Rep. Esther Golar

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. In a Section concerning a credit for wages paid to ex-felons, removes a provision providing that the credit may not exceed $600 for each qualified ex-offender. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset. Amends the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Provides that each Agreement entered into on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall contain a provision stating that the Applicant shall establish a goal of hiring qualified ex-offenders so that no less than 10% of the jobs created or retained under the Agreement are filled by qualified ex-offenders. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Beginning January 1, 2014, extends benefits under the State's medical assistance program to persons aged 19 or older, but younger than 65, who are not otherwise eligible for medical assistance under the Code, who qualify for medical assistance under specified provisions of the Social Security Act, and who have income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level plus 5% for the applicable family size. Provides that the 4-year moratorium on the expansion of medical assistance eligibility through increasing financial eligibility standards shall not apply to this new class of persons. Provides that such persons shall receive coverage for the Health Benefits Service Package. Defines "Health Benefits Service Package". Provides that if Illinois' federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) is reduced below 90% for persons eligible for medical assistance under the specified provisions, medical assistance eligibility for this new class of persons shall cease no later than the end of the third month following the month in which the reduction in FMAP takes effect. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Employment First Act. Provides that: it is the policy of this State that competitive and integrated employment shall be considered the first option when serving persons with disabilities of working age; the policy applies to programs and services that provide services and supports to help persons with disabilities obtain employment; State agencies shall follow the policy and ensure that it is effectively implemented in their programs and services; and nothing in the provisions setting forth the policy shall be construed to require any employer to give preference to hiring persons with disabilities. Requires State agencies to: coordinate efforts and collaborate to ensure that State programs, policies, procedures, and funding support competitive and integrated employment of persons with disabilities; and, whenever feasible, share data and information across systems in order to track progress toward full implementation of the Act. Authorizes State agencies to adopt rules to implement the Act. Provides that: the Employment and Economic Opportunity for Persons with Disabilities Task Force shall establish measurable goals and objectives for the State to ensure implementation of the Act and monitor the measured progress toward its implementation; State agencies shall fully cooperate with the Task Force and provide data and information to assist the Task Force; and the Task Force shall include in its annual report a progress report on the implementation of the Act and any recommendations with respect to its implementation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall adopt rules to maintain data on child care facilities without Internet access and shall ensure the child care facilities without Internet access register for available mailing lists of pertinent recalls distributed in paper form. Removes the requirement that the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services must make the comprehensive list of unsafe children's products available to those facilities that do not have Internet access. Effective immediately.

Mourns the deaths of Chicagoans who were victims of gun violence and recognizes The Chicago High School for the Arts' memorial to the victims.

Urges the Governor to seek to empower and engage individuals and communities where behavioral healthcare disparities exist through the establishment of methods for the creation of pilot programs for health homes, systems of care, and essential community behavioral healthcare providers, standardized data collection and analysis methods regarding the impact on racial, ethnic, and rural healthcare disparities, and a Illinois Behavioral Health Innovation Prize.

Creates the General Assembly's Advisory Committee on Education Funding to conduct a thorough review of the existing distribution methods and expenditures of education funding and make recommendations to implement an education funding system.

Calls upon the Chicago Transit Authority to relaunch the 31st Street bus from Cicero to the Lake Front for 3 years to serve the people of the Chicago neighborhoods of Little Village, McKinley Park, Armour Square, Bridgeport, the Town of Cicero, South Loop, and Bronzeville.

Mourns the death of Tesla Felician Rogers.

Congratulates Garvin G. Ambrose on the occasion of his appointment by Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy to the position of State Victim Advocate.