Rep. Dan Ugaste

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. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. 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. Provides that, if an employee received an award or settlement for a shoulder injury between 2012 and the effective date of the amendatory Act, then the award or settlement shall be converted to the appropriate number of weeks for an arm and the credit taken against any award or settlement shall be taken on the arm. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. 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. Effective immediately.

Amends the Biometric Information Privacy Act. Changes the term "written release" to "written consent". Provides that the written policy that is developed by a private entity in possession of biometric identifiers shall be made available to the person from whom biometric information is to be collected or was collected (rather than to the public). Provides that an action brought under the Act shall be commenced within one year after the cause of action accrued if, prior to initiating any action against a private entity, the aggrieved person provides a private entity 30 days' written notice identifying the specific provisions the aggrieved person alleges have been or are being violated. Provides that if within the 30 days the private entity actually cures the noticed violation and provides the aggrieved person an express written statement that the violation has been cured and that no further violations shall occur, no action for individual statutory damages or class-wide statutory damages may be initiated against the private entity. Provides that if a private entity continues to violate the Act in breach of the express written statement, the aggrieved person may initiate an action against the private entity to enforce the written statement and may pursue statutory damages for each breach of the express written statement and any other violation that postdates the written statement. Provides that a prevailing party may recover: against a private entity that negligently violates the Act, actual damages (rather than liquidated damages of $1,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater); or against a private entity that willfully (rather than intentionally or recklessly) violates the Act, actual damages plus liquidated damages up to the amount of actual damages (rather than liquidated damages of $5,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater). Provides that the Act does not apply to a private entity if the private entity's employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement that provides for different policies regarding the retention, collection, disclosure, and destruction of biometric information. Makes other changes.

Amends the Biometric Privacy Information Act. Defines "security purpose" as the purpose of preventing retail theft, fraud, or any other misappropriation or theft of a thing of value, including protecting property from trespass, controlling access to property, protecting any person from harm, including stalking, violence, or harassment, and assisting a law enforcement investigation. Allows a private entity to collect, capture, or otherwise obtain a person's or customer's biometric identifier or biometric information without satisfying other specified requirements if: (1) the private entity collects, captures, or otherwise obtains a person's or customer's biometric identifier or biometric information for a security purpose; (2) the private entity uses the biometric identifier or biometric information only for a security purpose; (3) the private entity retains the biometric identifier or biometric information no longer than is reasonably necessary to satisfy a security purpose; and (4) the private entity documents a process and time frame to delete any biometric identifier or biometric information.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that for purposes of computing compensation for an employee who had a prior compensated injury to the spine, the prior compensation shall be deducted from compensation awarded for a subsequent injury to the same part of the spine. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the Department of Revenue shall establish a 60-day reapplication period during calendar year 2023 to allow qualified taxpayers to file an original or amended return for tax year 2021 for the purpose of receiving the 2021 residential real estate tax rebate. Provides that a qualified taxpayer is a person who (i) was 65 years of age or older during calendar year 2022, (ii) would have been eligible for the rebate if he or she had filed the appropriate individual income tax return for tax year 2021, and (iii) did not receive a rebate. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to allow emergency rulemaking. Effective immediately.

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

Proposes to amend the Executive Article of the Illinois Constitution. Eliminates the Office of the Comptroller. Transfers the duties of the Comptroller to the Treasurer. Provides that the Treasurer shall (i) maintain the State's central fiscal accounts and order payments into and out of the funds held by him or her, (ii) be responsible for the safekeeping and investment of monies and securities deposited with him or her, and for their disbursement upon his or her order, and (iii) have the duties and powers that may be prescribed by law. Provides that no Comptroller shall be elected in 2026 and thereafter. Effective otherwise upon conclusion of the term of the Comptroller elected in 2022.

Amends the Dissolution of Townships in McHenry County Article of the Township Code. Renames the Article and makes it applicable to all counties under township organization. Amends the Counties Code and the Motor Fuel Tax Law making conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Changes provisions requiring road districts in townships in Lake County and McHenry County to be abolished if the roads of the road district are less than 15 miles in length to require all townships to abolish such road districts. Repeals provisions making abolition permissive for townships with road districts that have roads of less than 15 miles in length. Effective immediately.