Creates the Veterans Home Compensation Act. Provides that a benefit of $100,000 is payable to the surviving spouse or next of kin of a person who: (1) died of pneumonia caused by waterborne bacteria; and (2) was a resident of an Illinois Veterans Home at the time of death. Provides that a claim under the Act shall be filed no more than 5 years after the death of an eligible person. Provides that a claim under the Act must be determined within one year after the application for the claim is filed. Provides that the Attorney General and the Court of Claims may jointly adopt rules and procedures for the implementation of the Act. Provides that the compensation provided for in the Act is in addition to, and not exclusive of, any pension rights, death benefits, or other compensation otherwise payable by law. Amends the Court of Claims Act to grant the court jurisdiction over claims filed under the Veterans Home Compensation Act. Provides that the Court may direct immediate payment of claims pursuant to the Veterans Home Compensation Act. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the State Treasurer Act. In a Section concerning a college savings pool, provides that moneys may be used for qualified expenses allowed pursuant to Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. Provides that, before January 1, 2026, the Treasurer shall allow a rollover of funds contained in a College Savings Pool account into an eligible ABLE account. Effective immediately.
Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act and the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Expands the definition of "neglected child" under both Acts to include a child whose umbilical cord tissue contains any amount of a controlled substance as defined in a specified provision of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act or a metabolite thereof. Provides that nothing in the new provisions is intended to limit the type of medically reliable testing that can establish that a controlled substance or metabolite thereof is present in a newborn infant. Further amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 by providing that proof that a newborn infant's umbilical cord tissue contains any amount of a controlled substance as defined under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, or a metabolite of a controlled substance, constitutes prima facie evidence of abuse or neglect. Amends the Adoption Act. Includes as a ground of unfitness under the definition of "unfit person" a finding that at birth the child's umbilical cord tissue contained any amount of a controlled substance as defined under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act or a metabolite thereof. Provides that nothing in the new provision is intended to limit the type of medically reliable testing that can establish that a controlled substance or metabolite thereof is present in a newborn infant. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Provides that notice to parties in a contested case under the Act shall be served, among other forms of service, by electronic mail. Provides that parties in a contested case under the Act shall be notified, among other forms of notification, by electronic mail of any decision or order in that case. Provides that an agency may require all attorneys to designate an electronic mail address to which all documents required under certain specified Sections may be transmitted. Provides that if an attorney is required to designate an electronic mail address, he or she must designate one primary electronic mail address, and may designate no more than 2 secondary electronic mail addresses. Provides that an agency may request, but not require, an unrepresented party to designate an electronic mail address to which all documents required under certain specified Sections may be transmitted. Allows an agency to, by rule, make electronic mail the default option for service of documents. Provides that service by electronic mail is complete on the first business day following transmission.
Amends the Citizen Participation Act. Changes the definition of "motion". Provides that the intent of the responding party in bringing the claim is not taken into account for any motion to dispose of a claim on the grounds that the claim is in response to any act of the moving party in furtherance of the moving party's rights of petition, speech, association, or to otherwise participate in government. Provides that unless a court finds that the responding party has shown by a preponderance of the evidence a probability (rather than "produced clear and convincing evidence") that the acts of the moving party are not immunized from liability of this Act a court shall grant a motion to dispose of a claim on the grounds that the claim is in response to any act of the moving party in furtherance of the moving party's rights of petition, speech, association, or to otherwise participate in government and dismiss the claim.
Amends the Freedom of Information Act. In a Section concerning statutory exemptions, removes references to specified records and information protected under the following Acts: the Abuse Prevention Review Team Act; Brian's Law; and the Adult Protective Services Act. Makes corresponding changes in the Abuse Prevention Review Team Act and the Adult Protective Services Act.
Creates the Campus Free Speech Act. Requires the governing board of each public university and community college to develop and adopt a policy on free expression; sets forth what the policy must contain. Requires the Board of Higher Education to create a Committee on Free Expression to issue an annual report. Requires public institutions of higher education to include in their freshman orientation programs a section describing to all students the policies and rules regarding free expression that are consistent with the Act. Contains provisions concerning rules, construction of the Act, permitted restrictions, and enforcement.
Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Removes from the scope of the Act employing units with fewer than 2 employees. Effective immediately.
Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Deletes language making records and information provided to a residential health care facility resident sexual assault and death review team or the Executive Council under the Abuse Prevention Review Team Act exempt from inspection and copying. Deletes language making records and information provided to an independent team of experts under Brian's Law (which is the Developmental Disability and Mental Health Safety Act) exempt from inspection and copying. Makes corresponding changes in the Abuse Prevention Review Team Act. Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, all investigative reports made by the Office of Inspector General regarding community-integrated living arrangements and individuals living in community-integrated living arrangements shall be available to the public for inspection and copying under the Freedom of Information Act and any addresses of community-integrated living arrangements in those reports shall be disclosed and may not be redacted.
Amends the Counties Code. Gives non-home rule counties all of the powers provided to home rule units under Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution, except for the powers to tax, impose fees, and to incur debt. Effective immediately.