Rep. Barbara Hernandez

Amends the School Code. Specifies that menstrual hygiene products shall be made available in all bathrooms (rather than in bathrooms) of every school building that are open for student use in grades 4 through 12 during the regular school day. Provides that the school employee or third-party contractor who is responsible for ordering, stocking, and replenishing the supply of toilet tissue and paper towels in school bathrooms shall be responsible for ordering, stocking, and replenishing the supply of menstrual hygiene products in the bathrooms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that the Department of Revenue and the Department of Employment Security shall cooperate by sharing information and data necessary to identify fraudulent activity with respect to claims for unemployment benefits and to protect taxpayers from the effects of reported income in connection with fraudulent claims.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides for the election (rather than appointment) of the board of trustees of the City Colleges of Chicago beginning with the 2023 consolidated election. Provides that the City of Chicago shall be subdivided into 20 trustee districts by the General Assembly for seats on the board of trustees, in addition to one at-large trustee. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Sidewalk Vendor Access Act. Includes findings and definitions. Provides that a governmental unit (a municipality or county) may not regulate sidewalk vendors except as provided for in the Act. Provides that a governmental unit may adopt a program, by ordinance or resolution, to regulate sidewalk vendors allowing specified regulations. Allows specified fines for violation of a sidewalk vendor program, but criminal penalties are prohibited. Limits home rule powers. Amends the Criminal Identification Act, Counties Code, and Illinois Municipal Code making conforming changes.

Amends the Property Tax Code. With respect to the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption, provides that, beginning in assessment year 2021, the taxpayer's household income shall be reduced by any amounts paid as Medicare premiums. Effective immediately.

Amends the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act. Provides that not less than 40% of the total dollar amount of State contracts shall be established as an aspirational goal to be awarded to businesses owned by minorities. Provides that of the total amount of all State contracts awarded to businesses owned by minorities, contracts representing at least 20% shall be awarded to businesses owned by black or African American persons. Removes provisions allowing for a waiver from contract goals established under the Act. Requires the return of specified funds for failing to accomplish contract goals established under the Act. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the State Treasurer Act. Makes changes concerning the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program. Provides that the State Treasurer may make supplementary deposits to children in financially insecure households if sufficient funds are available. Provides that the State Treasurer shall annually prepare a report that includes a summary of the Program operations for the preceding fiscal year, including, among other items, the rate of seed deposits claimed, and, to the extent data is reported and available, the racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic data of beneficiaries and of children in financially insecure households who may receive automatic bonus deposits. Provides that such other information that is relevant to make a full disclosure of the operations of the Program and Fund may also be reported. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Employee Sick Leave Act. Removes language exempting from coverage under the Act an employee of an employer subject to the provisions of Title II of the federal Railway Labor Act.

Creates the Second Chance State Behavioral Health Workforce Development Act. Contains findings. Provides that each institution of higher education shall annually allow for the admission of at least one returning resident (a person who is a resident of and domiciled in Illinois, has graduated from high school or the equivalent, has been convicted of a felony by a specified court, was sentenced to incarceration pursuant to that conviction, and is no longer incarcerated) in an undergraduate or graduate academic program that will lead to the qualification of the returning resident as a behavioral health care professional. Provides that the returning resident shall not be required to pay any tuition, fee, or other charge for any class the returning resident takes if the State appropriates funds for reimbursement. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall contract with community-based organizations and legal service providers to provide specified services to returning residents. Provides that certain criminal convictions and dispositions are not cause for a licensing agency to deny an individual a license, permission, or authorization to be a behavioral health care professional. Provides that a licensing agency shall consider specified mitigating factors when considering an application for a license, permission, or other authorization to be a behavioral health care professional. Provides that, if a licensing agency refuses to issue a license, permission, or other authorization to perform a behavioral health care profession based upon a conviction, the licensing agency shall notify the individual of the denial with specified information included in the notice of denial. Provides that neither the Commission nor a community-based organization providing services under the Act shall enter into a contractual or other financial, service, or volunteer relationship with and shall not pay any money or provide any other form of consideration to specified persons or entities. Provides that institutions of higher education shall strictly comply with the Act and the Commission shall take actions necessary to obtain compliance and enforce the Act. Contains provisions concerning judicial proceedings, certifications, adoption of rules, notices, conflicts, severability, and other matters. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the second Monday in October of each year (currently, the last Monday in September) shall be a holiday to be known as Indigenous Peoples Day to be observed throughout the State (currently, not a holiday). Removes Columbus Day as a holiday and a commemorative date. Amends the Election Code, the Illinois Procurement Code, the School Code, and the Promissory Note and Bank Holiday Act to make changes to provide for Indigenous Peoples Day as a State holiday and the removal of Columbus Day as a State holiday. Makes conforming changes.