Rep. Lamont J. Robinson, Jr.

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 shall establish a Grant Diversity Database and make it publicly available on the Internet website of the Department. Provides for the contents of the Database. Provides for the adoption of rules. Defines terms.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Subject to appropriation, requires the Board of Higher Education to select 6 institutions of higher education to participate in a pilot program to provide assistance to students experiencing homelessness and to students who were in the foster care system when they graduated from high school. Provides that the institutions of higher education chosen to participate in the pilot program must provide certain accommodations to these students, may establish plans to develop surplus property for affordable housing to accommodate the needs of these students, and shall leverage existing community resources by making available to these students information that is available for individuals experiencing homelessness. Provides for the reporting of information and data. Provides that the pilot program shall expire on July 1, 2025, and repeals the pilot program provisions on January 1, 2026. Effective January 1, 2021.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions requiring the court to declare a sale in error in the case of an error by the assessor, chief county assessment officer, board of review, board of appeals, or other county official, provides that the error must be material to the tax sale at issue and may not include an error in the description of the physical characteristics or location of any property displayed on the website of any county assessing official. Provides that, if the legal or beneficial owner of the property requests bankruptcy relief, a sale in error shall be granted only if the property is subject to an automatic stay pursuant to the bankruptcy petition, and the petition is active as of the date on which the petition for sale in error is filed. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State may provide by rule for the issuance of an Illinois Identification Card or driver's license to an applicant that depicts the applicant wearing a religious head dressing; however, the Secretary shall not require such an applicant to sign an affidavit stating that he or she, in observation of a religious conviction, wears the head dressing at all times when in public.

Amends the School Code. Prohibits a school district employee or volunteer or an independent contractor of a school district from placing a student in seclusion; defines seclusion. Provides that this prohibition does not apply to the use of seclusion in a court-ordered placement, other than a placement in an educational program of a school district, or in a placement or facility to which other laws or rules apply. Requires State Board of Education rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Directs the Illinois Gaming Board to conduct a disparity study on whether minority and women-owned businesses face any barriers that prevent their equitable participation in the business of legalized sports wagering.

Amends Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that Metra Electric Division and Rock Island Division fares for transportation wholly within the City of Chicago shall be equal to the fares set by the Chicago Transit Board for rail transportation. Provides that fares for Metra Electric Division and Rock Island Division transportation that originate or conclude outside of the City of Chicago shall be set by the Commuter Rail Board and be based on the zone in which the transportation originates and concludes. Provides that the Commuter Rail Board shall accept the Ventra card for use on the Metra Electric Division and Rock Island Division and riders using the Ventra card shall pay through the Ventra application or at a station. Provides that the Commuter Rail Board shall adopt a policy to periodically check riders' tickets, including Ventra tickets and the Ventra application, on the Metra Electric Division and Rock Island Division to determine whether a rider has paid for transportation at the station or on the Ventra application. Provides that transfer fees using Ventra cards or the Ventra application between transportation provided by the Chicago Transit Board, Suburban Bus Board, and the Electric District or Rock Island District of the Commuter Rail Board shall be equal to the transfer fare between Chicago Transit Board transportation. Provides that lost revenue experienced by the Commuter Rail Board due to the implementation of any requirement relating to specified Metra Eclectic Division and Rock Island Division fare provisions are not "costs" in the calculation of whether fares and charges received in each fiscal year equal at least 50% of the aggregate costs of providing public transportation. Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act making conforming changes. Effective June 1, 2020.

Amends the Higher Education Loan Act. Creates the Know Before You Owe Private Education Loan Act. Provides that before a private educational lender makes a private education loan to a student who attends an institution of higher education, the private educational lender must obtain certification from the institution about the student borrower's: (i) enrollment status, (ii) cost of attendance, and (iii) the difference between the cost of attendance and the borrower's estimated financial assistance from all sources. Allows a private educational lender to disburse the funds of a private education loan if the institution of higher education fails to provide the requested certification within 15 business days of the request. Requires the private educational lender to provide notice to the institution that the loan has been disbursed without the certification. Requires a private educational lender to submit annual reports to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and to the Student Loan Ombudsman. Sets forth the requirements that must be included on the loan statement of a private educational loan. Provides that the institution of higher education must inform the student borrower of his or her lending options and whether the student has applied for or exhausted all available sources of federal financial assistance. Effective immediately.

Creates the Higher Education Fair Admissions Act. Provides that a public institution of higher education may not require applicants to submit standardized college admissions test scores to the institution as a part of the admissions process. Provides that the submission of standardized test scores to the institution shall be at the option of the applicant. Requires the adoption of a policy. Effective immediately.

Creates the Governor's Office of Diversity Act. Creates the Chief Diversity Officer within the Office of the Governor. Provides that the Chief Diversity Officer shall be appointed by the Governor, for a term to be determined by the Governor, and shall receive a salary to be fixed by the Governor. Provides that the Chief Diversity Officer shall be the head of the Governor's Office of Diversity. Provides duties and responsibilities of the Chief Diversity Officer. Creates the Office of Diversity within the Office of the Governor. Specifies duties of the Office of Diversity. Requires each State agency under the jurisdiction of the Governor to develop a diversity plan. Provides further requirements concerning the development of diversity plans.