Rep. Joyce Mason

Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act. Provides that a person shall not perform surgical claw removal, declawing, or a tendonectomy on any cat or otherwise alter a cat's toes, claws, or paws to prevent or impair the normal function of the cat's toes, claws, or paws, except for a therapeutic purpose. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall subject a person who violates the provisions to a civil penalty of $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second violation, and $2,500 for a third or subsequent violation.

Amends the Telephone Solicitations Act. Provides that a person, business, or organization may not spoof a caller's information or otherwise misrepresent the origin of a telemarketing call unless the person, business, or organization has the right to use the name and phone number displayed. Requires telephone solicitations placed in a manner other than by a live operator to immediately disclose their identity and the purpose of the call and prompt the recipient of the call to consent to the solicitation. Defines terms.

Congratulates Zion Mayor Billy McKinney on becoming the first Northwestern men's basketball player to have his jersey number retired.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that a criminal background investigation for a person subject to background check shall include specified information. Provides that, notwithstanding any federal law that prohibits conditional employment prior to completed background checks, an individual hired to begin employment who has authorized the required background check may be employed by a child care facility on a conditional basis pending the outcome of the required background check. Provides that the form authorizing the background check shall be submitted to the Department of Children and Family Services. Provides that the individual shall also submit to the Department an attestation, under penalty of perjury, disclosing: (1) any abuse or neglect complaints made against the individual with the child welfare agency of a state other than Illinois in which the individual resided within the 5 years preceding the date of the attestation; and (2) any contact the individual had with a law enforcement agency in connection with the individual's suspected or alleged commission of a crime in a state other than Illinois in which the individual resided within the 5 years preceding the date of the attestation. Provides that a conditional employee shall not be left alone with children outside the visual and auditory supervision of staff until the conditional employee has cleared all required background checks. Defines "persons subject to background check".

Amends the Adult Protective Services Act. Expands the Act to provide adult protective services to persons 18 years of age or older who are enrolled in a school district, charter school, or nonpublic school in this State.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the minimum age for eligibility for the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption is 62 years of age (currently, 65 years of age). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for dependents of the taxpayer. Provides that the maximum amount of the credit is $700 per qualified dependent of the taxpayer. Provides that the maximum amount shall be reduced by $24 for each $1,000 by which the taxpayer's net income exceeds $75,000 in the case of a joint return or $50,000 in the case of any other form of return. Defines "qualified dependent". Effective immediately.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as Kayden's Law.

Amends the Illinois Pesticide Act. Provides that no person shall distribute, sell, offer for sale, or use glyphosate or any products containing glyphosate within the State. Provides that the Department of Agriculture may adopt any rules it deems necessary to implement the provisions.

Creates the Illinois Strategic Action Plan for Aging Equity Act. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to appoint a planning commission to research and develop a comprehensive, cross-sector, long-term strategic action plan for aging equity that will lead to actionable goals and measurable outcomes for the years 2024 through 2036. Establishes the Strategic Action Planning Commission for Aging Equity. Provides that the planning commission shall be made up of State agency directors and appointed elected officials or their designees as ex officio members, and a group of voting individuals from the general public. Provides that the planning commission shall examine the effects, challenges, opportunities, and needs for planning related to the shifting age demographics toward an increasing portion of the State's and localities' populations being made up of older adults. Requires the planning commission to adopt guiding principles that include, but are not limited to: (i) advancing aging equity across the life course; (ii) developing cultural humility and being culturally responsive with inclusive policies, programs, and services; and (iii) harnessing the power of experience and knowledge of older persons in communities. Requires the Governor to appoint members to the planning commission within 3 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act; and to consult with the President and Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and the Director of Aging about member appointments to ensure that (1) the planning commission reflects the geographic diversity of the State; (2) the planning commission is inclusive and consists of members who reflect a diversity of age, gender, ability, race, cultural, socioeconomic, and national background; (3) the planning commission includes Illinois residents age 60 or older; and other matters. Contains provisions on the composition of the planning commission; commission meetings; the commission's authority to establish a subcommittee; the establishment of an advisory committee; duties of the planning commission; data analysis; planning commission recommendations and reporting requirements; and other matters. Effective immediately.