exit the vehicle prior to arriving at the destination, unless actions of the passenger have caused the driver to reasonably fear for the driver's health or safety. Provides that if a TNC driver forces a passenger to prematurely exit the vehicle, the TNC that the TNC driver is providing services for shall be assessed a fine of $500, and the TNC shall credit the passenger for the amount of the ride that was prematurely ended. Provides that fines shall be enforced and collected by the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General. Provides that the Attorney General shall have the powers to enforce the provisions as set forth in specified provisions of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that any amendment to a budget implementation bill or to an omnibus appropriations bill must be reported to the applicable appropriations committee of each chamber of the General Assembly at least 2 business days before being heard in any committee. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Finance Act. Authorizes moneys to be appropriated from the Budget Stabilization Fund in the following specified circumstances. Provides that, if the Governor exercises powers under the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, the public health laws of the State, or the Illinois Constitution to declare a disaster or emergency resulting from a catastrophic event that necessitates government action to protect life or public safety, then, for that fiscal year, moneys may, by a favorable vote of a majority of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly, be appropriated from the Budget Stabilization Fund under separate legislation that describes the nature of the disaster or emergency and contains an appropriation limited to the purposes described in the Governor's disaster declaration or executive order. Provides that, if the employment growth forecast for any fiscal year is estimated to be less than 1%, then, for that fiscal year, moneys may be withdrawn and appropriated from the Budget Stabilization Fund by the favorable vote of a majority of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly. Provides that any amount may be withdrawn and appropriated from the Budget Stabilization Fund at any time by the favorable vote of at least three-fifths of the members of each house of the General Assembly. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning State goals and assessments, provides that students who have been enrolled in schools in the United States for less than 12 months may not be required to participate in the State assessments.

Amends the Budget Stabilization Act. Provides that moneys may be withdrawn and appropriated from the Budget Stabilization Fund as follows: (1) if the Governor declares a state of emergency resulting from a catastrophic event that necessitates government action to protect life or public safety, then, for that fiscal year, moneys may be withdrawn and appropriated from the Budget Stabilization Fund, by an appropriation setting forth the nature of the emergency and limited to the purposes contained in the declaration, passed by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly; (2) if the employment growth forecast for any fiscal year is estimated to be less than 1%, then, for that fiscal year, moneys may be withdrawn and appropriated from the Budget Stabilization Fund by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly; and (3) any amount may be withdrawn and appropriated from the Budget Stabilization Fund at any time by the affirmative vote of at least three-fifths of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, for taxable years ending before December 31, 2028 (currently, December 31, 2023), when calculating the standard exemption, the basic amount shall be $2,050 plus a specified cost-of-living adjustment. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that in addition to any other penalties provided by law, a person knowingly and unlawfully selling or dispensing any scheduled drug containing a detectable amount of fentanyl is guilty of a Class X felony and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 9 years and not more than 40 years or fined not more than $250,000, or both. Provides that it is a Class 1 felony for which a fine not to exceed $100,000 may be imposed for any person to knowingly use an electronic communication device in the furtherance of controlled substance trafficking involving a substance containing any amount of fentanyl. Provides that this penalty shall be in addition to any other penalties imposed by law. Provides that in addition to any other penalties imposed, not less than 6 years and not more than 30 years shall be imposed with respect to any amount of carfentanil or fentanyl, or any analog thereof, in excess of 150 milligrams that is stored or transmitted as a powder, blotter paper, tablet, patch, or spray. Provides that in addition to any other penalties imposed, with respect to fentanyl, or an analog thereof, an additional sentence of 5 years shall be imposed if the fentanyl or analog thereof is in a form that resembles, or was mixed, granulated, absorbed, adsorbed, spray-dried, aerosolized as or onto, coated on in whole or in part, or solubilized with or into, a product, where the product or its packaging further has at least one of the following attributes: (1) a resemblance to the trade dress of a consumer food product, branded food product, or logo food product, or incorporates an actual or satirical version of a registered trademark, service mark, or copyright; (2) a bright color or coloring scheme; (3) the appearance of a cereal, candy, vitamin, gummy, or chewable product such as a gum or gelatin-based product; (4) a cartoon character imprint; or (5) incorporation into a separate product or package approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, or approved by a regulatory agency for food or drug products in another country, if the addition of fentanyl, carfentanil, or any analog thereof, would render the approved product an adulterated product under the standards of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or any law of this State or administrative rule. Defines "electronic communication device".

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State may issue special registration plates designated as Defense Superior Service license plates to Illinois residents who have been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal. Provides that no registration fee shall be charged for the issuance or renewal of a Defense Superior Service plate. Adds vehicle owners who qualify for a Defense Superior Service plate to the list of vehicle owners who may reclass their registration upon acquiring a special license plate without a replacement plate fee or registration sticker cost.