Rep. Sonya Harper

Creates the Transportation Benefit Program Act. Provides that an employer that is situated in Cook County and for which an average of 20 or more full-time employees work for compensation shall offer a program that allows a covered employee to elect to exclude from taxable wages and compensation the employee's commuting costs incurred for the purchase of a transit pass to use public transit up to a maximum level allowed by federal tax law. Provides that a covered employer may comply by participating in a program offered by the Chicago Transit Authority or the Regional Transit Authority. Provides that all transit agencies shall market the existence of the program to their riders. Establishes penalties for violations of the Act. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Transportation Benefits Program Fund. Effective January 1, 2020.

Creates the Illinois Violence Reduction Funding Act of 2019. Requires the Secretary of the Department of Human Services to make grants to community-based organizations for the purpose of carrying out community-based violence reduction programs. Provides that the programs shall reflect strong community involvement and provide specified services including: (i) youth services; (ii) trauma-informed counseling services; (iii) public awareness campaigns; and (iv) job readiness training programs. Contains provisions concerning eligible activities; selection criteria; eligible entities; application requirements; and reporting requirements. Effective July 1, 2019.

Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Removes the requirement for each Legislative District to be divided into 2 Representative Districts. Modifies provisions concerning legislative redistricting. Provides specified requirements for each Legislative District, Representative District, and Congressional District for redistricting purposes. Replaces the current method of legislative redistricting with a 17-member Commission, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the most senior Supreme Court Justice of a different political party in accordance with specified criteria. Specifies requirements for the Commission concerning redistricting plans. Adds provisions concerning the membership of the Commission and budgetary matters related to the Commission. Provides the Supreme Court with original and exclusive jurisdiction over redistricting matters. Defines terms. Makes conforming and other changes. Effective upon being declared adopted and applicable to redistricting beginning in 2021 and to the election of General Assembly members beginning in 2022.

Creates the Drug and Sharps Waste Stewardship Act. Directs the Environmental Protection Agency to administer a drug and sharps waste stewardship program. Provides that the State Board of Pharmacy is to guide and advise the Agency in its administration of the program. Requires covered entities to provide lists of covered and not covered products to the State Board and to implement stewardship plans. Requires stewardship plans to be submitted to the Agency for review and acceptance. Requires that all counties have at least one collection site for unused drugs and sharps per 50,000 people, and no fewer than 5 such collection sites. Requires counties that do not have the necessary number of collection sites to establish a mail-back program, or alternative collection program for covered products, or both. Imposes an administrative fee on covered entities. Provides penalties for covered entities that fail to comply with the provisions of the Act. Creates the Drug and Sharps Stewardship Fund and the Drug and Sharps Stewardship Penalty Account within the Fund. Directs the Agency to post lists of compliant covered entities on its website. Exempts stewardship programs already in existence under local ordinances at the time the Act takes effect from the Act's provisions, but provides that those entities with programs that are not within the Act's purview are not to receive any monetary support from the Drug and Sharps Stewardship Fund or the Drug and Sharps Stewardship Penalty Account. Exempts confidential proprietary information from public disclosure by the Agency.

Creates the Illinois Good Food Purchasing Policy Task Force to study the current procurement of food within the State and explore how Good Food Purchasing can be implemented to maximize the procurement of healthy foods that are sustainably, locally, and equitably sourced.

Amends the Real Estate Transactions Article of the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that it is a civil rights violation to refuse to sell, rent, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, or to alter the terms, conditions, or privileges of the sale or rental, of a housing accommodation or dwelling to any buyer or renter due to the fact of an arrest, juvenile record, or criminal history record information ordered expunged, sealed, or impounded under the Criminal Identification Act. Effective immediately.

Creates the Healthy Workplace Act and amends the State Finance Act. Requires employers to provide specified paid sick days to employees. Sets forth the purposes for and manner in which the sick days may be used. Contains provisions regarding employer responsibilities, unlawful employer practices, and other matters. Provides that the Department of Labor shall administer the Act. Authorizes the imposition of civil penalties. Authorizes individuals to file civil actions with respect to violations. Creates the Healthy Workplace Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Oil and Gas Act. Defines terms. Specifies information to be included in an application for a well permit. Provides that horizontal wells or wells drilled using directional drilling are prohibited from classification as confidential. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall post a weekly notice on its website indicating all permits issued during the preceding week. Specifies information to be included in a well drilling and completion report for horizontal wells or wells drilled using directional drilling. Provides that, subject to specified provisions, the Illinois State Geological Survey and the Department shall make public well drilling and completion reports for horizontal wells or wells drilled using directional drilling by posting the information on their websites. Sets forth requirements relating to the furnishing of chemical disclosure information to the Survey or Department under a claim of trade secret. Sets forth appeal procedures for the denial of a trade secret request. Provides that information furnished under a claim of trade secret is protected from disclosure if the Survey or Department determines that it has not been published or disseminated or become public knowledge and the information has competitive value. Requires the Survey or Department to adopt rules concerning information furnished under a claim of trade secret to a health professional who states a need for the information and articulates why the information is needed. Provides that the Survey or Department shall disclose information furnished under a claim of trade secret to specified personnel when there is a release of a chemical or additive used for drilling or completing a well and it is necessary to protect public health or the environment. Makes other changes.

Amends the Election Code. Provides for the election of the board of trustees of the City Colleges of Chicago, Illinois Community College District No. 508, at the general primary election in 2020 on a nonpartisan ballot. Provides that a member of the board of trustees shall be elected at each consolidated election thereafter. Makes related changes. Amends the Public Community College Act. Sets forth provisions concerning nominating petitions and ballots. Provides that the City of Chicago shall be subdivided into 20 trustee districts by the General Assembly for seats on the board of trustees, in addition to one at-large trustee. Provides that in the year following each decennial census, the General Assembly shall redistrict the trustee districts to reflect the results of each decennial census. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Mourns the passing of Justice Charles E. Freeman.