Rep. Dave Vella

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Creates under the authority of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board the Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator, appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of 4 years. Provides that the Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator shall receive a salary as provided by law and is eligible for reappointment. Provides that the Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator shall be responsible for implementing a program of mental health support and education for law enforcement officers. Establishes qualifications for the Coordinator. Provides that the Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator shall report to the Board on the development and implementation of programs and training for law enforcement officers and shall advise the Board and receive advice from the Board on direction and training needs for law enforcement agencies that vary in size, location, and demographics.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that in a county having a population of 3,000,000 or more, the county sheriff shall establish with other law enforcement agencies a vehicle theft hotline to facilitate the location of stolen vehicles via their installed existing global positioning systems, collaborate with vehicle manufacturers and dealers to provide information and assistance to law enforcement officers in the investigation of vehicle theft, and ensure that consumers are provided with information concerning the hotline and any new or used vehicle manufactured with a global positioning system by publishing the information in a conspicuous location on the county sheriff's website. Provides that the manufacturer of any vehicle sold in this State shall establish a hotline available to State, county, and local law enforcement agencies exclusively for the purposes of law enforcement information sharing and the electronic tracking of vehicles stolen in vehicular hijacking incidents or that have been used in the commission of kidnapping, aggravated battery with a firearm, attempted homicide, or homicide. Provides that the manufacturer's hotline shall relay vehicle location information, including real-time vehicle location information whenever possible, to the 9-1-1 call center or designated dispatch center for the responding agency, to the best of the manufacturer's technical capability. Requires State, county, and local law enforcement agencies to use their respective 9-1-1 system call centers or designated dispatch centers for the purpose of verification of law enforcement officers' identities and bona fide incident report numbers related to incidents. Requires manufacturers to prepare written statements detailing tracking and disabling system capabilities and make them available to State, county, and local law enforcement agencies upon request. Requires that, if a vehicle is not subscribed to the manufacturer's tracking service, the manufacturer of any vehicle sold in this State shall waive all fees associated with initiating, renewing, reestablishing, or maintaining the location, disabling, or alert service with which the vehicle is equipped during a law enforcement response or investigation of specified offenses.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the provisions concerning community schools apply beginning with the 2024-2025 (rather than 2009-2010) school year. Makes changes to the legislative findings, including replacing a description of a community school. Provides that grants for community schools are subject to the availability of State or federal funding (rather than the availability of funding). Removes certain grant proposal provisions. Changes the requirements to qualify for a grant. Effective June 1, 2024.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Adds language to provide that if a resident of a community college district wants to attend the community college maintained by the district of his or her residence, but the student wants to enroll in a program that is not offered by that community college and the community college does not have a contractual agreement for such a program, then the student may attend any recognized public community college in any other district and shall pay tuition and fees at the rate of the sending college. Sets forth provisions concerning financial assistance; a program directory; programmatic differences; application; enrollment; completion of coursework; records and transcripts; the provision of services; athletic and other eligibility; and State grants. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that the projects under the Illinois Solar for All Program shall be subject to the prevailing wage requirements included in the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that the Illinois Power Agency shall require verification that all construction performed on the project is performed by workers receiving an amount for that work equal to or greater than the general prevailing rate, as that term is defined in the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that all projects, with the exception of residential houses and houses of worship, shall be classified as public works similar to the applicable projects falling under the Adjustable Block program are classified.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program, provides that in addition to other monetary assistance and incentives, if adequate funds are available, retention bonuses of $4,000 per year for 2 consecutive years shall be awarded to National Board certified teachers employed in hard-to-staff schools. This bonus shall be distributed to the respective school district or directly to the qualified educators. Provides that the State Board of Education's annual budget shall set out a separate line item for the appropriation of this bonus.

Amends the Security Deposit Return Act. Removes language that requires a lessor of residential real property who is restricted from withholding any part of a security deposit from a lessee without furnishing an itemized statement to the lessee to be a lessor of a residential real property containing 5 or more units.

Amends the Illinois Plumbing License Law. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall adopt a rule requiring that for each drinking fountain in any construction where a drinking fountain is required under the Illinois Plumbing Code, there shall also be a bottle filling station or a combined bottle filling station and drinking fountain. Provides that the rules required to be adopted shall take effect and be implemented by July 1, 2026. Defines "bottle filling station".

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Reschedules various Schedule I and Schedule IV controlled substances. Defines "isomer".

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Provides that the Crematory Regulation Act is repealed on January 1, 2029 (rather than January 1, 2024). Amends the Crematory Regulation Act. Provides that a person who is certified to perform a cremation service in this State must complete, at least once every 5 years after the amendatory Act's effective date, a continuing education cremation course that is at least 2 hours in length and that is offered by a continuing education provider recognized by the Comptroller in order for that person to perform a cremation service in this State. Requires crematory authorities to provide or maintain an operable refrigeration unit that (1) has cleanable, noncorrosive interior and exterior finishes, (2) is capable of maintaining a temperature of less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and (3) is capable of containing at least 3 human bodies. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.