Rep. Sonya Harper

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. In the provision governing the graduation incentive grant program, removes the requirement that the Board of Higher Education annually submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a budgetary recommendation for the grants and the requirement that the Board notify applicants that the award of grants is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In a provision concerning the Community Care Program, establishes the following rate increases in the wages paid by vendors to their employees who provide homemaker services: on July 1, 2018, rates shall be increased to $19.89 for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour; on July 1, 2019, rates shall be increased to $21.49 for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour; on July 1, 2020, rates shall be increased to $23.09 for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour; and on July 1, 2021, rates shall be increased to $24.69 for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour. Provides that fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, any paid time off or payments for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases established in this provision. Effective July 1, 2018.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall establish reimbursement rates which build toward livable wages for front-line personnel in residential and day programs and service coordination agencies serving persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including, but not limited to, intermediate care facilities for persons with developmental disabilities, community integrated living arrangements, developmental training programs, employment, and other residential and day programs for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities supported by State funds or funding under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act. Provides that the Department shall increase rates and reimbursements so that direct support persons earn a base wage of not less than $15 per hour and so that other front-line personnel earn a commensurate wage. Defines "front-line personnel". Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Workers' Rights and Worker Safety Act. Provides that except as authorized by State law enacted after January 1, 2017, a State agency may not amend or revise its rules relating to protection of workers' rights or worker safety in a manner less stringent than specified federal laws. Provides that a State agency may establish workers' rights and worker safety standards that are more stringent than those provided in federal law in existence as of January 1, 2017. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that in certain circumstances an action may be brought in a circuit court by a person in the public interest to enforce standards or requirements concerning air, water, drinking water, and endangered and threatened species adopted under specified provisions of the Act and the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act. Provides that the provisions concerning public interest enforcement shall only become operative if specified events occur. Provides that the enforcement provisions of the Act are severable. Adds provisions concerning protection of the environment, natural resources, and public health. Requires various State agencies to adopt, maintain, and enforce rules concerning air, water, drinking water, and endangered and threatened species that are at least as stringent as various regulatory baselines under federal law, in addition to State law requirements. Provides that every State agency shall undertake all feasible efforts to implement and enforce these provisions. Contains reporting requirements. Deletes provisions providing that an air pollution construction or operating permit shall not be required due to emissions of greenhouse gases if certain events occur. Deletes certain language concerning exemptions from provisions concerning the Clean Air Act Permit Program.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that upon verified application by the Sheriff in whose custody the defendant has been remanded (in addition to current application by the State, the defendant, or the court on its own motion) the court before which the proceeding is pending may increase or reduce the amount of bail or may alter the conditions of the bail bond or grant bail where it has been previously revoked or denied. Provides that if monetary bail has been set and the defendant has been unable to post the required amount to secure release from custody, the defendant shall be required to present a verified application setting forth in detail any new facts not known or obtainable at the time of the setting of bail, or the previous revocation or denial of bail proceedings. Provides that if the court grants bail where it has previously been revoked or denied, or increases or reduces the amount of bail, the court shall state on the record of the proceedings the findings of facts and conclusion of law upon which such order is based.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that surplus tax revenues may be used to pay for costs of special education, social services, and other costs of a public school district. Provides that for municipalities with a population of over 1,000,000, redevelopment project costs include public school district qualified workers, costs of providing special educational facilities and services, school psychological services, and school social work services, and any surplus balance in the special tax allocation fund at the end of the fiscal year shall be used for these workers, facilities, and services. Removes provisions allowing anticipated redevelopment project costs to be deemed surplus funds.

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, tax increment revenues may be utilized for jointly undertaken and performed redevelopment projects only in an amount equal to the percentage of eligible costs undertaken within the redevelopment project area that received the revenue. Provides that tax increment revenues received in one redevelopment project area may not be used for eligible costs in another redevelopment project area and tax increment revenues may not be transferred to another redevelopment project area. Provides that if there are any contracts or agreements in force on the effective date of the amendatory Act, tax increment revenues may continue to be used or transferred to another redevelopment project area or utilized for jointly undertaken and performed redevelopment projects only to the extent necessary to comply with the contract or agreement. Provides that a municipality must post on its website, at least quarterly, how all revenue received under this Act was expended, including to whom each expense was paid.

Amends the State Property Control Act. Provides that an agency covered by the Act may dispose of unneeded property, including real property, by sale or lease to any duly incorporated non-profit organization or association for the cultivation and sale of fresh fruits and vegetables on a tract of land of less than 5 acres within any local governmental unit, provided that the non-profit organization or association is not controlled, directly or indirectly, by any agricultural, commercial, or other business. Amends the Property Tax Code to provide a property tax exemption for non-profit organizations using land for the cultivation and sale of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that upon a person's release from the Department of Corrections, the Department shall provide the person with a voting rights information form from the State Board of Elections that is tailored to a person released from a Department of Corrections facility and contains information that includes, but is not limited to, information on eligibility to vote, voting locations, voter registration, and automatic voter registration. Amends the Election Code to require the State Board of Elections to create the form and post it on its website.