Rep. Rita Mayfield

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning October 1, 2021, culturally responsive teaching standards shall apply to the issuance of all professional educator licenses endorsed in teaching, school support personnel, and administrative fields. Provides that the culturally responsive teaching standards shall apply both to candidates for licensure and to educator preparation programs. Provides that the standards shall include (i) self-awareness and relationships to others, (ii) systems of oppression, (iii) students as individuals, (iv) students as co-creators, (v) leveraging student advocacy, (vi) family and community collaboration, (vii) content selections in all curricula, and (viii) student representation in the learning environment. Effective July 1, 2021.

Urges the federal government to: (1) Establish a national biodiversity strategy; (2) Secure and restore the ecosystem services provided by nature; (3) Deliver on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; (4) Set ambitious goals for protecting biodiversity in the coming decades; (5) Promote social equity and justice in the conservation of the nation's biodiversity; (6) Coordinate the actions of federal agencies to advance the conservation of biodiversity; (7) Promote collaboration to advance conservation; (8) Honor the federal trust obligations to tribal nations and Native Americans; and (9) Provide global leadership in addressing the biodiversity crisis.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section granting a homestead exemption to veterans with disabilities, provides that property that is used as a qualified residence by a veteran who was a member of the United States Armed Forces during World War II is exempt from taxation regardless of the veteran's level of disability. Provides that a veteran who qualifies as a result of his or her service in World War II need not reapply for the exemption. Effective immediately.

Amends the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act by reinstituting the pharmaceutical assistance program that was eliminated by Public Act 97-689 and changing the short title to the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Makes conforming changes in various Acts.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Corrections for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, as follows: General Funds $1,642,460,265; Other State Funds $142,00,000; Federal Funds $50,000,000; Total $1,834,560,265.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning prohibited inquiries.

Amends the State Property Control Act. Provides that the Director of Central Management Services as Administrator may convey any surplus real property covered by the State Property Control Act, by sale or lease, to a duly incorporated, charitable, 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 unit of local government, provided that the non-profit organization or association is not controlled, directly or indirectly, by any agricultural, commercial, or other business. Provides that the non-profit organization or association shall be authorized to sell fresh fruits and vegetables either on the land that was conveyed, off that land, or both, provided, that the sales are related or incidental to the non-profit purposes of the organization or association, and the net proceeds received by the non-profit organization or association are used to further the non-profit purposes of the organization or association. Provides that the lease of any real property to any duly incorporated non-profit organization or association shall be in accordance with the Illinois Procurement Code. 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.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Labor for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, as follows: General Funds $ 8,333,900; Other State Funds $2,738,400; Federal Funds $5,400,000; Total $16,472,300.

Appropriates specified amounts from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the State Appellate Defender for specified purposes. Effective July 1, 2021.