Rep. Steve Reick

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that June 27 of each year is to be recognized as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Day to bring awareness to the brave men and women who received post-traumatic stress injuries while risking their lives to protect our freedom, health, and welfare and to recognize those who have suffered post-traumatic stress injuries for their gallantry, commitment, devotion, and sacrifice for our communities.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the month of April of each year is designated as Child Abuse Prevention Month to be observed throughout the State to promote the awareness and prevention of child abuse in the State.

Reaffirms commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the sister-state ties between the State of Illinois and Taiwan, R.O.C. Reaffirms support for the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and supports Illinois businesses to refer to Taiwan, R.O.C. as Taiwan. Endorses Taiwan's efforts to secure the signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (ADTA), and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) with the United States and reiterates support for a closer economic and trade partnership between the State of Illinois and Taiwan. Expresses continued support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations that impact the health, safety, and well-being of the people of Taiwan and supports Taiwan's aspiration to make more contributions in international societies.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Deletes language that provides that no construction shall commence on any new nuclear power plant to be located within the State, and no certificate of public convenience and necessity or other authorization shall be issued therefor by the Illinois Commerce Commission, until the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency finds that the United States Government, through its authorized agency, has identified and approved a demonstrable technology or means for the disposal of high level nuclear waste, or until such construction has been specifically approved by a statute enacted by the General Assembly. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firefighters' Pension Investment Fund Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the candidate receiving the highest number of votes who is from a fire protection district shall be elected if the candidate or candidates who are mayors, presidents, chief executive officers, chief financial officers, or other officers, executives, or department heads of municipalities or fire protection districts receiving the highest number of votes would result in there being no trustee who is from a fire protection district. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that school districts shall teach students how to read using phonics.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that appointments to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, other than the ex officio members, shall be made by the Executive Director of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board from a list of nominees selected by a majority of votes of the President of the Illinois Sheriffs' Association, the President of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, the President of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council, and the President of the Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge 7 (rather than the Governor). Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Prohibits persons who fail to report to the Department of Public Health individuals who commit certain violations from being involved in direct care for clients, patients, or residents, or access to the living quarters or the financial, medical, or personal records of clients, patients, or residents unless they have been issued a waiver under the Act. Provides that reports of violations shall be made no later than 5 days after the incident constituting the violation. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits aggravated battery when the person battered, other than by the discharge of a firearm, is known to be a patient at a Department of Human Services facility and the person who commits the battery is an employee of the Department of Human Services; and a recipient at a community-integrated living arrangement, as defined in the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act, who is battered by an employee of the community-integrated living arrangement. Provides that the offense is a Class 2 felony.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a taxing district may abate a portion of its taxes on property upon which affordable housing has been or will be constructed in a development mixed with commercial property. Provides that the value of the abatement may not exceed $500,000.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes changes to the definition of “investment partnership” to provide that a dealer in qualifying investment securities may be considered an investment partnership. Allows a partnership interest to be considered a qualified security if the interest qualifies as a security within the meaning of the federal Securities Act of 1933. In provisions requiring that no less than 90% of the investment partnership's gross income shall consist of interest, dividends, and gains from the sale or exchange of qualifying investment securities, provides that that includes the distributive share of partnership income from lower-tier partnership interests and does not include income from partnerships that are operating at a federal taxable loss. Effective immediately.