Rep. Laura Faver Dias

Declare's March 8, 2023 as International Women's Day. Reaffirms the State's commitment to pursue strategies that guarantee the basic human rights of women and girls, to promote meaningful and significant participation of women in all aspects of our society, to encourage equitable access to and healthcare for all women and girls, and to support policy initiatives that seek to achieve gender parity and empower all women.

Amends the Township Open Space Article of the Township Code. Reduces the acreage that constitutes open land or open space under the Article to 25 acres (currently, 50 acres). Provides, in the definition of "open space purposes", that development includes development for agricultural purposes. Provides that a township board may lease open space for open space purposes and may not lease any part of open space to anyone other than the federal government, a state government, or a local government. Provides that leased open space may be used for agricultural purposes. Provides that the township board may not sell, convey, donate, or otherwise dispose of open space without referendum approval by the majority of the voters of the township at a regular election, and provides that the board may certify the question of disposition of property to the appropriate election authority only if the board approves the question by at least a two-thirds majority of the board members. Provides that, if a township dissolves or is consolidated or merged or the boundaries of the township are altered, any affected open space shall continue to be used as required in the open space plan unless the open space is disposed of is approved by a two-thirds vote of the board of the unit of local government in control of that open space and after referendum of the voters of the unit of local government.

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires health care professionals who have continuing education requirements to complete cultural competency training, which shall include information on sensitivity relating to and best practices for providing affirming care to people in the person's preferred language, people with disabilities, documented or undocumented immigrants, people who are intersex, people living with HIV, and people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Provides that for every license or registration renewal occurring on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a health care professional who has continuing education requirements must complete at least 5 hours in cultural competency training. Provides that for every license or registration renewal occurring on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a person licensed or registered by the Department under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 and who has continuing education requirements must complete at least 10 hours in cultural competency training. Provides that these continuing education hours may count toward meeting the minimum credit hours required for continuing education. Provides for rulemaking. Effective January 1, 2024.

Creates the Megaproject Sports and Entertainment Facility Admission Tax Act. Imposes a tax of $3 for each individual admitted to a sports and entertainment facility located on megaproject property. Contains provisions concerning the distribution of the proceeds of the tax. Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that certain property may be certified by the Department of Revenue as containing a megaproject. Provides that a "megaproject" is a project with respect to which a company makes a specified investment during a specified investment period. Provides that the Department of Revenue may issue a megaproject certificate only for a megaproject in the Village of Arlington Heights. Provides that the megaproject property is eligible for an assessment freeze. Provides that megaproject property may be granted an abatement. Provides that a company that operates a megaproject shall enter into an agreement with the municipality in which the project is located to make certain special payments. Creates the Arlington Megaproject Oversight Board. Provides that the incentive agreement must be approved by resolution of the Arlington Megaproject Oversight Board. Amends the State Finance Act making conforming changes. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that qualified tangible personal property used in the construction or operation of a megaproject is exempt from the taxes imposed under those Acts. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act, and the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that certain tax proceeds from megaproject property shall be deposited into the Arlington Megaproject Infrastructure Fund. Makes other changes. Effective June 1, 2023.

Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Opiate Antagonist Bulk Purchase Fund. Provides that the Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that the Fund shall be used by the Department of Public Health for bulk purchasing of opiate antagonists. Provides that the Fund may receive gifts, grants, bequests, donations, and moneys from any other source, public or private. Grants the Department of Public Health rulemaking powers. Effective immediately.

Creates the Literary and Justice for All Act. Provides that the State Board of Education shall adopt and make available to school districts a rubric by which districts may evaluate curricula and select and implement evidence-based, culturally inclusive core reading instruction programs, a template to develop literacy plans, and guidance on evidence-based practices. Requires the State Board to develop training opportunities in teaching reading and a comprehensive literacy plan for this State. Amends the School Code. Makes changes concerning the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program, the requirements to receive a Professional Educator License, taking a test in reading foundations for certain licensure, and the requirements for educators trained in other states or counties. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, all internships for school social workers must be paid internships. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall award competitive grants on an annual basis to school districts to assist in the funding of these paid internships. Provides that the State Board of Education shall annually disseminate a request for applications to the grant program. Provides that higher priority shall be given to schools that demonstrate a shortage of school social workers, which is determined by the average ratio of school social workers to students in the target school district over the preceding 3 school years. Provides that the State Board of Education shall produce an annual report on the program. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education shall award competitive grants on an annual basis to colleges and universities in this State to fund field placements for social workers. Provides that, subject to appropriation, colleges and universities shall annually disseminate a request for applications from students under the grant program. Provides that colleges and universities, upon receiving funding, shall provide applications to students eligible for this funding. Provides that a college or university shall give priority to applicants who are members of a racial minority. Provides that each college or university that receives funds shall provide an annual report to the Board of Higher Education, and the Board of Higher Education shall post those reports on the Board's website. Effective immediately.

Creates the Educational Credit for Election Judges Act. Provides that each institution of higher education shall adopt a policy regarding its awarding of academic credit for election judges. Provides that the policy shall apply to any individual who has been an election judge while enrolled in the institution of higher education. Provides that each institution of higher education shall submit its policy for awarding academic credit for election judges to the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board, if applicable, before June 30, 2024 and before June 30 of every other year thereafter. Amends the Election Code. Provides that if an election judge receives academic credit, the judge may not be compensated under the Election Code.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that each bid or offer submitted on or after the effective date shall include a copy of the bidder's, offeror's, vendor's, or contractor's valid equal pay registration certificate if the bidder, offeror, vendor, or contractor is required to obtain an equal pay registration certificate.

Appropriates $5,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for YouthBuild Illinois. Effective July 1, 2023.