Rep. Maura Hirschauer

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, a person is eligible for a diaper allowance of $30 per month per child if: the person's household income is at or below 50% of the federal poverty guidelines; the person is responsible for the welfare of a child 3 years of age or younger; and the child who is 3 years of age or younger receives medical assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the diaper allowance may be used only to purchase diapers and shall be issued through an electronic benefit transfer card. Provides that the diaper allowance is not considered income for purposes of determining eligibility or the amount of assistance for any public aid benefit provided under State law. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act. Provides that a day and temporary labor service agency must provide an application receipt to applicants who seek a work assignment. Provides that a day or temporary laborer has the right to refuse an assignment to a place where a strike, a lockout, or other labor trouble exists. Provides that a day or temporary laborer who is assigned to work at a third party client for more than one week shall be paid not less than the average rate of pay and equivalent benefits as directly hired employees of the third party client performing the same or substantially similar work. Provides for a right of action by interested parties for civil penalties against a day and temporary labor service agency. Provides for protections against abusive contracts. Makes changes in provisions concerning recordkeeping; wage payment and notices; work restrictions; registration; violations; enforcement; penalties; third party clients; retaliation; and private rights of action. Defines terms. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. Provides that in fixing the salaries of employees, a school board or the governing board of a joint agreement shall pay to employees an hourly rate of not less than (i) $20 for the 2024-2025 school year, (ii) $21 for the 2025-2026 school year, and (iii) $22 for the 2026-2027 school year. Provides that the minimum hourly rate for each school year thereafter shall equal the minimum salary rate for the previous school year increased by a percentage equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor for the previous school year. Provides that "employee" means any employee of a school district or joint agreement who provides educational support services to the district or joint agreement, including, but not limited to, custodial employees, transportation employees, food service providers, classroom assistants, administrative staff, or paraprofessional educators. Provides that an employee's salary shall include any amount paid by the school district or joint agreement on behalf of the employee, as employee contributions, to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. Effective immediately.

Creates the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program Act. Requires the Department of Employment Security to establish and administer a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program that provides family and medical leave insurance benefits to eligible employees. Sets forth eligibility requirements for benefits under the Act. Contains provisions concerning disqualification from benefits; premium payments; the amount and duration of benefits; the recovery of erroneous payments; hearings; defaulted premium payments; elective coverage; employment protection; coordination of family and medical leave; defined terms; and other matters. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Account Fund. Provides phase-in periods for the collection of money and making of claims for benefits under the Act. Effective January 1, 2024.

Creates the Safe Gun Storage Act. Provides that a firearm owner shall not store or keep any firearm in any premises unless the firearm is secured in a locked container, properly engaged so as to render the firearm inaccessible or unusable to any person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user. Provides that if the firearm is carried by or under the control of the owner or other lawfully authorized user, then the firearm is deemed lawfully stored or kept. Provides that a violation is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $500. Provides that a violation is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 if any person knows or reasonably should know that a minor, an at-risk person, or a prohibited person is likely to gain access to a firearm belonging to or under the control of that person and a minor, an at-risk person, or a prohibited person obtains the firearm. Provides that a violation is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 if a minor, an at-risk person, or a prohibited person obtains a firearm and uses it to injure or cause the death of a person or uses the firearm in connection with a crime. Provides that any money received from the collection of a civil penalty shall be deposited in the Mental Health Fund. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Changes the age of a minor from under 14 to under 18 years of age for which it is unlawful, with certain exception, for any person to store or leave, within premises under his or her control, a firearm if the person knows or has reason to believe that a minor who does not have a Firearm Owner's Identification Card is likely to gain access to the firearm without the lawful permission of the minor's parent, guardian, or person having charge of the minor, and the minor causes death or great bodily harm with the firearm.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that, with certain exceptions, it is unlawful for any person within the State to knowingly manufacture, deliver, sell, import, or purchase or cause to be manufactured, delivered, sold, imported, or purchased by another, an armor plate, body armor, or military helmet. Provides that, with certain exceptions, beginning January 1, 2024, it is unlawful for any person within this State to knowingly possess an armor plate, body armor, or military helmet. Provides that this provision does not apply to a person's possession of an armor plate, body armor, or military helmet if the person lawfully possessed that armor plate, body armor, or military helmet prohibited by this provision, if the person has provided in an endorsement affidavit, within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, under oath or affirmation and in the form and manner prescribed by the Illinois State Police: (1) an affirmation that the affiant: (i) possessed an armor plate, body armor, or military helmet before the effective date of the amendatory Act; or (ii) inherited the armor plate, body armor, or military helmet from a person with an endorsement or from a person authorized to possess the armor plate, body armor, or military helmet possessed by the affiant prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides exemptions. Provides that a violation of these provisions is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act and the Public Community College Act. Provides that during the curriculum approval process, all curriculum must meet diversity, equity, and inclusion principles set by the respective governing board.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that any boards for electric cooperatives or municipal systems shall be required to announce any elections for board membership publicly and allow any residents of this State to run as a candidate. Provides that all electric cooperatives or municipal systems must retain documentation related to business operations for at least 5 years. Provides that any meeting agendas and minutes related to business operations must be publicly available.

Amends the Reimagine Public Safety Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention shall create an assault weapon and large capacity ammunition feeding device buyback program. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention shall purchase operable assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices from the owners of those weapons and devices who wish to sell them to the State. Provides that permanently inoperable assault weapons or large capacity ammunition feeding devices are ineligible for the buyback program. Provides that the buyback program shall permit the owners of firearms that are not assault weapons to participate in the buyback program. Provides that firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices purchased at the buyback program shall be delivered to the Illinois State Police who may: (1) destroy the firearms and devices; (2) use them for training or other Illinois State Police purposes; or (3) transfer them to municipal and county law enforcement agencies for their use. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall adopt rules to implement the program.

Honors and thanks State Representative Frances Ann Hurley for her years of dedicated service. Wishes her the best on her future success.