Declares May 10, 2024 as Provider Appreciation Day in the State of Illinois. Encourages all residents of Illinois to recognize child care providers, the importance of their work, and the immeasurable value they bring to communities.
Commends the women in trades who are breaking down barriers, demonstrating exceptional skill and dedication, and serving as role models for others. Encourages ongoing efforts to support tradeswomen, including future events, educational programs, and initiatives that promote equal opportunities in union construction trades. Expresses support for skilled trades and the need for a diverse and inclusive workforce to meet the demands of a growing economy. Encourages collaboration among businesses, labor organizations, and educational institutions to create pathways for women to enter and thrive in trades. Congratulates the organizers, sponsors, and participants of the Tradeswomen Take Over Springfield event for their efforts and contributions in making the event a success.
Urges the State Board of Education to conduct a study on the number of schools, school districts, and other public school associations across the State that currently utilize Native American names, logos, and mascots. Urges the State Board of Education, through conversations with local schools and school districts, to collect findings on what the cost would be for these individual schools and districts to remove and change Native American names, mascots, and logos. Urges the State Board of Education to include its findings in a written report to the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2024. Urges schools, school districts, and other public school associations to consider and plan for changing these harmful Native American names, mascots, and logos. Urges the State Board of Education to use all tools available to work towards the immediate end of the practice of using racial slurs as team names in Illinois schools.
Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the General Provisions Article, provides that beginning on January 1, 2024, the annual earnings, salary, or wages of a Tier 2 participant under the Cook County Article shall track with the Social Security wage base (rather than shall not exceed $106,800, adjusted annually). Makes conforming changes in the Cook County Article and provides that the county's contribution shall be paid through a tax levy and any other lawfully available funds. Provides that beginning on January 1, 2025, the Fund shall not use contributions received by the Fund for subsidy for an annuitant health care program. Deletes a restrictive date in a provision concerning establishing credit for military service. Beginning on December 1, 2023, provides that the president of the county shall appoint 2 additional members to the board of trustees. Requires the retirement board to retain an actuary who is a member in good standing of the American Academy of Actuaries to produce an annual actuarial report of the Fund and provides criteria for the report. Provides that the annual audit required of the Fund may include the preparation of the annual actuarial report. Provides that the annual report submitted to the county board shall include the annual actuarial report. Requires that the minimum required employer contribution shall be submitted annually by the county and provides the method of determining the minimum required employer contribution. Provides that the Fund shall (rather than may) pay for an annuitant health care program administered by the Fund (rather than any of the county's health care plans). Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Declares February 5 through February 9, 2024 as School Counseling Week in the State of Illinois. Encourages all Illinoisans to join in recognizing school counselors who have worked diligently to ensure all students in the State are afforded more equal opportunities in their education and personal growth.
Declares March 10-16, 2024 as "MS Awareness Week" in the State of Illinois and encourages all Illinoisans to learn more about multiple sclerosis and what they can do to support individuals with MS and their families. Recognizes the importance of finding the cause and cure of MS and expresses appreciation for the dedication that the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has shown toward creating a world free of MS.
Declares March 6, 2024 as Rare Disease Day in the State of Illinois in order to raise awareness of rare diseases, support individuals and families who struggle with rare diseases, bring attention to the need for research and funding to support the discovery and development of therapies designed to treat and potentially cure rare diseases, and support the continued work of the Illinois Rare Disease Commission.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific section of Route 31 in Batavia as the "SSG Robert D. Herreid Memorial Highway" to honor Staff Sergeant Robert Dale Herreid, a U.S. Army soldier who died in Vietnam in 1968. The legislation requires the Illinois Department of Transportation to install signs marking the road with this new name and to send copies of the resolution to the soldier's family and local officials. It does not change any laws or funding but serves as a formal tribute to Herreid's service and sacrifice by renaming a local roadway in his memory.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of Route 25 in Aurora, running from Sullivan Road to Ashland Avenue, as the "SFC Ogden N. Thompson Memorial Highway" to honor a local soldier. The legislation directly affects the Illinois Department of Transportation, which is asked to install signs or plaques at appropriate locations to display the new name. It also requires that copies of the resolution be given to the family of the late Sergeant First Class Ogden N. Thompson, the Aurora Mayor, and the Secretary of Transportation. The bill serves as a commemorative measure recognizing Thompson's service and presumed death during the Korean War.
Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Makes certain changes concerning estates that contain qualified farm property. Provides that, for the purposes of calculating the State Death Tax Credit, those estates are subject to an exemption of $6,000,000 (rather than an exclusion amount of $4,000,000), which shall be deducted from the net estate value after the net estate value is computed in accordance with the Act. Provides that the exemption shall be adjusted each year according to the increase in the Consumer Price Index. Makes changes concerning the calculation of the deceased spousal unused exclusion amount for those estates. Provides for a special use valuation to provide that the value of the qualified farm property shall be calculated without regard to certain limitations under the Internal Revenue Code. Makes changes concerning the definition of "qualified heir" to provide that a decedent's brother, sister, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, or first cousin is also included.
