Rep. Joyce Mason

Encourages Illinois residents to visit cancerscreenweek.org for cancer screening resources and talk to their healthcare providers about their risk factors for all cancer types. Declares the first week of December 2019 as "Cancer Screen Week". Urges the Illinois General Assembly to take actions to evaluate current levels of funding for cancer screening in state medical assistance, public health, or standalone programs to ensure adequate funding is available for cancer screening and/or treatment services. Urges the Illinois General Assembly to identify and advance policies to increase rates of cancer screening and improve cancer screening awareness.

States that Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program eligibility and funding should be broadened to further reduce barriers to breast screening, detection and treatment for underserved women to improve conditions for women to achieve optimal health, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or economic status.

Declares April 2, 2019 as Pay Equity Day.

Urges more attention be directed to the financial aspect of domestic abuse and that laws and policies be crafted to help those victims of financial abuse.

Recognizes National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October 2019 and supports and commends the efforts of those people and organizations who work tirelessly to help victims break free of the devastating effects of domestic abuse.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that the Department of State Police has authority to deny an application for or to revoke and seize a Firearm Owner's Identification Card previously issued under the Act if the Department finds that the applicant or the person to whom the card was issued is or was at the time of issuance a person who has been convicted within the past 5 years of stalking or a substantially similar offense in another jurisdiction, in which a firearm was used or possessed. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the General Provisions and State Employees Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the alternative retirement annuity under the State Employees Article applies to a conservation police officer subject to the Tier 2 provisions. Provides that a conservation police officer subject to the Tier 2 provisions may convert up to 8 years of service credit established before the effective date of the amendatory Act as a conservation police officer under the State Employees Article into eligible creditable service by filing a written election with the Board under that Article, accompanied by a specified payment. Effective immediately.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Makes a technical change concerning the Act's purpose.

Amends the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the applicability of the Act.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a chairman of a county board who is chosen by the board may be removed, with or without cause, upon a motion adopted by an affirmative vote of four-fifths of the board. Provides that upon adoption of a motion to remove the chairman: (i) the chairman position becomes vacant the and former chairman's compensation shall be prorated to the date the motion was approved; (ii) the vice-chairman immediately assumes the duties of chairman without chairman compensation; and (iii) a new chairman shall be elected at the next regularly scheduled county board meeting. Further provides that a chairman removed maintains his or her status as a member of the county board.