Rep. Rita Mayfield

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 concerning human trafficking. Provides that a person commits sex trafficking when he or she with the intent to procure or sell another person for commercial sexual activity, a sexually-explicit performance, or the production of pornography: (1) confines that other person against his or her will; (2) by force or threat of imminent force carries that other person from one place to another with intent to confine that other person against his or her will; or (3) by deceit or enticement induces that other person to go from one place to another with intent to confine that other person against his or her will. Provides that a violation is a Class X felony. Provides that a person convicted of the offense is subject to the property forfeiture provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Defines "sex offense" to include sex trafficking. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 to make conforming changes.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates an assessment freeze homestead exemption for persons with a disability. Sets forth the amount of the exemption. Provides that applicants must reapply on an annual basis. Effective immediately.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission must award grants to students in financial need whose household income is less than the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and who are enrolled for at least 15 credit hours in a public university. Provides that the Commission shall receive funding for the grants through appropriations, with each grant awarded being in an amount sufficient to pay the cost of attendance at the university in which the student is enrolled for 2 semesters of enrollment within an academic year. Defines "cost of attendance" to mean the tuition and fee, room and board, and book and supply costs related to a student's attendance at a public university.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation must issue or deny a license no later than 30 days after completion of the application for practical nurse and registered professional nurse licensure. Provides that the Department must issue or deny a license no later than 30 days after receiving the required documentation for advanced practice registered nurse licensure. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Prohibits a school district employee or volunteer or an independent contractor of a school district from placing a student in seclusion; defines seclusion. Provides that this prohibition does not apply to the use of seclusion in a court-ordered placement, other than a placement in an educational program of a school district, or in a placement or facility to which other laws or rules apply. Requires State Board of Education rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Directs the Illinois Gaming Board to conduct a disparity study on whether minority and women-owned businesses face any barriers that prevent their equitable participation in the business of legalized sports wagering.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2021, upon the expiration of each Public Defender's term of office in a county with under 1,000,000 population, the chairperson of the county board or the executive of a county board of commissioners shall, after receiving a recommendation or recommendations provided by an independent citizen's advisory council, appoint the Public Defender with the advice and consent of the county board. Provides for citizen advisory council membership and appointment requirements. Excludes appointments of the same Public Defender in adjoining counties. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 concerning mob action. Provides that a student of a public, private, or parochial elementary or secondary school shall be exempt from prosecution for mob action if the event occurred on the grounds of that public, private, or parochial elementary or secondary school during regular school hours.

Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Nurse Practice Act, and the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987. Provides that the rules adopted by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation concerning continuing education shall require that, on and after January 1, 2022, all continuing education courses for persons licensed under the Acts contain curriculum that includes the understanding of implicit bias in the practice of medicine. Provides that a continuing education course dedicated solely to research or other issues that does not include a direct patient care component is not required to contain curriculum that includes implicit bias in the practice of medicine. Specifies requirements that continuing education courses must satisfy. Effectively immediately.

Creates the Higher Education Fair Admissions Act. Provides that a public institution of higher education may not require applicants to submit standardized college admissions test scores to the institution as a part of the admissions process. Provides that the submission of standardized test scores to the institution shall be at the option of the applicant. Requires the adoption of a policy. Effective immediately.