Rep. Joyce Mason

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that a qualified child care director must be present at the open or close of the facility. Provides that a qualified early childhood teacher who has been employed by the facility continuously for at least 24 months may otherwise be present for the first or last hour of the workday. Provides that a child care facility licensed under the Act may allow programs to staff classrooms with early childhood assistant qualified staff for up to 3 hours of the program day if it is documented in the facility's written staffing plan. Provides that an early childhood teacher must meet one of the following qualifications: (1) complete 60 semester hours from an accredited college or university with either 6 semester hours in early childhood education or complete the Gateways Early Childhood Education Credential Level 1 training; (2) complete 1,560 clock hours of child development experience and 30 semester hours from an accredited college or university with either 6 semester hours in early childhood education or Gateways Early Childhood Education Credential Level 1 training; (3) complete 2,080 clock hours of child development experience as a teacher assistant in a day care center, complete the Gateways Early Childhood Education Credential Level 1 training, and provide proof of enrollment from an accredited college or university until 30 semester hours are attained or proof of enrollment in an early childhood teacher credentialing program, either of which must be completed in no more than 5 years from the date of initial enrollment; or (4) complete a credentialing program approved by the Department of Children and Family Services in accordance with administrative rule. Makes a corresponding change.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, with respect to diapers and infant formula, the tax is imposed under those Acts at the rate of 1%.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a new child care facility shall not be located near a hazardous waste disposal site or a heavily polluted area. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency, in conjunction with the Department of Children and Family Services and any other relevant departments or agencies, shall implement an environmental risk screening program to determine if a proposed child care facility is near or on a hazardous waste disposal site. Provides that the Department and the Agency shall conduct an environmental inspection for a child care facility to identify any concerns with the property, building, or adjacent businesses of the child care facility. Provides that the inspection may identify potentially dangerous sites and potential sources of contaminants. Provides that the Department and the Agency shall adopt rules to implement the environmental risk screening program.

Amends the Children With Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that in the development of the individualized education program for a student, if during the initial development of the individualized education program is recognized that the student's needs are unlikely to change, the individualized education program shall continue without the need for the student's IEP team to meet until either the student or the parent requests a change in the student's individualized education program.

Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that, after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a Service Board may not enter into a contract or contract amendment to purchase a bus that is not a zero-emission bus for the purpose of the Service Board's transit bus fleet. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Honors and thanks State Representative Frances Ann Hurley for her years of dedicated service. Wishes her the best on her future success.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that a person convicted of a felony or otherwise under sentence in a correctional institution or jail shall have his or her right to vote restored and shall be eligible to vote not later than 14 days following his or her conviction. In provisions concerning temporary branch polling places at county jails, provides that a voter entitled to vote in another county, other than the county in which the jail is located, shall be allowed to vote only by mail. Provides that a correctional institution shall make available to a person in its custody current election resource material from the State Board of Elections and current election resource material that is requested by a person in custody and received at the correctional institution from a local election authority in response to the request. Creates the Post-Conviction Task Force to strengthen and improve provisions that restore the right to vote to a person convicted of a felony or otherwise under sentence in a correctional institution or jail. Makes other changes. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections to make conforming changes. Effective June 1, 2023.

Recognizes the 25th anniversary of the ratification of the Good Friday Agreement as the framework for lasting peace in Northern Ireland. Encourages all men, women, and children of all ethnic origins to become Irish for one day on the 17th of March during the annual celebration of the feast of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, and to celebrate with Irish Americans this year for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Recognizes the governments of the United Kingdom and Ireland and their ongoing support and implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, as it is the irrevocable foundation of the peace process regardless of the United Kingdom's status regarding the European Union.

Amends the Vital Records Act. Removes language requiring that the State Registrar of Vital Records establish a new certificate of birth when he receives a declaration stating that a person has undergone treatment for the purpose of gender transition, or that the individual has an intersex condition, and that the sex designation on such person's birth record should therefore be changed. Provides that the State Registrar of Vital Records must establish a new certificate of birth when he receives a statement signed by the person in which the person attests to making the request for the purpose of affirming the person's gender identity or intersex condition and that the sex designation on the person's certificate of birth should therefore be changed. Provides that the fee for a new certificate of birth shall not be required from persons upon release from the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice, but the person is entitled to only one new certificate of birth fee waiver. Provides that the fee for a new certificate of birth shall be waived for specified persons. Provides that fees for a new certificate of birth and for a search of a birth record or a certified copy of a birth record shall be waived for all requests by a person who resides in a shelter for domestic violence. Requires the State Registrar of Vital Records to establish standards and procedures for the waiver of fees. Provides that a person who resides in a shelter for domestic violence must not be charged for verification. Provides that a person who knowingly or purposefully falsifies verification is subject to a penalty of $100. Provides that a person who resides in a shelter for domestic violence shall be provided no more than 4 birth records annually under the provisions. Effective January 1, 2022. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that a person's signed statement to receive a new birth certificate must indicate whether the certificate of birth should be changed to a male, female, or X designation (rather than just changed). State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State Mandate. Fiscal Note (Dept. of Public Health) HB9 would not pose any fiscal cost aside from standard staff time with the rulemaking, the cost would be negligible. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that the amendatory Act takes effect July 1, 2023 (rather than January 1, 2022).

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning grants for preschool educational programs.