Rep. Dave Vella

Creates the Educational Credit for Election Judges Act. Provides that each institution of higher education may adopt a policy regarding its awarding of academic credit or a non-credit alternative for election judges. Provides that the policy may apply to any individual who has been an election judge while enrolled in the institution of higher education. Amends the Election Code. Provides that if an election judge receives academic credit, the judge may not receive any other compensation under the Election Code.

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.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that each county shall have power to declare what are nuisances, including, but not limited to, sound amplification, construction noise, and noise from off-road vehicles, and to take all necessary measures to abate nuisances within the county's jurisdiction.

Creates the Neighborhood Freedom from Intimidation Act. Creates a private cause of action for persons threatened by intimidation by threat of violence. Provides that if a plaintiff prevails in an action, the court shall award actual damages, including, but not limited to, emotional distress or $10,000 per defendant, whichever is greater. Provides that if a plaintiff prevails in the action, the court shall award the plaintiff reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Exempts statements concerning positions in a labor dispute that are made during otherwise lawful labor picketing. Provides that speech alone may not support an action brought under this Act, except upon a showing of all of the following: (i) the speech itself threatens violence against a specific person or group of persons; (ii) the person or group of persons against whom the threat is directed reasonably fears that, because of the speech, violence will be committed against them or their property; (iii) the person threatening violence is acting in reckless disregard for the threatening nature of the speech; and (iv) the person threatening violence has the apparent ability to carry out the threat.

Amends the Government Zero-Emission Vehicle Act. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2030, all passenger vehicles, except for law enforcement vehicles, purchased or leased by a governmental unit must be manufactured in the United States by a company that is headquartered in the United States.

Amends the Downstate Police and Downstate Firefighter Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision concerning reductions of disability and survivor's benefits for corresponding benefits payable under the Workers' Compensation and Workers' Occupational Diseases Acts, provides that if a person is entitled to a survivor's benefit as a result of the decedent's sickness, accident, or injury incurred in or resulting from the performance of an act of duty or from the cumulative effects of acts of duty, then there shall be no reduction in the benefits payable to that person under the Article. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State.

Amends the State Comptroller Act. Provides that, whenever any person shall be entitled to a warrant or other payment from the treasury or other funds held by the State Treasurer, on any account, against whom there shall be any then due and payable account or claim in favor of a public agency or association organized under an intergovernmental agreement in accordance with the provisions of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, including an intergovernmental risk management association or self-insurance pool, the Comptroller shall ascertain the amount due and payable to the public agency or association organized under an intergovernmental agreement and draw a warrant on the treasury or on other funds held by the State Treasurer. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that all penalties imposed shall be remitted to the Department of Labor and shall be used for the administration and enforcement of the Act.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that the definition of "public works" includes sewer inspection projects that utilize a closed-circuit television to identify issues in a sewer system, such as cracks in pipes, root intrusion, blockages, or other structural damage.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that any contractor or subcontractor and any officer, employee, or agent of the contractor or subcontractor whose duty it is to file a certified payroll who willfully fails to file the certified payroll on or before the date the certified payroll is required to be filed and any person who willfully files a false certified payroll that is false as to any material fact is in violation of the Act and, in addition to being subject to penalties under the Act, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor (currently, is in violation of the Act and guilty of a Class A misdemeanor). Makes a conforming change.