Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock

Declares April 30, 2023 as Therapy Animal Day in the State of Illinois.

Creates the Megaproject Sports and Entertainment Facility Admission Tax Act. Imposes a tax of $3 for each individual admitted to a sports and entertainment facility located on megaproject property. Contains provisions concerning the distribution of the proceeds of the tax. Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that certain property may be certified by the Department of Revenue as containing a megaproject. Provides that a "megaproject" is a project with respect to which a company makes a specified investment during a specified investment period. Provides that the Department of Revenue may issue a megaproject certificate only for a megaproject in the Village of Arlington Heights. Provides that the megaproject property is eligible for an assessment freeze. Provides that megaproject property may be granted an abatement. Provides that a company that operates a megaproject shall enter into an agreement with the municipality in which the project is located to make certain special payments. Creates the Arlington Megaproject Oversight Board. Provides that the incentive agreement must be approved by resolution of the Arlington Megaproject Oversight Board. Amends the State Finance Act making conforming changes. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that qualified tangible personal property used in the construction or operation of a megaproject is exempt from the taxes imposed under those Acts. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act, and the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that certain tax proceeds from megaproject property shall be deposited into the Arlington Megaproject Infrastructure Fund. Makes other changes. Effective June 1, 2023.

Amends the Governmental Joint Purchasing Act. Provides that it may be determined that it is impractical to obtain competition because it is in the best interest of the State to award a contract to a qualified not-for-profit agency for persons with significant disabilities. Provides that when the State of Illinois is a party to a joint purchase agreement, the applicable chief procurement officer shall make a determination of whether the contract is eligible to be awarded to a not-for-profit agency for persons with significant disabilities. Provides that when an agency requests to award a contract to a not-for-profit agency for persons with significant disabilities, the chief procurement officer may authorize the award. Provides that all joint purchases made shall follow the same procedures for not-for-profit agencies for persons with significant disabilities under the Illinois Procurement Code when the chief procurement officer determines it is in the best interest of the State.

Creates the Educational Credit for Election Judges Act. Provides that each institution of higher education shall adopt a policy regarding its awarding of academic credit for election judges. Provides that the policy shall apply to any individual who has been an election judge while enrolled in the institution of higher education. Provides that each institution of higher education shall submit its policy for awarding academic credit for election judges to the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board, if applicable, before June 30, 2024 and before June 30 of every other year thereafter. Amends the Election Code. Provides that if an election judge receives academic credit, the judge may not be compensated under the Election Code.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. In the Sex Offenses Article of the Code, defines "coercive control" as direct or implied threat of danger, or retribution sufficient to coerce a reasonable person of ordinary susceptibilities to perform an act that otherwise would not have been performed, or acquiesce in an act to which one otherwise would not have submitted. Provides that a person commits criminal sexual assault if that person commits an act of sexual penetration and uses coercive control. Provides that a person commits criminal sexual abuse if that person commits an act of sexual conduct by the use of coercive control.

Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that a local government may submit a request to the Grant Accountability and Transparency Unit to be exempt from certain audit requirements if the local government is unable to meet the audit requirements due to circumstances beyond the local government's control, including, but not limited to, a natural disaster in which financial records of the local government are destroyed or alleged employee misconduct involving the destruction or withholding of financial records. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county may establish goals, based upon a legally defensible disparity study, for the procurement of goods and services to promote and encourage the continuing economic development of: (1) minority-owned and minority-operated businesses; (2) women-owned and women-operated businesses; (3) businesses owned and operated by persons with disabilities; and (4) businesses owned and operated by veterans of the armed forces of the United States. In the County Design-Build Authorization Division of the Code, provides that, rather than evaluating design-build proposals to see if they comply with the utilization goals for business enterprises established in the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act and provisions of the Illinois Human Rights Act, design-build proposals may be evaluated to determine if the proposals meet the county's contracting goals for the county's program for disadvantaged business enterprises based on the county's most recent, legally defensible disparity study.

Amends the Lodging Services Human Trafficking Recognition Training Act. Provides that a lodging establishment, restaurant, or truck stop is in violation of this Section, and is subject to civil penalties, if: (1) sex trafficking activity occurred in the lodging establishment, restaurant, or truck stop, a supervisory employee of the lodging establishment, restaurant, or truck stop either knew of the nature of the activity, or acted in reckless disregard of the activity constituting sex trafficking activity within the lodging establishment, restaurant, or truck stop, and the supervisory employee of the lodging establishment, restaurant, or truck stop failed to inform law enforcement, the National Human Trafficking Hotline, or another appropriate victim service organization within 24 hours; or (2) an employee of the lodging establishment, restaurant, or truck stop was acting within the scope of employment and knowingly benefited, financially or by receiving anything of value, by participating in a venture that the employee knew or acted in reckless disregard of the activity constituting sex trafficking within the lodging establishment, restaurant, or truck stop. Provides for civil penalties. Defines terms.

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to create an Equity for Autistic Students Commission to research, recommend, and review policies that affect autistic students to ensure fair access to resources, therapies, education, and equity with a focused lens on historically marginalized groups. Provides that the Commission shall review different therapies and practices used or recommended for autistic students and, with the help of experts appointed to the Commission, decide if those therapies and practices are still the best therapies and practices. Provides that the Commission shall consist of members appointed by the State Board of Education and shall include experts in the field of autism in children and students. Provides that at least one member appointed to the Commission by the State Board of Education shall have autism. Provides that the State Board of Education shall provide administrative assistance and necessary staff support services. Provides for meetings and reporting.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the dyslexia handbook developed by the State Board of Education shall include guidelines on the administration of a universal screener and dyslexia screening, the interpretation of data from these screeners, and the resulting appropriate instruction within a multi-tiered system of support framework. Provides that the State Board of Education shall adopt any rules necessary to ensure that a student will be screened for the risk factors of dyslexia using a universal screener. Sets forth which students are required to be screened. Provides that no later than January 1, 2024, the State Board of Education shall employ at least 5 dyslexia specialists or dyslexia therapists with a minimum of 5 years of field experience in screening, identifying, and treating dyslexia and related disorders. Provides that beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, each school district must screen students in grades kindergarten through 2 for the risk factors of dyslexia using a universal screener approved by the State Board of Education. Provides that if a student is determined to be either at risk or at some risk for dyslexia after the universal screener has been administered, the school district must administer a dyslexia screening of the student. Provides that if a student's dyslexia screening indicates that the student has characteristics of dyslexia, the dyslexia intervention services provided to the student must utilize a structured literacy approach as outlined in the State Board of Education's handbook. Makes other changes.