Rep. Maurice West

Amends the Election Code. Provides that any candidate for President of the United States may have his name printed upon the primary ballot of his political party by filing in the office of the State Board of Elections not more than 141 days (instead of 113) and not less than 134 days (instead of 106) prior to the date of the general primary. Changes the filing dates of petitions for nomination for a State, congressional, or judicial office; petitions for nomination to fill a vacancy by special election in the office of Representative in Congress; petitions for nomination for the office of Supreme, Appellate, or Circuit Court Judge; petitions for nomination for delegates or alternate delegates to a national nominating convention; petitions for nomination for a county office or trustee of a sanitary district; petitions for nomination for a municipal or township office; petitions of candidates for State central committeeperson; and petitions of candidates for precinct, township, or ward committeepersons. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that an election authority shall notify all qualified voters not more than 90 days nor less than 45 days before a general election (rather than a general or consolidated election) of the option for permanent vote by mail status using specified language. Provides an exception to the requirement to notify all qualified voters for voters who have applied for permanent vote by mail status under specified provisions or voters who submit a written request to be excluded from the permanent vote by mail status.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that an election authority establishing a vote center (where a voter in its jurisdiction is allowed to vote on election day regardless of the precinct in which they are registered) under the Section shall identify the location, hours of operation, and any health and safety requirements by the 40th day preceding an election (rather than the 2022 general primary election and the 2022 general election) and certify such to the State Board of Elections. Removes a repeal date of July 1, 2023 for the vote center provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board Act. Provides that, by December 31, 2024, the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board must publish a report to identify strategies to address transportation access barriers that current secondary and community college students encounter when trying to access career development experiences and apprenticeship opportunities. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for each taxpayer who employs a qualified student as part of a College and Career Pathways Endorsement program in the amount of $500 for each qualified student. Provides that the taxpayer is entitled to an additional amount of up to $1,000 for each student if the student resides in an underserved area or the employer's principal place of business is located in an underserved area. Requires the Department of Revenue to adopt any necessary rules.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that the requirements for appointing a highway commissioner who is a non-resident or who has not resided in the district for one year also apply to the appointment of a district clerk. Removes the requirement that a township have a population of less than 500 residents for a board of trustees to appoint a non-resident or a person who has not resided in the district for one year.

Creates the Land Bank Authority Act. Authorizes the corporate authorities of a municipality or county, or 2 or more municipalities or counties, to create a land bank by ordinance (for the corporate authorities of a home rule municipality or county), by entering into an intergovernmental cooperation agreement (for the corporate authorities of 2 or more municipalities and counties), or by authority already provided to a county, municipality, or other taxing district prior to the effective date of the Act. Includes provisions relating to legislative findings and purpose, definitions, and interpretation of the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Sets forth provisions concerning independent expenditures; coordinated expenditures; transfer records for independent expenditures; reporting requirements for independent expenditures; disclosure of original contributors on independent expenditures for public communications; judicial review of actions of the State Board of Elections; and a prohibition on structured contributions. Replaces references to "electioneering communication" with "election spending". Defines terms. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Restores the provisions that were amended by Public Act 101-83 to the form in which they existed before their amendment by Public Act 101-83. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that, except for certain types of first degree murder, the court may, in its discretion, sentence a defendant who was under 21 years of age at the time of the commission of the offense to a sentence that is less than the applicable minimum determinate sentence of imprisonment for the offense authorized by the Code. Provides that the court, at the sentencing hearing, shall consider certain mitigating factors when a person commits an offense and the person is under 21 (rather than 18) years of age at the time of the commission of the offense. Effective immediately.