Rep. Joyce Mason

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the offense of sexual misconduct with a student. Provides that a person commits sexual misconduct with a student when he or she is or was an employee of a school and commits sexual misconduct with a student who, at the time the employee was employed by the school, attended the school. Provides that the consent of the student is not a defense to a prosecution under this provision. Provides that a student is deemed incapable of consent, for purposes of this provision, when he or she is a student who attended the school while the employee was employed at the school. Provides that it is not a defense to a violation of this provision that the student was of the age to give consent to sexual penetration or sexual conduct in circumstances not involving a violation of this provision. Provides that a person convicted of violating this provision shall immediately forfeit his or her employment with a school and may not subsequently be employed at a school. Provides that a violation is a Class 3 felony. Provides exemptions. Defines "school" as a public or private elementary or secondary school or a school that operates grades kindergarten through 12. Defines "sexual misconduct" as any act, including, but not limited to, any verbal, nonverbal, written, or electronic communication or physical activity, by an employee or agent of the school district, charter school, or nonpublic school with direct contact with a student that is directed toward or with a student to establish a romantic or sexual relationship with the student. Defines other terms.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. In a provision requiring the Department of Human Service' Division of Mental Health to implement a direct support professional credential pilot program, delays the pilot program's start date to Fiscal Year 2025 (rather than Fiscal Year 2024). Amends the School Code. Provides that beginning with the 2026-2027 school year (rather than the 2025-2026 school year) and continuing for not less than 2 years, the State Board of Education shall make available a model program of study that incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as a direct support professional. Provides that by July 1, 2025 (rather than by July 1, 2023) the Department of Human Service must submit recommendations to the State Board of Education for the training that would be required in order to complete the model program of study. Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that by July 1, 2026 (rather than by July 1, 2025), the Illinois Community College Board shall submit recommendations for a model program of study, for credit, that incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as a direct support professional to the Department of Human Services. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to implement a Child Care Collaboration Program by no later than July 1, 2024 to facilitate high quality collaborative programming between child care and other early care and education providers and funding streams in order to increase, through collaboration, the quality and quantity of early care and education for families in Illinois who are eligible to receive child care assistance under the Department's Child Care Assistance Program. Provides that to be eligible to participate in the Child Care Collaboration Program a provider must meet certain eligibility requirements, including: (i) be a profit or nonprofit early childhood center or licensed family child care home; (ii) receive or be eligible to receive child care assistance funding; and (iii) be a part of an existing or pending collaborative arrangement with a Head Start or Early Head Start Program or with a pre-kindergarten program funded by the Illinois State Board of Education through the Early Childhood Block Grant. Sets forth approvable models of collaboration and application requirements for providers seeking approval of their existing or proposed child care collaboration program. Provides that each eligible provider that receives Department approval of its existing or proposed child care collaboration program shall receive an annual contract from the Department that allows for the advance payment of child care services at a rate that is based on the license capacity of the program. Provides that a family's eligibility for collaboration services under the approved child care collaboration program shall be determined in accordance with all current child care rules, with certain exceptions, including, but not limited to: (1) a family's eligibility period for collaboration services shall be up to 36 months to coincide with the family's eligibility for a Head Start or Early Head Start Program or an early childhood or preschool program funded through the Early Childhood Block Grant; and (2) no child care co-payments shall be assigned or collected from the family. Effective immediately.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that a minor found to be guilty may be committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice if the minor is at least 14 (rather than 13) years and under 20 years of age, provided that the commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice shall be made only if the minor was found guilty of a felony offense or first degree murder. Provides that when a minor of the age of at least 14 (rather than 13) years is adjudged delinquent for the offense of first degree murder, the court shall declare the minor a ward of the court and order the minor committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice until the minor's 21st birthday, without the possibility of aftercare release, furlough, or nonemergency authorized absence for a period of 5 years from the date the minor was committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Requires rules adopted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for purposes of administering the Water Revolving Fund to encourage regionalization and proactive compliance. Effective immediately.

Creates the Safety Moratorium on Carbon Dioxide Pipelines Act. Establishes a temporary statewide moratorium on construction of carbon dioxide pipelines until the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has adopted revised federal safety standards for transportation of carbon dioxide and the State has commissioned and finalized a relevant study regarding the safety setbacks required in the event of pipeline rupture or leak. Requires the State study to include input from first responders, to analyze pipeline ruptures or leaks in a variety of settings, and to recommend setbacks and funding based on that analysis. Provides that pending applications for carbon dioxide pipelines shall be held in abeyance. Provides for expiration of the temporary moratorium after 4 years, or when new safety standards are established, or upon enactment of a law that meets certain criteria. Makes legislative findings. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Equal Pay Act of 2003. Provides that the definition of "pay scale and benefits" means the wage or salary, or the wage or salary range, and a general description of the benefits and other compensation, including, but not limited to, bonuses, stock options, family and medical leave benefits, parental leave benefits, or other incentives the employer reasonably expects in good faith to offer for the position (rather than bonuses, stock options, or other incentives the employer reasonably expects in good faith to offer for the position), set by reference to any applicable pay scale, the previously determined range for the position, the actual range of others currently holding equivalent positions, or the budgeted amount for the position, as applicable.

Amends the Fox Waterway Agency Act. Provides that a member of the board of directors and the Chairman of the Fox Waterway Agency may be compensated at the discretion of the Board in the sum of up to $6,000 (rather than $3,000) per year for each director and up to $10,000 (rather than $5,000) per year for the Chairman, effective immediately upon approval of the Board. Provides that, at its discretion, the Board may adjust these amounts for inflation as determined by the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers as determined by the United States Department of Labor and rounded to the nearest $100.

Amends the Public Employee Disability Act, the Line of Duty Compensation Act, and the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. Includes mental health professionals within the scope of the Acts. Defines "mental health professional" as any person employed and dispatched by a unit of local government to respond to crisis calls received on public emergency service lines instead of or in conjunction with law enforcement.

Amends the Homeowner's Energy Policy Statement Act. Defines "video doorbell" as an Internet-enabled doorbell, equipped with a camera or microphone, or both, that: (1) sends a notification to the smartphone, computer, or similar Internet-enabled mobile device of a user when a guest arrives at the entrance of the door; (2) is activated when the guest presses the button of the doorbell, is activated when the doorbell senses a guest with its built-in monitor sensors, or is activated remotely by the user of the doorbell through the user's smartphone, computer, or similar Internet-enabled mobile device; and (3) allows the user using the smartphone, computer, or similar Internet-enabled mobile device to watch and talk with the guest by using the doorbell's built-in camera and microphone. Prohibits the adoption of a bylaw or exercise of any power by the governing entity of a homeowners' association, common interest community association, or condominium unit owners' association that prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the installation of a solar energy system installed for the primary purpose of providing solar energy to a video doorbell. Provides that the Act applies to any solar energy system installed for the primary purpose of providing solar energy to a video doorbell.