Rep. Barbara Hernandez

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that it is an unlawful practice to send to a consumer an unsolicited check that, when cashed, obligates the recipient to repay the amount of the check plus interest and fees. Provides that the provision does not apply to a transaction in which a consumer has submitted an application for, or requested an extension of, credit from the person before receiving the check or instrument, or when the consumer has an existing relationship with the person. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds provisions extending applicability of the bill to unsolicited negotiable instruments, credit cards, debit cards, and other forms of payment or transfer delivered to a consumer. Provides that a consumer is not liable for any debt or other obligation arising out of the negotiation of an unsolicited instrument delivered to the consumer.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that of the federal funds received by the State for purposes related to the COVID-19 public health emergency, 25% of any such funds received on or after March 1, 2021 shall be allocated for use by the Coronavirus Business Interruption Grant Program (BIG Program). Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Declares that all changes to the existing nursing facility direct care reimbursement rate methodologies and to the bed assessment and collection procedures must be approached with caution, executed deliberately, and held to the highest of standards in order to protect nursing facility residents from disruption in care, protect workers from lost wages and jobs, and protect providers from the increased instability within the industry. Provides that a Nursing Facility Oversight Committee (Committee) shall be named by the 4 legislative leaders to oversee, assess, and provide direction to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services as it relates to long term care services. Contains provisions on the Committee's composition, meetings, proxy voting, and other matters. Requires the Department to seek the advice and consent of the Committee prior to filing emergency or permanent administrative rules with the Secretary of State or submitting Medicaid State Plan amendments and all correspondence to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Requires the Department to prepare transition plans for the redesign of the direct care reimbursement rate methodologies and the assessment tax schedule and collection proceedings. Contains provisions concerning advanced notice to nursing facilities of all payment, award, and rate changes; a quarterly direct care per diem reimbursement rate for each nursing facility; direct care reimbursement rate components subject to redesign; establishment of a single quarterly non-Medicare occupied bed varied tax assessment; State Plan amendments to permit expedited implementation of the redesigned bed assessment; compliance requirements for managed care organizations; penalties for non-compliance; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Creates the Electric Vehicle Charging Act, which may be referred to as the Beneficial Electrification Act. Sets forth requirements for parking spaces that are electrical vehicle ready applicable to new or renovated residential or nonresidential buildings. Sets forth provisions concerning electric vehicle charging station policies for unit owners and renters. Amends the Electric Vehicle Act. Creates the Electric Vehicle Access for All Program to maximize opportunities for carbon-free transportation across the State, particularly targeting environmental justice and low-income communities and to provide grants to pilot programs with the purpose of bridging public transportation gaps between residences and employment locations. Sets forth provisions concerning administrative review and authorized expenditure of State-controlled funds to accelerate electric vehicle adoption. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that no later than May 31, 2022, electric utilities serving greater than 500,000 customers in the State shall file a Beneficial Electrification Plan with the Illinois Commerce Commission. Provides for review of the plans by the Commission and establishes a system for utilities to consider specified businesses, nonprofit organizations, or worker-owned cooperatives when awarding bids. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 627/30 new 20 ILCS 627/35 new 20 ILCS 627/40 new 220 ILCS 5/16-107.8 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Electric Vehicle Charging Act. Provides that the Act applies to new single-family homes and newly constructed or renovated multi-unit residential buildings that have parking spaces and are constructed or renovated after the effective date of the Act. Defines terms. Provides that a new single-family residence or a small multi-family residence shall have at least one electric vehicle capable parking space for each residential unit that has dedicated parking, unless any subsequently adopted building code requires additional electric vehicle capable parking spaces or installed EVSE. Includes electric vehicle parking space requirements for a new, large multi-family residential building or a large multi-family residential building being renovated by a developer converting the property to an association. Includes electric vehicle parking space requirements for affordable housing and for an existing multi-unit residential building subject to an association that undertakes renovation. Includes electric vehicle charging station policies for unit owners and for renters. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Removes language providing that "electric vehicle" does not mean electric motorcycles. Provides that "electric vehicle" does not include electric mopeds or electric off-highway vehicles. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Provides that a new single-family residence or small multi-family residence that qualifies as an affordable housing development shall have one EV-capable parking space for each code-required parking space if the owner is issued a building permit 24 months after the effective date of the Act. Makes a conforming change.

Amends the Counties Code. Changes definitions of "population" to be the total number of inhabitants according to the last preceding federal decennial census (rather than number of inhabitants or number of persons). Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Adds a definition of "population" in the general definition Section. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 55 ILCS 5/2-3001 from Ch. 34, par. 2-3001 55 ILCS 5/6-31002 from Ch. 34, par. 6-31002 65 ILCS 5/1-1-2 from Ch. 24, par. 1-1-2 Adds reference to: 65 ILCS 5/11-74.4-3.5 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Extends the estimated dates of completion of redevelopment projects and the retirement of obligations issued to finance redevelopment project costs for various ordinances adopted by the City of Chicago, the Village of Elkhart, the City of Robinson, the Village of Valmeyer, and the City of McHenry. Creates tax increment allocation financing extensions to the 47th year (currently, the 35th year) for ordinances adopted by the City of Pontiac if the City of Pontiac adopts a specified ordinance and provides notice to the taxing bodies that would otherwise constitute the joint review board of each redevelopment project area. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. With regard to local school council members, provides that the school district shall perform a check of the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website, the Statewide Sex Offender Database, and the Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database upon the election or appointment of a local school council member. Provides that if the general superintendent determines at any time that a local school council member or member-elect appears on the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website or the Statewide Sex Offender Database or Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database, the general superintendent must notify the local school council member or member-elect of such determination and the local school council member or member-elect must be removed from the local school council by the board of education. Provides that a local school council member must comply with all applicable board rules and policies regarding employees or volunteers. Removes provisions regarding ineligibility for election or appointment of a local school council member based upon certain criminal convictions.

Amends the Employment of Strikebreakers Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Police Officers' Pension Investment Fund Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision concerning the transition board and permanent board of trustees, removes language specifying that provisions of the Lobbyist Registration Act that prohibit persons required to register under the Act from serving on boards or commissions do not apply to members who are representatives of the Illinois Municipal League. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following change. Changes the effective date from immediate to January 1, 2022.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that an individual taxpayer age 65 or older is entitled to the earned income tax credit without regard to the requirement under the federal Internal Revenue Code that an individual taxpayer without a qualifying child has not attained age 65. Provides that an individual taxpayer age 18 to 24 is entitled to the earned income tax credit without regard to the requirement under the federal Internal Revenue Code that an individual taxpayer without a qualifying child has attained the age of 25. Provides that certain taxpayers using individual tax identification numbers are entitled to the earned income tax credit. Creates the eligible dependent tax credit. Provides that the total amount of credits between the eligible dependent tax credit and the earned income tax credit may not be less than $600. Amends the Earned Income Tax Credit Information Act to delete certain provisions concerning dependent children. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that rates and minimum mandated wage increases for homemaker services shall be, at minimum, a rate of $24.96 as of July 1, 2021 to sustain a minimum wage of $15 per hour. Requires rates in subsequent State fiscal years to be no lower than the rates in effect on July 1, 2021. Provides that providers of in-home services shall be required to certify to the Department on Aging that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Provides that fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, paid time off and payment for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation, shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases described in the amendatory Act. Effective July 1, 2021.