Rep. Dan Ugaste

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, beginning in taxable year 2024, the maximum income limitation for the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption shall be increased each year by the percentage increase, if any, in the Employment Cost Index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Increases penalties by one class for unlawful use of weapons when a person knowingly: (1) carries or possesses in any vehicle or concealed on or about his or her person except when on his or her land or in his or her own abode, legal dwelling, or fixed place of business, or on the land or in the legal dwelling of another person as an invitee with that person's permission, any pistol, revolver, stun gun, taser, or other firearm; or (2) carries or possesses on or about his or her person, upon any public street, alley, or other public lands within the corporate limits of a municipality except when an invitee in or on the public street, alley, or other public lands, for the purpose of the display of the weapon or the lawful commerce in weapons, or except when on his or her land or in his or her own abode, legal dwelling, or fixed place of business, or on the land or in the legal dwelling of another person as an invitee with that person's permission, any pistol, revolver, stun gun, taser, or other firearm. Provides that a first offense of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon committed with a firearm by a person 18 years of age or older where certain factors exist is a Class 3 felony (rather than a Class 4 felony), for which the person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 2 years and not more than 5 years. Increases the penalty by one class for unlawful possession of firearms. Makes other changes.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that an elected or appointed member of a public body of a township may satisfy specified training requirements of the Act by participating in a course of training sponsored or conducted by an organization that represents townships created under the Township Code. Specifies the contents of the course of training. Provides that if an organization that represents townships provides a course of training, it must provide a certificate of course completion to each elected or appointed member of a public body who successfully completes that course of training.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that, when a bond is required because a party against whom the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission rendered an award for the payment of money seeks judicial review of the award, the bond requirement may be satisfied by posting collateral or guarantee of payment, which may include an insurance policy, a certificate of self-insurance, or funds in an escrow account. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Includes in the definition of "sex offense" under the Act, home invasion in which the defendant commits against any person or persons within the dwelling place criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal sexual abuse, or aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Provides that no legislator or executive branch constitutional officer shall engage in compensated lobbying of the governing body of a municipality, county, or township, or an official thereof (now, that prohibition applies only if the legislator is lobbying on behalf of a lobbyist or lobbying entity that is registered to lobby the General Assembly or the executive branch of the State of Illinois).

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to the foster care expenses, not to exceed $1,000 in any taxable year, paid or incurred by the taxpayer with respect to a qualified dependent child. Provides that the credit may be prorated. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission, upon consultation with the Workers' Compensation Medical Fee Advisory Board, shall adopt an evidence-based drug formulary. Requires prescriptions in workers' compensation cases to be limited to the drugs on the formulary. Provides that by September 1, 2023, the Commission, in consultation with the Workers' Compensation Medical Fee Advisory Board, shall adopt by rule an evidence-based drug formulary and any rules necessary for its administration. Provides that prescriptions prescribed for workers' compensation cases shall be limited to the prescription drugs and doses on the closed formulary. Provides that a custom compound medication for longer than the one-time 7-day supply shall be approved for payment only if the compound meets specified standards. Provides for charges for custom compound medications. Effective immediately.

Amends the Gas Use Tax Law. Exempts certain business enterprises from taxation under the Act. Amends the Gas Revenue Tax Act. Provides that the definition of "gross receipts" does not include consideration received from certain business enterprises. Amends the Electricity Excise Tax Law. Provides that the tax under the Act is not imposed with respect to any use by the purchaser in the process of manufacturing or assembling tangible personal property for wholesale or for retail sale or lease. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that an injury arises out of and in the course of employment only if the accident significantly caused or contributed to both the resulting condition and the disability. Provides that an injury does not arise out of and in the course of employment if (1) the hazard or risk was not incidental to employment and was a hazard or risk to which the general public is also exposed, (2) the injury did not occur at a time and place and under circumstances reasonably required by the employment, or (3) the disability resulted from a personal risk. Limits conditions under which repetitive or cumulative trauma is compensable. Provides that gradual deterioration or progressive degeneration of the body caused by aging is not compensable as repetitive or cumulative trauma. Makes changes to the compensation periods for accidental injuries resulting in the loss of or the permanent and complete loss of use of the thumb, fingers, or toes; the amputation of an arm, foot, or leg; the enucleation of an eye; and other injuries to reduce the compensation to the amounts in effect for injuries occurring before February 1, 2006. Provides that accidental injuries sustained while traveling to or from work do not arise out of and in the course of employment, except under specified circumstances. Provides that the injury may arise out of and in the course of employment if, at the time of the injury, the employee was performing acts the employer instructed the employee to perform, acts that the employee had a common law or statutory duty to perform while performing duties for his or her employer, or acts that the employee might be reasonably expected to perform incident to his or her assigned duties. Provides that, for purposes of awarding compensation for injuries, an injury to the shoulder shall be considered an injury to a part of the arm and an injury to the hip shall be considered an injury to a part of the leg. Provides that, in computing the compensation to be paid to an employee who, before the accident for which the employee claims compensation, had before that time sustained an injury resulting in a permanency award or settlement, the award or settlement shall be deducted from any award made for the subsequent injury. Effective immediately.