Rep. Marty McLaughlin

Amends the Blockchain Technology Act. Prohibits a public or private entity from requiring an individual to submit a blockchain based identification system as a condition of receiving goods or services from the public or private entity. Amends the Biometric Information Privacy Act. Prohibits a public or private entity from requiring an individual to provide a biometric identifier or biometric information as a condition of receiving goods or services from the public or private entity.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person charged with involuntary sexual servitude of a minor or trafficking in persons if the victim is under 18 years of age shall not be permitted to plead down to lesser offenses. Provides that no person charged with grooming shall be permitted to plead down to lesser offenses. Provides that prosecutors are prohibited from offering plea bargains to lesser offenses to those individuals charged with grooming. Provides that it is a Class 4 felony for a child sex offender to knowingly operate, manage, be employed by, volunteer at, be associated with, or knowingly be present at any facility providing entertainment exclusively directed toward persons under the age of 18.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, beginning in taxable year 2024, no taxing district, other than a home rule unit, may levy a tax on any parcel of real property that is more than 105% of the base amount unless (i) the increase is attributable to substantial improvements to the property, (ii) the taxing district did not levy a tax against the property in the previous taxable year, or (iii) the increase is attributable to a special service area. Provides that "base amount" means the tax levied by the taxing district on the subject property in the immediately preceding taxable year, except that, if the property received a homestead exemption in the immediately preceding taxable year and is not eligible for that exemption in the current taxable year, then the base amount shall be the tax that would have been levied by the taxing district on the subject property in the immediately preceding taxable year if the homestead exemption had not been applied. Provides that a taxing district may elect to be exempt from those provisions for one or more taxable years if the exemption is approved by referendum. Effective immediately.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to appropriation and any necessary federal waivers or approvals, the Department of Human Services shall develop and implement a transitional benefits program for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that is designed in such a way that a TANF or SNAP beneficiary will not experience an immediate loss of benefits should the beneficiary's income exceed the maximum allowable income under the TANF or SNAP program. Provides that the transitional benefits offered shall gradually step down the beneficiary's monthly benefit proportionate to the increase in the beneficiary's income. Sets forth monthly benefits amounts based on monthly household income. Requires beneficiaries to comply with TANF and SNAP work requirements. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department shall implement, by July 1, 2025, a program to allow recipients to receive transitional child care benefits without the requirement that such recipients first be eligible for full child care benefits. Provides that transitional child care benefits shall be determined on a sliding scale for recipients with household incomes in excess of the eligibility level for full benefits. Sets forth the sliding benefit schedule for the program. Requires the Department to track the number of participants in the program and issue an annual report to the General Assembly by September 1, 2026 and by September 1 each year thereafter, detailing the effectiveness of the program in encouraging recipients to secure employment earning an income greater than the maximum wage eligible for the full child care benefit. Requires the Department to pursue all necessary waivers from the federal government to implement the program. Provides that upon federal approval, the Department shall limit any initial application for the SNAP, TANF, or the Child Care Assistance Program to a one-page form that is easily accessible on the Department's website. Provides that persons participating in TANF, SNAP, or the Child Care Assistance Program who are required to complete a periodic eligibility review form, may submit such form as an attachment to their Illinois income tax return. Requires the Department of Human Services and the Department of Revenue to adopt rules. Effective immediately.

Creates the Paraprofessional Fast Track to Teaching Degree Pilot Program Act. Makes findings. Provides that the Paraprofessional Fast Track to Teaching Degree Pilot Program is created for a 2-year degree pathway by which paraprofessional educators may enroll to achieve the education requirements to attain a professional educator license in this State, which shall comply with the standards of the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education. Provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year or, if funds are not appropriated for the Program that academic year, beginning with the academic year in which funds are appropriated for the Program, the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education shall coordinate with each other to assign a qualified individual to serve as a Program director to develop the curriculum for the Program. Provides that one public elementary or public secondary school and one public university in this State shall be chosen to develop a program for transitioning paraprofessionals to teachers. Includes the core components of the Program. Provides that the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education must submit a report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Legislative Reference Bureau detailing the impact of the Program and then the Program is dissolved and the Act is repealed. Effective immediately.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as Draco's Law. Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act. Provides that a person convicted of willfully or maliciously torture, mutilate, injure, disable, poison, or kill (1) any animal used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or agency or when placed in confinement off duty, (2) any search and rescue dog, (3) any law enforcement, service, or search and rescue animal in training, or (4) any accelerant detection canine used by a fire officer for arson investigations in the performance of his or her functions or while off duty is guilty of a Class 3 felony if the animal is not killed or totally disabled. Provides that if the animal is killed or totally disabled, a person convicted of the violation is guilty of a Class 2 felony. Provides that if the offender is convicted of the violation, the offender shall be responsible for any veterinarian bills for an animal that was injured, and training costs for another animal, if the animal injured or killed is no longer able to be in service. Provides that a person does not violate these provisions if the animal used by a law enforcement department or agency was used against the person in violation of the law enforcement department or agency's use of force continuum or policy.

Amends the Local Government Debt Reform Act. Provides that alternate bonds may not be secured by the proceeds of general obligation bonds issued without referendum approval. Effective immediately.

Requests the reestablishment of a prayer room at the Illinois State Capitol Building near the rotunda in the current and ongoing renovations of the North Wing.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that in addition to any other penalties provided by law, a person knowingly and unlawfully selling or dispensing any scheduled drug containing a detectable amount of fentanyl is guilty of a Class X felony and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 9 years and not more than 40 years or fined not more than $250,000, or both. Provides that it is a Class 1 felony for which a fine not to exceed $100,000 may be imposed for any person to knowingly use an electronic communication device in the furtherance of controlled substance trafficking involving a substance containing any amount of fentanyl. Provides that this penalty shall be in addition to any other penalties imposed by law. Provides that in addition to any other penalties imposed, not less than 6 years and not more than 30 years shall be imposed with respect to any amount of carfentanil or fentanyl, or any analog thereof, in excess of 150 milligrams that is stored or transmitted as a powder, blotter paper, tablet, patch, or spray. Provides that in addition to any other penalties imposed, with respect to fentanyl, or an analog thereof, an additional sentence of 5 years shall be imposed if the fentanyl or analog thereof is in a form that resembles, or was mixed, granulated, absorbed, adsorbed, spray-dried, aerosolized as or onto, coated on in whole or in part, or solubilized with or into, a product, where the product or its packaging further has at least one of the following attributes: (1) a resemblance to the trade dress of a consumer food product, branded food product, or logo food product, or incorporates an actual or satirical version of a registered trademark, service mark, or copyright; (2) a bright color or coloring scheme; (3) the appearance of a cereal, candy, vitamin, gummy, or chewable product such as a gum or gelatin-based product; (4) a cartoon character imprint; or (5) incorporation into a separate product or package approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, or approved by a regulatory agency for food or drug products in another country, if the addition of fentanyl, carfentanil, or any analog thereof, would render the approved product an adulterated product under the standards of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or any law of this State or administrative rule. Defines "electronic communication device".

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Deletes a provision that if the defense seeks to compel the complaining witness to testify as a witness in its favor in a hearing to deny pretrial release, it shall petition the court for permission. Deletes a provision that when the ends of justice so require, the court may exercise its discretion and compel the appearance of a complaining witness at a hearing to deny pretrial release.