Amends the Officers and Employees Article of the Counties Code. Decreases the minimum number of inhabitants that must reside in a county for the county to be required to create the office of county auditor from 75,000 inhabitants to 70,000 inhabitants.
Authorizes the Executive Director of the Lake County Forest Preserve District to execute and deliver a quitclaim deed to certain real property located in Lake County to Fort Sheridan National Cemetery. Effective immediately.
Amends the Park District Code. Provides that a park district may enter into a lease, contract, or other agreement related to the acquisition of solar energy, including the installation, maintenance, and service of solar panels, equipment, or similar technology related to solar energy, for a period not to exceed 2.5 times the term of years provided for in other provisions authorizing a lease for equipment and machinery (currently, up to 8 years) when authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the governing board of the park district. Effective immediately.
Amends Section 3 of an Act in relation to conservation, approved December 24, 1992, Public Act 87-1243, as amended by Public Act 88-468. Changes a reference to the Department of Conservation to the Department of Natural Resources. Provides that notwithstanding any other provisions in the Act, the Dixon Park District is authorized to install and operate solar panels, to create all necessary ingress and egress, to construct any necessary connections to the electric grid, and to conduct any other necessary activities for the development and operation of a solar electric generation facility. Describes the property authorized for the location of the solar facility. Authorizes the Dixon Park District to develop and operate the solar facility subject to specified requirements. Effective immediately.
Amends the Township Code. Provides that a township's board may either expend funds directly or may enter into any cooperative agreement or contract with specified entities to provide its residents with health services, including mental, behavioral, eye, dental, or other healthcare. Provides that the township board may approve the application of a different, publicly available, professional or academically recognized standard of need in determining eligibility for subsidized day care. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that persons shall not be determined ineligible for case assistance under the General Assistance Article of the Code based upon a conviction for any drug-related felony under State or federal law. In provisions concerning the General Assistance program, permits a local government unit to provide assistance to households under its General Assistance program following a disaster proclamation issued by the Governor if the local governmental unit is within the area designated under the proclamation. Provides that a local governmental unit may provide assistance under its General Assistance program under a service that complies with specified provisions of the Township Code. Provides that before a local government provides assistance, the board of the local government shall approve the expenditures of such assistance.
Creates the Firefighter Training Leave of Absence Act. Defines terms. Provides that a State employee shall be granted leave from his or her State employment for firefighter training as follows: (1) on one occasion, for up to 200 hours, to participate in training necessary to obtain Basic Operations Firefighter certification from the State Fire Marshal while attending a State Fire Marshal-approved fire academy; and (2) special or advanced training annually, not to exceed 80 hours, after obtaining Basic Operations Firefighter certification from the State Fire Marshal for courses that will lead to additional certification by the State Fire Marshal. Provides that, during leaves for basic, special, or advanced training, the State employee shall continue to receive his or her regular compensation as a State employee, but, if the State employee receives compensation for basic, special, or advanced training, the State employee shall receive his or her regular compensation as a State employee minus the amount of his or her compensation for basic, special, or advanced training. Provides that a State employee who wishes to obtain a leave of absence under this Act shall request in advance for the leave of absence and may take the leave of absence only after obtaining approval from the State employee's agency.
Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that public transportation benefits provided to a person with a disability by the Regional Transportation Authority or the Service Boards shall automatically renew unless discontinued by the person with a disability. Provides that benefits provided may not be suspended or discontinued pending a reevaluation of eligibility for those benefits.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that local authorities with respect to highways under their jurisdiction may also, by ordinance or resolution, prohibit the operation of trucks or other commercial vehicles, or may impose limitations as the weight, height, or length (rather than only weight) thereof, which prohibitions and limitations shall be marked by appropriate signs placed on such highways. Establishes that an agency or instrumentality of the State of Illinois or any unit of local government shall not be required to widen or otherwise alter a non-designated highway (regardless of its date of construction) to accommodate truck-tractor-semitrailer combinations. Provides that each unit of local government shall (rather than may) report to the Department of Transportation any limitations prohibiting the operation of vehicles imposed by ordinance or resolution in the unit of local government's non-designated highway system. Makes conforming changes.
Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall establish a competitive grant program to support the development or enhancement of computer science programs in the K-12 schools. Provides that eligible entities are regional offices of education, intermediate service centers, State higher education institutions, schools designated as laboratory schools, and school districts. Provides that approved entities shall be responsible for ensuring appropriate facilities are available and educators are appropriately trained on the use of any technologies or devices acquired for the purposes of the grant. Sets forth requirements to use the grant, renewal provisions, and rulemaking.
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that in the development of the individualized education program for a student, if the student needs extra accommodation during emergencies, including natural disasters or an active shooter situation, then that accommodation shall be taken into account when developing a student's IEP plan.
