Rep. Maurice West

Proposes to amend the Constitutional Revision Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that amendments to specified provisions of the Constitution concerning statements of economic interests may be proposed by petition. Provides that such amendments shall be limited to establishing and enforcing stronger ethical standards for candidates for or office holders of: (i) State office; (ii) offices in units of local government and school districts; and (iii) membership of a Commission or Board created by the Constitution. Makes conforming changes. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that a veteran who is certified by the Department of Veterans' Affairs to be at least 10% disabled with service related disabilities or who is in receipt of total disability pension may trap, as permitted by the Code, without procuring a trapping license. Provides further that a military member returning from mobilization and service outside the United States who is an Illinois resident may trap, as permitted by the Code, without paying any fees required to obtain a trapping license, if he or she applies for the license within 2 years after returning from service abroad or after mobilization. Adds trapping licenses to the terminally ill hunter licensing program. Provides that persons on active duty in the Armed Forces or Illinois residents with a Type 1 or Type 4, Class 2 disability as defined in the Illinois Identification Card Act may trap, as permitted by the Code, without procuring a trapping license. Adds definitions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Private College Act and the Academic Degree Act. Exempts a religious institution from the Board of Higher Education's educational requirements, standards, or demands under the Acts and Part 1030 of Title 23 of the Illinois Administrative Code if the religious institution meets certain conditions. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 In the statement in promotional materials and student enrollment forms, provides that complaints pertaining to the exemption may be directed to the Office of the Attorney General (rather than the Illinois Board of Higher Education at www.ibhe.org).

Amends the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act. Creates the Statewide Deferred Prosecution Funding Program, to provide grants to State's Attorneys to operate deferred prosecution programs for misdemeanor offenses. Provides eligibility requirements and rulemaking authority for the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Act. Creates the Statewide Deferred Prosecution Funding Program Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change.

Amends the Messages Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 35 ILCS 610/15 from Ch. 120, par. 467.15 Adds reference to: 35 ILCS 5/225 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the maximum amount of the credit for instructional materials and supplies from $250 for taxable years beginning prior to January 1, 2023 to $300 for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2023. Effective immediately.

Amends the Instructional Materials Article of the School Code. Provides that a Section of the Article may be referred to as the Pierce Twins Law. Provides that a school district (including a charter school) shall require that books that are included as a part of any course, material, instruction, reading assignment, or other school curricula related to literature during the school year or that appear on summer reading lists must include books that are written by diverse authors, including, but not limited to, authors who are African American, women, Native American, LatinX, and Asian. Provides that reading material may not perpetuate bias against persons based on specified categories. Provides that for any school district utilizing federal funds under Title I, Part A of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the selection of each book to be included in a reading assignment, course material and instruction, or other school curricula related to literature must first receive prior approval from the school board before the book may be included. Provides that the criteria for the approval or denial of a book shall be determined by school board policy, but the minimum requirement is that the book may not be approved by the school board if the book contains language or material that is derogatory or racist or incites hate against any persons. Provides for rulemaking and guidelines. Effective immediately.

Authorizes the amendatory Act to be cited as the Truth in Politics Act. Includes legislative findings. Amends the Prohibitions and Penalties Article of the Election Code. Creates prohibitions against (i) false or misleading statements to affect a vote, (ii) unlawful attempts to affect the outcome of a campaign, (iii) distribution of materials intending to mislead people on a candidate's incumbency status, and (iv) libel and defamation in political advertising. Provides that, if a person violates the provisions, the person can be enjoined civilly. Provides that a violation of the provisions are Class A misdemeanors. Amends the Fair Campaign Practices Article of the Election Code. Requires (rather than allows) candidates and the chairs of political committees to sign and file the Code of Fair Campaign Practices. Requires a candidate to include in all of the candidate's campaign literature and advertising the following statement: "I am a candidate for (specify office), and I support the accuracy of this message." Provides penalties for failure to timely file a signed Code of Fair Campaign Practices and for violations of the Code of Fair Campaign Practices or other provisions of the Article. Defines terms.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Prohibits a scrap processor or automotive parts recycler from purchasing or receiving a catalytic converter, except from a commercial seller or from the owner of the vehicle from which the catalytic converter was removed. Establishes record keeping requirements for the purchase or receipt of a catalytic converter. Prohibits a scrap processor or automotive parts recycler from acquiring a catalytic converter that has been removed from a vehicle and sold independently of such a vehicle.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that the amendatory Act applies to any person who is employed by the Department on Aging, or is contracted with the Department, to provide direct services to individuals enrolled in the Community Care Program. Requires dementia training of at least 2 hours to be completed at the start of employment with the Department or contractor. Provides that persons who are employees of the Department or a contractor on the effective date of the amendatory Act shall complete this training within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Requires the training to cover the following subjects: Alzheimer's disease and dementia, safety risks, and communication and behavior. Requires annual continuing education training to include at least 2 hours of dementia training covering those subjects. Provides that if laws or rules existing on the effective date of the amendatory Act contain more rigorous training requirements for employees or contractors providing direct services to Community Care Program enrollees, those laws or rules shall apply. Provides that where there is overlap between the provisions of the amendatory Act and other laws and rules, the Department shall interpret the provisions of the amendatory Act to avoid duplication of requirements while ensuring that the minimum requirements set in the amendatory Act are met.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Extends the tax credit for affordable housing donations until December 31, 2026. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 3805/7.28 Adds provisions to the introduced bill amending the Illinois Housing Development Act. Provides that the amount of tax credits reserved by the administrative housing agency for an approved project under the affordable housing tax donation credit program is limited to $32,850,352 in State fiscal years 2022 and 2023 and shall be increased by 5% in each fiscal year thereafter. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Further amends the Illinois Housing Development Act. In provisions concerning the affordable housing tax donation credit program, provides that, for property that is for sale to homeowners, the gross monthly income standard is based on 120% (currently, 60%) of the area median income.