Rep. Maurice West

Creates the Family Amusement Wagering Prohibition Act. Prohibits a family amusement establishment from facilitating wagering on amusement games. Prohibits a family amusement establishment from engaging in advertising that promotes wagering on amusement games. Provides that nothing in the Act shall prohibit a family amusement establishment from offering: (1) an amusement game that entitles or enables a single player to receive a coupon or a point that may only be redeemed onsite for merchandise and the coupon or point has no value other than for redemption onsite for merchandise; or (2) an amusement game that allows a single player to manipulate a claw or similar device within an enclosure that entitles or enables a person to receive merchandise directly from the amusement game. Defines terms. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits gambling, and is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, when he or she knowingly facilitates wagering on amusement games or knowingly engages in advertising that promotes wagering on amusement games in violation of the Family Amusement Wagering Prohibition Act.

Amends the Alternative Learning Opportunities Law of the School Code. Provides that Regional Office of Education No. 4 shall establish a 3-year pilot program focused on serving students in grades kindergarten through 3. Provides that students in grades kindergarten through 3 who meet enrollment criteria established by a school district and who are at risk of academic failure are eligible to participate in the pilot program. Requires the pilot program to adhere to all other rules established for alternative learning opportunities programs. Requires Regional Office of Education No. 4 to provide a report to the General Assembly outlining the pilot program's methodology and student outcomes and setting forth a comprehensive impact report and a framework for future program models. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision defining "eligible employment" for the purpose of allowing a teacher to return to teaching in subject shortage areas without impairing his or her retirement status or retirement annuity, changes the ending date of the employment from no later than June 30, 2024 to no later than June 30, 2029. Effective immediately.

Declares March 3 through March 9, 2024 as Illinois Soil Health Week in the State of Illinois. Encourages the celebration of Soil Health Week and its related activities to increase the awareness of Illinois farmers, eaters, and those involved in agribusiness of the importance of the air and water quality environment for all citizens of this State.

Creates the Endow Illinois Tax Credit Act. Provides that the Department of Revenue shall award income tax credits to taxpayers who provide an endowment gift to a permanent endowment fund during the taxable year and receive a certificate of receipt for that gift. Provides that the credit is equal to 25% of the endowment gift. Contains provisions setting forth maximum credit amounts. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to require an addition modification equal to the amount of any federal deduction claimed for an endowment gift for which a taxpayer receives a credit under the Endow Illinois Tax Credit Act. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Uniform Crime Reporting Act. Provides that a law enforcement agency shall publish monthly on its website, and submit to the Illinois State Police in a form, manner, and frequency as required by the Illinois State Police, the following information that occurred in the law enforcement agency's jurisdiction: (1) how many homicides occurred in a month based on the time of death of a victim; (2) how many of the homicides had an alleged perpetrator arrested and charged; and (3) how many homicides are considered cleared or closed for a reason other than the arrest and charging of an alleged perpetrator. Provides that information required to be published on a law enforcement agency's website must be published on the website by the end of the month following the reporting month. Effective January 1, 2025.

Creates the Homicide Victims' Families' Rights Act. Provides for the review of the case file of open unresolved murders. Defines "open unresolved murder" as any criminal activity in which death occurred more than 3 years prior to the date of the application for review of the case file under the Act, for which all probative investigative leads have been exhausted, and for which no likely perpetrator has been identified. Provides that the person or persons performing the review shall not have previously investigated the murder. Provides that only one case review shall be undertaken at any one time with respect to the same murder victim. Provides that each law enforcement agency shall develop a written application to be used for persons to request a case file review. Provides that the applicable agency shall conduct a full reinvestigation of the murder if the review of the case file concludes that a full reinvestigation of the murder would result in probative investigative leads. Provides for the compilation and publication of specified information and statistics regarding open unresolved murders by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Provides that each law enforcement agency shall employ or designate a minimum number of family liaison officers proportionate to the average number of homicides in the agency's jurisdiction within the previous 5 years of the date of employment with the maximum ratio of 40 homicides per each family liaison officer employed. Each agency may establish a lower ratio for hiring of family liaison officers. Establishes the duties and training for family liaison officers. Amends the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that, beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year, the Department of Human Services shall establish and administer the Behavioral Health Scholarship Program for the purpose of incentivizing students to pursue degrees in a behavioral health discipline. Provides that the Department shall award financial assistance in the form of a scholarship to cover the cost of tuition, university fees, and books each year for a maximum of 4 years at a participating university if the applicant meets certain conditions. Sets forth rules, regulations, and other requirements for the Program. Provides that the Department shall establish the Employment Funding Grant Program to provide grants to qualified individuals who work for a community not-for-profit behavioral health agency or a federally qualified health center. Defines who is a qualified individual. Sets forth rules, regulations, and other requirements for the Program. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Behavioral Health Education Program Fund. Makes other changes.

Urges that adjuncts/non-tenure/part-time instructors in institutions of higher education be treated with the same respect, recognition, value, and standards as full-time instructors. Affirms these professionals have the same credentials as the full-time instructors and are being underpaid to do the same job. Pledges to seek solutions that include, but are not limited to, legislated salary parity, mandated access to health benefits, and full and fair pension reporting and accountability for all part-time/contingent/adjunct Illinois public teachers, librarians, counselors, and educational support personnel.

Declares March 12, 2024 as "Equal Pay Day". Encourages the citizens of this State to learn about the pay gap that women experience in society and to learn about these various dates that bring attention to the pay gap that specific groups experience.