Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock

Urges full, sustainable funding for Mandated Categoricals (MCATs), as well as greater transparency and predictability in MCAT funding levels. Urges all future education funding discussions to account for the cumulative impact of underfunded categoricals, particularly transportation and special education costs borne disproportionately by districts. Encourages school districts to respectfully urge legislators to ensure Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) in conjunction with MCATs ensure an equitable approach to education funding.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Expands the definition of "developmental disability" to include a disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome. Amends the Developmental Disability and Mental Disability Services Act. Expands the definition of "severe and multiple impairments" to include a substantial disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome. Exempts persons diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome from any assessment or evaluation to measure cognitive functioning or IQ for purposes of making determinations on whether such persons have severe and multiple impairments eligible for home-based and community-based services. Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to include Prader-Willi syndrome as a developmental disability in any rule defining the term "developmental disability" and in any rule listing specific medical conditions or disabilities eligible for developmental disability services provided by the Department. Amends the Statute on Statutes. Provides that, except where the context indicates otherwise: (i) in any rule, contract, or other document the term "developmental disability" shall include a disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome; and (ii) whenever there is a reference in any Act to "development disability" the term shall be construed to include a disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Arab American history, including the history of Arab Americans in the State and the Midwest, as well as the contributions of Arab Americans from the 19th century onward. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials, including those established by the Public Broadcasting Service, that may be used as guidelines for the development of the unit of instruction. Provides that each school board shall determine the minimum amount of instructional time that qualifies as a unit of instruction. Provides that the regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a school district's compliance with the curricular requirements during the regional superintendent's annual compliance visit. Provides that a school may meet the requirements through an online program or course. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Epstein Files Investigation Act. Establishes the Illinois Epstein Files Investigation Commission as an investigatory and advisory commission to investigate matters related to Jeffrey Epstein's network with a nexus to Illinois, facilitate enforcement of Illinois law, and promote transparency. Grants the Commission investigatory powers, including subpoena authority enforceable in circuit court, and requires referrals to the Attorney General and periodic reports to the Attorney General, Governor, and the General Assembly. Provides victim and whistleblower protections. Authorizes the Attorney General to exercise specified authority. Directs the Attorney General to share information upon request by the Commission. Ceases operation of the Commission after 5 years and repeals the Act after 6 years. Amends the Statewide Grand Jury Act to expand jurisdiction, to include human trafficking, involuntary servitude, sexual exploitation of children, permitting and failure to report sexual abuse of a child, prostitution-related offenses, patronizing a sexually exploited child, child pornography, bribery, official misconduct, solicitation of misconduct, tampering with public records, perjury, communicating with or harassment of jurors and witnesses, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and racketeering activity, but with a requirement for Attorney General certification or a requirement that offenses occur in more than one county or have a statewide nexus. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Creates emergency rulemaking procedures for the student teaching stipend program. Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Authorizes a person to establish optional credit for periods of service as a student teacher under a specified provision of the Board of Higher Education Act. In provisions requiring an additional employer contribution for certain salary increases greater than 6%, provides that the System shall exclude any stipends paid to an eligible cooperating teacher under the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Creates the student teaching stipend program. Defines terms. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of Higher Education of all eligible students and eligible cooperating teachers who qualify for the stipend program. Creates requirements for the disbursement of stipend funds under the program. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student from participating in the stipend program or from receiving a stipend from the stipend program. Requires an eligible cooperating teacher who receives a stipend to complete specific training. Requires the Board to issue a report in collaboration with the State Board of Education evaluating the impact of the stipend program. Permits the Board to adopt emergency rules regarding the administration of the stipend program in certain circumstances subject to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the amount transferred from the General Revenue Fund to the Local Government Distributive Fund. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $3,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Secretary of State for a recurring, permanent grant program for Illinois academic libraries. These grants shall be applied toward Open Education Resources. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Environmental Barriers Act. Requires the Attorney General to provide, by January 31, 2026 and every January 31 thereafter (rather than by July 31, 2020 and every July 31 thereafter), data on the Attorney General's website about annual enforcement efforts performed under the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a survivors insurance beneficiary or the personal representative of the estate of a deceased survivors insurance beneficiary or the personal representative of a survivors insurance beneficiary who is under a legal disability may waive the right to receive survivorship benefits, provided written notice of the waiver is given by the beneficiary or representative to the Board of Trustees within 6 months after the System notified that person of the benefits payable upon the death (instead of 6 months after the death) of the participant or annuitant and before any payment is made pursuant to an application filed by such person. Effective immediately.

Creates the Prohibition of Discriminatory Disability Mascots Act. Restricts a public educational institution from the adoption or continued use of discriminatory disability mascots. Allows a public educational institution to continue to use uniforms or other materials bearing a prohibited name, logo, or mascot that were purchased on or before the effective date of the Act until September 1, 2028 if certain requirements.