Rep. Mary Edly-Allen

Directs the Auditor General to conduct a performance audit of the Illinois State Police Division of Forensic Services. House Committee Amendment No. 2 Deletes everything. Replaces it with language directing the Illinois State Police to review and evaluate its varied duties and responsibilities to determine the most effective and efficient use of Rapid DNA technology and to recommend improvements to Illinois' DNA submission laws with the goal of taking full advantage of Rapid DNA technology throughout Illinois.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Reduces the rate of tax on diapers and baby wipes to 1% (currently, 6.25%), changing the distribution of the proceeds from the tax imposed on diapers and baby wipes.

Recognizes May 2, 2019 as the National Day of Prayer.

Urges policy decisions enacted by the Illinois State Legislature to acknowledge and take into account the principles of early childhood brain development. Declares May 15, 2019 as Trauma-Informed Awareness Day in Illinois.

Urges the Federal government to allocate more funding toward finding a cure for Lyme disease and declares May 2019 as Lyme Disease Awareness Month in the State of Illinois.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a chairman of a county board who is chosen by the board may be removed, with or without cause, upon a motion adopted by an affirmative vote of four-fifths of the board. Provides that upon adoption of a motion to remove the chairman: (i) the chairman position becomes vacant the and former chairman's compensation shall be prorated to the date the motion was approved; (ii) the vice-chairman immediately assumes the duties of chairman without chairman compensation; and (iii) a new chairman shall be elected at the next regularly scheduled county board meeting. Further provides that a chairman removed maintains his or her status as a member of the county board. Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning noise.

Amends the Public Defender and Appointed Counsel Division of the Counties Code. Creates the Public Defender Quality Defense Task Force. Provides that the Task Force is established to: (i) examine the current caseload and determine the optimal caseload for public defenders in the State; (ii) examine the quality of legal services being offered to defendants by public defenders of the State; and (iii) make recommendations to improve the caseload of public defenders and quality of legal services offered by public defenders. Provides that the Task Force shall hold a minimum of 2 public hearings and at other times of its choosing. Provides that the Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study to the General Assembly and Governor no later than December 31, 2020. Repeals the provisions on December 31, 2021. Effective immediately. Fiscal Note (Office of the State Appellate Defender) If the only responsibility to the Agency would be to provide space for meetings, the cost would be minimal because meetings could be held in our Chicago or Springfield office. If the Agency was responsible for administrative costs, travel reimbursement for board members, preparation of meeting materials or research and analysis, the cost could be significantly more. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Removes a requirement that the Governor appoint at least one Task Force member from the Legal Resources Division of the Office of the Cook County Public Defender. Provides that the Governor shall appoint 5 (rather than 3) public defenders or assistant public defenders to the Task Force from 5 (rather than 3) counties other than Cook County.

Amends the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act. Provides that the State Police shall by rule establish a sexual assault evidence tracking system that conforms to the recommendations made by the Sexual Assault Evidence Tracking and Reporting Commission in its report dated June 26, 2018. Provides that the Department of State Police shall design the criteria for the sexual assault evidence tracking system so that, to the extent reasonably possible, the system can use existing technologies and products. Provides that the sexual assault evidence tracking system shall be operational no later than than one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that a treatment hospital, a treatment hospital with approved pediatric transfer, an out-of-state hospital approved by the Department of Public Health to receive transfers of Illinois sexual assault survivors, or an approved pediatric health care facility must comply with rules relating to the collection and tracking of sexual assault evidence adopted by the Department of State Police. Provides for the operations of the sexual assault tracking system to be funded by appropriations from the State Crime Laboratory Fund, together with asset forfeiture and other funds appropriated by the General Assembly. Authorizes emergency rulemaking. Exempts information in the sexual assault evidence tracking system from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act, and the Unified Code of Corrections to make conforming changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill. Adds requirements and recommendations of the report created by the Sexual Assault Evidence Tracking and Reporting Commission issued on June 26, 2018 for implementation of the sexual assault evidence tracking system. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. With regard to the required health examination, provides that the social and emotional screening must include questions on a child's medical history that pertain to the mental health issues of his or her family and any other matter that could impact the child's future mental health. Effective immediately.