Rep. Maurice West

Recognizes the week of November 13-19, 2023 as National Apprenticeship Week.

Amends the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, the Cigarette Machine Operators' Occupation Tax Act, the Cigarette Tax Act, the Cigarette Use Tax Act, and the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that amounts paid as taxes under those Acts shall be deemed assessed upon the date of receipt of payment. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Deletes language that provides that no construction shall commence on any new nuclear power plant to be located within the State, and no certificate of public convenience and necessity or other authorization shall be issued therefor by the Illinois Commerce Commission, until the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency finds that the United States Government has identified and approved a demonstrable technology or means for the disposal of high level nuclear waste, or until such construction has been specifically approved by a statute enacted by the General Assembly. Provides that the Commission shall only issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity to a public utility operating or located within the State or to a company with a fossil fuel-based power generator. Provides that the Commission shall adopt rules concerning the granting of certificates of public convenience and necessity for the construction, purchase, or lease of small modular nuclear reactors. Provides requirements for the Commission to follow when adopting rules for the granting of certificates of public convenience and necessity for small modular nuclear reactors. Provides that the Commission may adopt emergency rules for the granting of certificates of public convenience and necessity for small modular nuclear reactors.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that in the development of the individualized education program for a student who is 17 years of age or older, or will be during that academic year, the IEP team shall consider voter registration as an appropriate goal or competency to be included in the IEP plan, and, if appropriate, when and how voter registration shall be accomplished. Provides that any resulting decisions shall be included in the IEP plan.

Congratulates Milestone, Inc. on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Thanks the organization for its continued devotion to providing living skills, safety, and leisure activities to the individuals it serves.

Amends the Industrial Hemp Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Hemp Act. Permits the wholesale and retail sale of cannabinoids, hemp concentrate, or any other intermediate hemp cannabinoid products. Provides that no person shall offer or sell cannabinoid products, particularly packaged hemp products, to consumers in the State unless the person applies for and holds a hemp retailer license issued by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that no person shall sell ready-to-eat hemp products to end consumers without applying for and holding a hemp food establishment license issued by the Department of Public Health. Provides that no person shall sell cannabinoid product to any person under the age of 21 unless the person is a medical cardholder registered under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture may not limit the number of hemp farm licenses. Provides that no person shall cultivate or grow hemp for commercial purposes unless licensed by the Department of Agriculture and subject to the rules of the Department. Provides that hemp farms may not create hemp extractions without a processor license. Provides that hemp farms may not engage in retail sales without a hemp retailer license. Provides that hemp farms may not create hemp extractions without a processor license. Provides that hemp farms may not engage in retail sales without a hemp retailer license. Creates in the State treasury a special fund known as the Hemp Social Equity Fund. Provides that 25% of all moneys deposited into the Hemp Regulatory Fund shall be transferred into the Hemp Social Equity Fund. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2024, a tax is imposed upon purchases of all hemp cannabinoid products (hemp cannabinoid products for inhalation, hemp cannabinoid products for ingestion, and ready-to-eat hemp cannabinoid products) at a rate of 5% of the purchase price of the cannabinoid products. Defines terms. Preempts home rule powers. Amends the State Finance Act, Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, the Illinois Noxious Weed Law, the Cannabis Control Act, the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Legislative Employee Labor Relations Act. Authorizes legislative employees to bargain collectively through the representatives of their choosing on questions of wages, hours, and other conditions of employment. Specifies that the General Assembly is not required to bargain on specified matters of inherent managerial policy. Establishes the Office of State Legislative Labor Relations. Directs the Office of State Legislative Labor Relations to manage the interests of the General Assembly in collective bargaining with legislative employees. Grants the State Panel of the Illinois Labor Relations Board jurisdiction over collective bargaining matters between employee organizations and the General Assembly of the State of Illinois. Contains additional provisions concerning the following topics: the duty to bargain collectively; fair-share agreements; grievance procedures; election and recognition of labor organizations as exclusive representatives; unfair labor practices; mediation; fact-finding; exhaustion of nonjudicial remedies; strikes during session periods; and multiyear collective bargaining agreements. Specifies that the Open Meetings Act does not apply to collective bargaining negotiations and grievance arbitration proceedings under the Act. Sets forth definitions. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012, the State Lawsuit Immunity Act, and the Workplace Violence Prevention Act to make conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2026.

Congratulates the Barbara Olson Center of Hope on its 75th anniversary. Recognizes the organization for its continued commitment to the development and upliftment of individuals with developmental disabilities.

Congratulates the Zion Lutheran Church of Rockford on its 140th anniversary. Recognizes the Zion Lutheran Church's humanitarian efforts.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that rates for homemaker services shall be increased to $29.64 beginning July 1, 2023 to sustain a minimum wage of $18 per hour for direct service workers. Requires rates in subsequent State fiscal years to be no lower than the rates in effect on July 1, 2023. Requires providers of in-home services to be required to certify to the Department on Aging that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Provides that fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, paid time off and payment for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation, shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases described in the amendatory Act. Effective July 1, 2023.