Rep. Joyce Mason

Creates the Illiana Task Force Act. Creates the Illiana Task Force, consisting of 24 police officers, appointed by the Director of the Illinois State Police. Provides that the members of the Task Force shall select a chairperson. Provides that members of the Task Force shall receive no compensation for their service on the Task Force but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties from appropriations made by the General Assembly for that purpose. Provides that the Task Force shall meet at least once monthly to study ways to reduce violence in local communities caused by the illegal use of firearms and to make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on suggested legislative solutions to this problem. Provides that the Task Force shall submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 31 of each year and a final report 5 years after the creation of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall be dissolved 6 years after its creation. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education may issue, refuse to issue, or revoke recognition for schools. Amends certain provisions of the School Code with respect to public health requirements issued by the Department of Public Health when a public health emergency is declared by the Governor. Allows the State Board to revoke recognition for schools that fail to comply with the public health requirements. In provisions concerning the registration and recognition of nonpublic schools, requires a nonpublic school to comply with public health requirements. Prohibits a school board from passing any resolution that contravenes any of the public health requirements. Makes similar changes to provisions concerning the licensure powers of the State Board of Education. Requires schools to investigate complaints of noncompliance with the public health requirements; sets forth complaint procedures. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may require a school to operate fully remotely if the public health requirements are not followed. Sets forth penalty provisions. Provides for rulemaking by the State Board of Education. Makes a corresponding change in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district shall employ a ratio of no less than one counselor to 150 students (rather than allowing a school district to employ a ratio of no less than one counselor to 250 students).

Creates the Clean Jobs, Workforce and Contractor Equity Act. Creates the Equity and Empowerment in Clean Energy Advisory Board to administer the Clean Jobs Workforce Hubs Program, the Expanding Clean Energy Entrepreneurship and Contractor Incubator Network Program, the Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program, and the Illinois Clean Energy Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Primes Contractor Accelerator. Creates the Illinois Clean Energy Jobs and Justice Fund Act, the Community Energy, Climate, and Jobs Planning Act, the Energy Community Reinvestment Act, the Clean Energy Empowerment Zone Tax Credit Act, the Coal Severance Fee Act, the Building Energy Performance Standard Act, and the Public Utilities Intervenor Compensation Act. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to allow for emergency rulemaking. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Energy Community Reinvestment Fund, the Illinois Commerce Commission Intervenor Compensation Fund, and the Illinois Clean Energy Jobs and Justice Fund. Amends the Electric Vehicle Act, the Energy Efficient Building Act, the Illinois Power Agency Act, the Illinois Income Tax Act, the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, the School Code, the Public Utilities Act, the Environmental Protection Act, the Illinois Nuclear Facility Safety Act, and the Prevailing Wage Act by making changes to implement certain programs. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Nurse Agency Licensing Act. Defines "covenant not to compete". Changes the definition of "Department" to the Department of Public Health (rather than the Department or Labor). Changes the definitions of "health care facility" and "nurse". Provides that in an application for licensure under the Act: a limited liability company may apply; evidence of general professional liability insurance in the amount of at least $1,000,000 (instead of $500,000) is required per incident and $3,000,000 (instead of $1,000,000) is required for workers' compensation coverage; and there is an application fee of $2,000. Provides that collected fees shall be deposited in the State treasury and credited to the Nursing Dedicated and Professional Fund. Provides that for the renewal of licensure, the licensee shall submit an attestation detailing the number of contracted shifts, number of shifts missed, and number of shifts fulfilled for the 3 quarters preceding the application. Provides that an application for a license may be denied for the failure to develop and implement contingency staffing plans to minimize missed shifts. Provides that nurse agencies who knowingly employ, assign, or refer to a health care facility a nurse or certified nurse aid with an illegally or fraudulently obtained or issued diploma, registration, license, certificate, or background study constitutes negligent hiring and is grounds for suspension, revocation, or refusal to issue or renew a license. Provides that the Department shall establish updated minimum standards. Provides that nurse agencies are prohibited from entering into covenants not to compete with nurses and certified nurse aides. Provides that a nurse agency's maximum rate for services provided to a health care facility by a nurse or certified nurse aide may not exceed 130% of the regional average hourly wage for each staffing position. Provides that the Department shall establish a system of reporting complaints against a health care staffing agency or its employees. Increases the civil penalty for violation of the Act to $10,000 per occurrence (currently $1,000 per day for each violation). Makes other changes.

Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act. Restricts a landlord from requiring a tenant or prospective tenant to remit any amount due to the landlord by means of an electronic funds transfer. Provides that beginning 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a landlord who violates the provision is guilty of an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and is subject to a civil penalty of $100 for each violation. Provides that a landlord who commits a second violation within 5 years of the first violation is subject to a civil penalty of $200, and a landlord who commits a third violation within 5 years of the first or second violation is subject to a civil penalty of $300. Makes a conforming change in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

Creates the Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission Act. Creates the Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission. Provides that the Commission's purpose is to: (i) drive the State's strategic vision for assessing and achieving the successful transition, adjustment, and reintegration of service members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families through the coordination of the collective efforts of public and private organizations throughout the State; (ii) facilitate, collaborate, and coordinate the efforts of these organizations to effectively and responsively meet the needs of the military community; (iii) conduct planning, research, education, training, and evaluation activities to improve the operations and coordination of the systems of care and support; and (iv) coordinate its activities with those of Illinois Joining Forces and other advocacy organizations for service members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families. Contains provisions concerning the Commission's composition; term appointments; meetings; and other matters. Provides that the duties of the Commission are to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of those State programs and services related to the military community; promote coordination and efficiency among State, county, and local units of government and municipalities; issue periodic reports on its performance and progress in meeting its goals; monitor the progress of the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan on Homelessness developed by specified federal agencies and other organizations; and other matters. Provides that the Commission is subject to the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission Act. Creates the Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission. Provides that the Commission's purpose is to prevent veteran suicide. Requires the Commission to: (i) drive the State's strategic vision for assessing and achieving the successful transition, adjustment, and reintegration of service members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families through the coordination of the collective efforts of public and private organization throughout the State with the goal of preventing veteran suicide; (ii) facilitate, collaborate, and coordinate the efforts of these organizations to effectively and responsively meet the needs of the military community with the goal of preventing veteran suicide; (iii) conduct planning, research, education, training, and evaluation activities to improve the operations and coordination of the systems of care and support with the goal of preventing veteran suicide; (iv) coordinate its activities with those of Illinois Joining Forces and other advocacy organizations for service members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families. Contains provisions concerning the Commission's composition; term appointments; meetings; and other matters. Provides that the duties of the Commission are to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of those State programs and services related to the military community; promote coordination and efficiency among State, county, and local units of government and municipalities; issue periodic reports on its performance and progress in meeting its goals; monitor the progress of the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan on Homelessness developed by specified federal agencies and other organizations as they address the needs of the service members and veterans community, and their families, to prevent veteran suicide; and other matters. Provides that the Commission is subject to the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State Mandate. Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Veterans Affairs) HB 2628l, as amended by House Amendment 1 would have a moderate fiscal impact to the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Provides that the definition of "public health setting" includes a mobile dental van.

Amends the Crematory Regulation Act. Provides that "cremation" includes natural organic reduction. Defines "natural organic reduction". Effective immediately.

Creates the Long-Term Care Facility COVID-19 Mitigation Act. Requires long-term care facilities to conduct regular universal testing for all facility residents and staff and disclose all COVID-19 cases and deaths to facility residents, residents' family members, the Department of Public Health, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall coordinate with local, State, and federal governments to establish COVID-19 alternate care sites with staffing. Requires the Department to establish a commission to implement increased State oversight of facilities, provide additional staff resources and personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers, and consider receivership for facilities with chronic public health violations. Effective immediately.