Rep. Suzanne Ness

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that whenever a child is placed in the substitute care of the Department of Children and Family Services, and the child has previously been in substitute care, the Department may consider a child's former foster parent as a placement option for the child. Provides that if the Department determines that it is not in the best interest of the child to be placed with the former foster parent, the Department shall document the basis for its decision and maintain the documentation in the child's case file. Provides that the fact that the former foster parent is licensed through an agency other than the agency assigned to the child's case shall not be a basis for determining that placement with the former foster parent is not in the child's best interest. Provides that the fact that the former foster parent is no longer licensed to provide foster care shall not be a basis for determining that placement with the former foster parent is not in the child's best interest, if the former foster parent is eligible to receive a permit issued by the Department under the Child Care Act of 1969 and the former foster parent is willing to make timely and sufficient application for a foster care license. Provides that the provisions of the amendatory Act do not apply if a court previously found that the child's placement in the former foster home was not necessary or appropriate, or if the child was previously removed from the care of the former foster parent because of abuse or neglect.

Amends the Illinois Pesticide Act. Increases monetary penalties, and increases point values in determining monetary penalties. Distinguishes pesticide effects on woody perennial plants and herbaceous plants with respect to penalties. Defines terms.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to, at least annually, provide each provider of home and community-based services an updated, detailed rate sheet for each funded client served by the provider. Provides that the Department must also, within 45 days of submission of any provider-based information to the Department, such as Inventory for Client and Agency Planning scores, which changes a client's reimbursement rate, issue an updated rate sheet for the client. Provides that each detailed rate sheet must include full rate calculator formula transparency.

Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act. Provides that the term "Student Permanent Record" may include reports of psychological evaluations, including information on intelligence and personality, academic information obtained through test administration, observation, or interviews, elementary and secondary achievement-level test results, special education records, and records associated with a plan developed under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. With respect to the term "Student Permanent Record", removes intelligence test scores, aptitude test scores, psychological and personality test results, teacher evaluations, and other information of clear relevance to the education of a student from the information allowed to be included. Provides that if consent is provided by a student or the student's parent or guardian, then a copy of the student's school student records shall be provided at no cost to the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, an independent service coordination agency, or Equip for Equality to establish access to adult disability services and related benefits.

Creates the Illinois Portable Batteries Stewardship Act. Requires producers that are selling or distributing certain batteries to participate in a battery stewardship organization. Requires certain batteries to be marked with specified labeling for the purposes of later disposal. Provides for roles of retailers with respect to certain batteries. Prohibits retailers, producers, or battery stewardship organizations from charging a specific point-of-sale fee to consumers. Describes reporting and plan approval requirements. Provides that battery stewardship organizations must develop a system to collect charges from participating producers to cover expenses and duties of battery stewardship organizations. Provides for specified collection containers and locations for specified batteries. Provides that battery stewardship organizations must provide certain permanent collection sites and meet other requirements. Provides for use of existing waste collection services and facilities where practicable. Provides for educational and outreach requirements. Provides for an annual fee to the Agency to be deposited into the Solid Waste Management Fund. Describes responsibilities of the Agency. Provides for a $7,000 civil penalty for violations collected through a civil action brought by a State's Attorney or the Attorney General to be deposited into the Environmental Protection Trust Fund, as well as prohibitory or mandatory injunctive relief. Creates a Class 4 felony for fraud related to the Act. Sets requirements for battery disposal and collection. Prohibits certain types of battery disposal and collection. Provides for battery stewardship organizations to complete an assessment for the purposes of identifying any required adjustments to the program. Grants immunity to certain organizations from antitrust requirements and related laws. Grants rulemaking powers to the Agency. Contains other provisions. States findings and purposes. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to apply for a Home and Community-Based Services State Plan amendment and any federal waiver necessary to reimburse legally responsible family caregivers as providers of personal care or home health aide services under the Illinois Title XIX State Plan Home and Community-Based Services benefit and the home and community-based services waiver program authorized under the Social Security Act for persons who are medically fragile and technology dependent. Provides that to be eligible for reimbursement, a legally responsible family caregiver must be a certified nursing assistant or certified nurse aide and must provide services to a medically fragile relative who is receiving in-home shift nursing services coordinated by the University of Illinois at Chicago, Division of Specialized Care for Children. Provides that upon federal approval of the State Plan amendment and waiver, the Department shall adopt rules that define who qualifies for reimbursement as a legally responsible family caregiver, specify which personal care and home health aide services are eligible for reimbursement if the provider is a legally responsible family caregiver, establish oversight policies to ensure legally responsible family caregivers meet and comply with licensing and program requirements, and adopt any other policies or procedures necessary to implement the amendatory Act.

Amends the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Removes a provision that the Act shall not apply to any employee who is covered by a bona fide collective bargaining agreement with an employer that provides services nationally and internationally of delivery, pickup, and transportation of parcels, documents, and freight. Provides that the definition of "employee" does not include an employee as defined in the Federal Employers' Liability Act.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a child tax credit in an amount equal to the product of a specified credit amount multiplied by the number of qualifying children of the taxpayer. Effective immediately.

Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that, for the benefit of the physical and mental health of athletes, beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, all practices, games, or contests by a State high school athletic program or team that is a part of an association or other entity that has, as one of its purposes, promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among high schools and high school students within this State shall meet all specified requirements pertaining to athletic practice time limits. Provides that an association or other entity that has as one of its purposes promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within this State shall enforce a penalty for a State high school athletic program or team exceeding practice maximums, which may include, but are not limited to, a loss of a practice day or other sanctions determined by the Illinois High School Association for each violation and shall be imposed as appropriate to the level, extent, and duration of the penalty. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the Career and Technical Education Task Force is created within the State Board of Education to examine how to involve more students in technical education. Specifies the members of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall meet once every 3 months at the call of the State Board of Education and shall receive administrative and other support from the State Board of Education. Provides that the Task Force shall prepare and deliver to the State Board of Education a report each year covering the Task Force's findings. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved and the provisions are repealed on January 1, 2026. Effective immediately.