Rep. Sonya Harper

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Adds involuntary sexual servitude of a minor to the offenses for which a health care worker license can be revoked. Provides that if a licensed health care worker has been convicted of a forcible felony, other than a forcible felony requiring registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act or involuntary sexual servitude of a minor that is a forcible felony, and the health care worker has had his or her license revoked, the health care worker may petition the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to restore his or her license. Establishes factors that the Department shall consider in determining whether a license shall be restored. Further provides that this process for petition and review by the Department shall apply to a person whose licensed is denied under these provisions.

Amends the Park District Code. Requires park districts to determine if an applicant for employment has been convicted of (rather than convicted of or adjudicated a delinquent minor for) specified criminal or drug offenses listed in the Section within 5 years of the application for employment, or convicted of a felony within 2 years (rather than 7 years) of the application for employment. Removes several offenses from the specified criminal or drug offenses listed in the Section. Amends the Chicago Park District Act making the same changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Includes persons who are foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes in the categories of non-citizens who are eligible for cash or medical assistance under the Code. Defines "foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes". Provides that beginning January 1, 2017, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide medical assistance coverage to foreign-born victims of human trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes and to their derivative family members who: reside in Illinois; are not otherwise eligible under the Code; meet certain income guidelines; and have filed or are preparing to file a formal application for status pursuant to specified provisions of the United States Code. Provides that such a person is ineligible for continued medical assistance coverage if he or she has not filed a formal application for status within one year after the date of his or her application for cash assistance or SNAP benefits; and that if there is a final denial of the person's visa or asylum application, any medical assistance coverage provided to that person and his or her derivative family members shall be terminated. Adds the Survivor Support and Trafficking Prevention Article to the Code with provisions concerning: cash assistance and SNAP benefits for persons who are foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes and their derivative family members; eligibility determinations; work requirements and exemptions; and termination of benefits. Grants the Department rulemaking authority to implement these provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Seed Law. Provides that specified provisions do not apply to seed distributed within this State by means of noncommercial, interpersonal seed sharing activities, including, but not limited to, seed libraries, seed exchanges, or other formal or informal seed sharing activities. Effective immediately.

Creates the Rare Disease Commission Act. Provides for the creation of the Rare Disease Commission. Defines terms. Provides that initial appointments shall be made by February 1, 2017. Provides required criteria and considerations for appointees and nominations to the Commission. Includes provisions regarding the terms, vacancies, and compensation for the Commission's membership. Requires that the Commission meet at least quarterly and submit an annual report due no later than December 31 of every year to the General Assembly. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall provide administrative and other support to the Commission. Effective January 1, 2017.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Child Bereavement Leave Act and amends the State Finance Act. Provides that an employee may use specified amounts of bereavement leave to grieve the death of the employee's child, attend services in relation to the death of the employee's child, or make arrangements necessitated by the death of the employee's child. Provides for enforcement by the Department of Labor. Provides for civil penalties. Authorizes the Attorney General to collect penalties. Creates the Child Bereavement Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the condition of parole, aftercare release, or mandatory supervised release that the subject not knowingly associate with other persons on parole, aftercare release, or mandatory supervised release without prior written permission of his or her parole agent or aftercare specialist does not apply when the association involves activities concerning community activism or organizing with a not-for-profit organization, or both, which may include, but is not limited to, unscheduled meetings or demonstrations, or both. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the organization of the Department of Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice.