Rep. Sonya Harper

Amends the Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that on or before December 31, 2019, the Director of Agriculture, or his or her designee, shall prepare a report to be delivered the Chairperson of the Agriculture Committee of the Senate, and the Chairperson of the Agriculture & Conservation Committee of the House of Representatives regarding the Department's accomplishments and future goals in the following areas: facilitating the start-up, modernization, or expansion of livestock operations including beginning and transitioning livestock operations; developing new markets for this State's farmers by providing more fruits, vegetables, meat, grain, and dairy for school children of this State; assisting agricultural businesses to begin or expand, access new markets, or diversify products; developing urban agriculture; facilitating the start-up, modernization, or expansion of other beginning and transitioning farms; sustainable agriculture on farm research and demonstration; and the development or expansion of food hubs and other alternative community-based food distribution systems. Repealed on January 1, 2020.

Provides that specified amounts shall be appropriated to specified units of local government for each of 28 specified Representative Districts for grants to community-based organizations based entirely within each of the specified Representative Districts that address violence prevention using a culturally competent approach and that are capable of decreasing violence in those Representative Districts. Effective July 1, 2017.

Amends the Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Director of Agriculture, or his or her designee, shall convene interested stakeholders to develop a proposal to effectively and efficiently promote urban agriculture in municipalities in the State. Provides that on or before December 31, 2019, the Department shall report their findings the Chairperson of the Agriculture and Conservation Committee of the Senate, and the Chairperson of the Agriculture & Conservation Committee of the House of Representatives. Defines "urban agriculture". Repeals the provision on January 1, 2020.

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.

Commends the students of the Village Leadership Academy for their efforts to make positive changes within their community and urges the Chicago Park District to approve changing the name of Douglas Park to Douglass Park in honor of Frederick Douglass.

Amends the Counties Code and Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a county or municipality may create an urban agricultural zone composed of organizations or persons: who grow produce or other agricultural products; who raise livestock or poultry; who process livestock or poultry; or that sell a minimum of 75% locally grown food. Provides for the creation of an urban agricultural zone board to advise the county board, county board of commissioners, or corporate authorities of a municipality on urban agricultural zones. Provides for urban agricultural zone application requirements, including the number of jobs to be created, the types of products to be produced, and, if applying for a vending urban agricultural zone, the ability to accept food stamps under the provisions of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program if selling products to consumers. Provides for county and municipal public hearing and notice requirements before adoption of an ordinance to establish an urban agricultural zone. Provides that property taxes on property located within an urban agricultural zone shall not be increased, if so provided in the urban agricultural zone ordinance, for a period of up to 25 years. Provides that sales tax amounts received from the sale of agricultural products sold in an urban agricultural zone shall be deposited in the Urban Agricultural Zone Fund and specifies distribution to the county, municipality, or school districts under specified circumstances. Allows for wholesale water rates and a reduction in water connection charges for property in an urban agricultural zone. Amends the State Finance Act making conforming changes.

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Commitment to Justice Act and includes legislative findings. Amends the Court of Claims Act. Removes the $100,000 limit on awards in tort cases. Provides that the changes apply to cases filed on or after July 1, 2015. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Requires that the trustees for the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District be elected at consolidated elections. Provides that where a nomination for election is to be made for a trustee of the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District, then the petition shall be filed in the office of the county clerk not more than 113 nor less than 106 days prior to the date of the primary. Amends the Sanitary District Act of 1917. Provides that the board of trustees of the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District shall be elected (rather than appointed) beginning with the 2019 election. Sets forth requirements concerning the number of trustees to be elected and length of terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. In provisions regarding appointment of a fire chief, acting chief, department head, or a position, by whatever title, that is responsible for day-to-day operations of a fire department for greater than 180 days, limits home rule powers on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, in every public school maintaining any of grades kindergarten through 8, there shall be instruction, study, and discussion of effective methods for the prevention and avoidance of traffic injuries related to walking and bicycling. Provides that if a school board provides instruction on safety education under a provision in the Code, the instruction shall include pedestrian and bicycling safety.