Rep. Suzanne Ness

Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Revenue shall develop an automated filing process to allow individuals who are eligible for the federal and State earned income tax credit but who earn less than the federal income tax filing thresholds to easily claim their State earned income tax credit with support from the Department of Human Services, the Department of Employment Security, and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Effective immediately.

Declares the week of September 18 to September 24, 2023 as "Diaper Need Awareness Week".

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Residential Facility Safety and Support Act. Amends the Department of Human Services Act. In provisions concerning investigative reports issued by the Department of Human Services' Inspector General that pertain to allegations of resident abuse or neglect at State-operated mental health facilities, expands the list of reportable conduct to include material obstruction of an investigation by a facility employee. Requires the Inspector General to report to the Department of Public Health's Health Care Worker Registry, the identity and finding of each employee of a facility or agency against whom there is a final investigative report prepared by the Office of the Inspector General containing a substantiated allegation of material obstruction of an investigation. Defines "material obstruction of an investigation" and "presenting untruthful information". Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Prohibits mental health facilities or agencies that are licensed, certified, operated, or funded by the Department of Human Services from employing any person identified by the Health Care Worker Registry as having been the subject of a substantiated finding of physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial exploitation, egregious neglect, or material obstruction of an investigation (rather than abuse or neglect of a service recipient). Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Prohibits health care employers from hiring or retaining any individual in a position with duties involving direct care of clients, patients, or residents who has a finding by the Department of Human Services denoted on the Health Care Worker Registry of material obstruction of an investigation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Banking Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a minor placed in a State or county juvenile detention facility may not be placed in isolation for discipline, punishment, retaliation, or any other reason except as a temporary response to a minor's behavior that poses a serious and immediate risk of physical harm to any individual, including the minor. Provides that if a minor placed in a State or county juvenile detention facility poses a serious and immediate risk of physical harm to any individual, including the minor, before a staff member of the facility places the minor in isolation, the staff member shall attempt to use other less restrictive options, unless attempting those options poses a threat to the safety or security of any minor or staff. Limits the amount of time the minor may be placed in isolation. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 to make conforming changes.

Amends the School Code. In a Section concerning the debt limitations of school districts, provides that, in addition to all other authority to issue bonds, Central Community Unit School District 301 may issue bonds with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $195,000,000 if specified conditions are met. Provides that the debt incurred on the bonds shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any statutory debt limitation and must mature within not to exceed 25 years from their date. Effective immediately.

Amends the Telehealth Act. Provides that a health care professional may treat a patient located in another state if the patient is a student attending an out-of-state institution of higher education but is otherwise a resident in the State when not attending the institution of higher education.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that, to ensure that foster parents who foster children with diabetes have the knowledge and tools they need to provide and advocate for their foster children's proper care, the Department of Children and Family Services shall provide eligible foster parents with training on diabetes care, including training on insulin pump therapy, general diabetes management, carbohydrate counting, how to administer insulin with an insulin pen or syringe, and how to identify the warning signs of low blood sugar and diabetic ketoacidosis. Grants the Department rulemaking authority.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person shall not hold an animal in the person's lap while operating a motor vehicle. Provides that a person who holds an animal in the person's lap while operating a motor vehicle is guilty of a petty offense and is subject to a fine of $50. Provides that a law enforcement officer shall not search or inspect a motor vehicle, its contents, the driver, or a passenger solely because the driver holds an animal on the lap or is suspected of doing so. Makes a corresponding change in the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Creates a manufacturer child care center incentive pilot program in this State. Provides that an applicant shall follow staffing, medication, background checks, and liability insurance requirements as contained in administrative rule. Provides that the pilot program is limited to 10 sites and is available to any manufacturer who has a facility in the State. Provides that a manufacturer may apply on an individual basis or in a group of 2 or more manufacturers. Provides that a child care center must only be made available to employees of the manufacturer at no cost to the employee. Provides the application requirements for the pilot program. Provides requirements for maintaining and dispensing medications for the child care center. Provides that a child care center shall require all persons subject to background checks under administrative rule to furnish written information regarding any criminal convictions, to submit to fingerprinting, and to authorize the background checks required. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall create a website and application process for the pilot program that streamlines the application process and is maintained on the Department website. Provides that an application for the pilot program shall receive priority consideration once submitted. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for each taxpayer who participates in the manufacturer child care center incentive pilot program in the amount of $250 for each child enrolled in the taxpayer's child care center.