Rep. Suzanne Ness

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Changes the statute of limitations for grooming to provide that when the victim is under 17 years of age at the time of the offense, a prosecution for grooming may be commenced within 10 years after the victim or the person with a disability attains 17 years of age. Changes the name of the offenses of child sexual abuse material to child sexual abuse material. Changes the penalty for grooming from a Class 4 to a Class 3 felony. Deletes references to criminal transmission of HIV in various statutes. In the Sex Offenses Article of the Criminal Code of 2012, provides a definition for "unable to give knowing consent". Provides that a person commits sexual exploitation of a child if in the presence or virtual presence, or both, of a child and with knowledge that a child or one whom he or she believes to be a child would view his or her acts, that person knowingly entices, coerces, or persuades a child to participate in the production of the recording or memorializing a sexual act of persons ages 18 or older. Provides that a violation of this provision of sexual exploitation of a child is a Class 4 felony for a first offense; and a Class 3 felony for a second or subsequent offense, or if the person has been previously convicted of a sex offense. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that the court may set any conditions it finds just and appropriate on the taking of testimony of a victim or witness who is under 18 years of age or an intellectually disabled person or a person affected by a developmental disability (rather than a victim who is a child under the age of 18 years or a moderately, severely, or profoundly intellectually disabled person or a person affected by a developmental disability) involving the use of a facility dog in any criminal proceeding. Makes other changes concerning the admissibility of evidence in cases involving involuntary servitude, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, and trafficking in persons. Amends various Acts to change references from "child pornography" to "child sexual abuse material".

Appropriates the amount of $709,500 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Forest Preserve District of Cook County for the administration and operation of Greencorps Chicago and Forest Preserve Experience programs within the Conservation Corps program. Effective July 1, 2024.

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Prohibits, until February 1, 2027, the Chicago Board of Education from closing any attendance center within the school district that has selective admission requirements that are approved by the Board. Prohibits, until February 1, 2027, the Board from changing the standards for admission to any attendance center within the school district that has selective admission requirements that are approved by the Board. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of the Code, the Board may not take any action, until February 1, 2027, that results in a decrease in either the total amount or percentage of funds allocated to an attendance center within the school district that has selective admission requirements that are approved by the Board. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough.

Urges support for the Family Roots Genealogy Pilot Program as it provides African American descendants of enslaved individuals the opportunity to trace their roots back to their ancestral homelands, to reconnect with their ancestral heritage, and to promote their well-being.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits a forest preserve district from prohibiting persons from carrying a firearm into any botanic garden, campground, aquatic center, grounds of an aquatic center, boat launch, boating center, athletic venue, picnic grove, nature center, grounds of a nature center, pavilion, grounds of a pavilion, golf course, parking lot, driving range, adventure course, grounds of an adventure course, zipline building, grounds of a zipline, equestrian center, grounds of an equestrian center, exercise venue, grounds of an exercise venue, any Illinois nature preserve, land and water reserve, or any public or private gathering or special event conducted on property that requires the issuance of a permit. Defines "grounds".

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates the Task Force on Firearm Insurance to review current and potential future insurance policy offerings for the safe and legal possession of firearms and offer policymaking recommendations related to the use of that insurance. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall provide administrative support for the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall be comprised of specified members. Provides that the Task Force shall elect a chairperson from its membership. Provides that appointments shall be made within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that members shall serve without compensation. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a report of findings, recommendations, and other information to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2023. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved January 1, 2025. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer who employs a person with a developmental disability or a severe mental illness, as certified by the Department of Human Services, during the taxable year is entitled to an income tax credit in an amount equal to 25% of the wages paid by the taxpayer to the person with a developmental disability or severe mental illness, but not to exceed $6,000 in wages paid during the taxable year to any single qualified employee. Effective immediately.

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that a for-profit facility licensed under the Act shall disclose data regarding the lease or rental of the facility by a real estate partnership owning the facility to a business operating the facility in any cost report submitted by the facility to the State. Provides that the provisions only apply to a facility that is leased or rented by its owner to a related party of the owner. Contains specified data to be disclosed by a for-profit facility under the Act with each cost report filed with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Requires the information disclosed to be filed with the Department's Bureau of Health Finance within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year. Requires the Department to publish the information on its website for general viewing and in an annual report to the General Assembly. Requires the Auditor General to submit an annual audit report to the General Assembly concerning the quality of care, financial practices, and statewide oversight of Illinois' facilities. Provides that any individual who has an ownership interest in a facility that is placed on the federal Special Focus Facility List published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or its list of candidates for that List shall not obtain an ownership interest in another facility in the State until the facility has been removed from and remains off of the Special Focus Facility List or the list of candidates for that List for a period of 2 years. Provides that, within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, all long-term care providers operating or maintaining a facility shall notify the Department of all individual owners and any individuals or organizations that are part of a limited liability company with ownership of that facility and the percentage of ownership of each owner. Provides that this ownership reporting requirement does not include individual shareholders in a publicly held corporation. Requires the Department, in collaboration with any other relevant State agency, to work to improve State data collection forms for facilities to ensure that all relevant information is provided. Provides that State regulators shall perform specified duties.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable years 2024 and thereafter, the maximum income limitation for the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption is $85,000 for all qualified property. Effective immediately.