Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the requirement that cannabis (both medical and adult-use) must be stored in an odor-proof, child-resistant container in vehicles. It affects medical cannabis cardholders, caregivers, cultivation center agents, dispensing agents, and adult cannabis users who possess cannabis in any vehicle area while driving. The change simplifies storage rules but maintains existing prohibitions against possessing cannabis in passenger areas of vehicles. The bill amends Sections 11-502.1 (medical cannabis) and 11-502.15 (adult-use cannabis) of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Subject to appropriation, requires the Board of Higher Education to create a school counselor stipend program. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students and eligible cooperating school counselors who qualify for the stipend program. Sets forth 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 school counselor 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. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to make corresponding changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in cooperation with the Illinois Arts Council, shall conduct statewide impact studies regarding the economic, educational, and social impact of Illinois' museums and cultural attractions.

Creates the Community Hospice and Palliative Care Professional Loan Repayment Program Act. By January 1, 2027, requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to establish the Community Hospice and Palliative Care Professional Loan Repayment Program, which shall be administered by the Commission. Provides that the Program shall provide loan repayment assistance to eligible hospice and palliative care professionals practicing in a hospice program that provides services in the State. Provides that, each year, the Commission shall receive and consider applications for loan repayment assistance under the Act. Sets forth provisions concerning the awarding of grants by the Commission; eligibility for the Program; hospice program work requirements; and rulemaking. Provides that the Act is repealed 10 years after the effective date of the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act. In a provision that directs the Department of Natural Resources to contribute to and support the operations, programs, and capital development of public museums in the State, deletes a provision requiring public museums that receive funds for capital development to match State funds with local or private funding in accordance with certain requirements.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall establish a remote work policy for committed persons in the Department's custody to allow those persons to obtain gainful employment by private, approved employers. Establishes eligibility requirements for the program. Establishes conditions for employers who hire committed persons for remote work. Provides that a committed person may be terminated from the committed person's remote work employment at any time for any reason at the complete discretion of the Director of Corrections or the facility chief administrative officer, or their designees. Provides that all monetary compensation shall be directly deposited by the employer into the committed person's Illinois Department of Corrections account. Provides that the employer must pay the committed person employed remotely the same wage as the committed person's non-committed counterparts that work in the same role, have the same tenure, or as otherwise determined by Department policy. Provides that a committed person may appeal a decision to deny or withdraw approval to search for remote work, apply for remote work, or accept an offer for a remote work position or a decision to terminate them from a remote work position by submitting a written letter to the Deputy Director via the U.S. Postal Service or certified mail. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Provides that the State Board shall require each health care facility to submit an annual report of all capital expenditures (instead of capital expenditures in excess of $200,000). Provides that if a hospital reports zero capital expenditures, a section detailing the hospital's total purchasing budget that encompasses all goods and services purchased by the hospital in the preceding fiscal year must still be included in the report. Makes a conforming change.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that, within 120 days after the effective date of the amendatory provisions, each water purveyor shall develop a cybersecurity program that defines and implements organizational accountabilities and responsibilities for cyber risk management activities, and establishes policies, plans, processes, and procedures for identifying and mitigating cyber risk to its public community water system. Provides that, within certain time periods after the effective date of the amendatory provisions, a water purveyor shall create a cybersecurity incident reporting process; obtain a cybersecurity insurance policy that meets certain standards; reasonably conform to the most recent version of one or more of specified industry-recognized cybersecurity frameworks; submit a compliance report; submit an incident report; and submit an annual status report. Sets forth provisions concerning violations of the amendatory provisions and rulemaking abilities of the Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Commerce Commission. Makes other changes.

Creates the Enslavement Era Disclosure and Redress Act. Requires each contractor that participates in a competitive bid with the State to review its records for evidence of the contractor's or a related party's participation in slaveholding or the slave trade and to make certain disclosures with respect to that participation. Contains provisions concerning notice of public hearings following the disclosures. Provides that the Illinois Office of Equity shall appoint an administrator to oversee the program. Provides that each contractor that has disclosed participation in slaveholding or the slave trade shall provide the State with a statement of financial redress at the time of submitting its bid. Contains provisions creating a Redress Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Meaningful Human Review of Artificial Intelligence Act. Sets forth provisions prohibiting a State agency, or any entity acting on behalf of an agency, from utilizing or applying any automated decision-making system, directly or indirectly, without continuous meaningful human review when performing any of the agency's specified functions. Requires impact assessments to be performed by State agencies seeking to utilize or apply an automated decision-making system with continuous meaningful human review. Provides that the impact assessment shall include a description of the objectives of the automated decision-making system; an evaluation of the ability of the automated decision-making system to achieve its stated objectives; a specified description and evaluation of the objectives and development of the automated decision-making; testing of the automated decision-making system; and the notification mechanism or procedure, if any, by which individuals impacted by the utilization of the automated decision-making system may be notified of the use of such automated decision-making system and of the individual's personal data, and informed of their rights and options relating to such use. Requires submission of impact assessments to the Governor and General Assembly.