Rep. Dave Vella

Amends the Housing Authorities Act. Requires housing authorities to develop and implement policies granting housing preferences to veterans who are homeless. Provides that such preferences shall be cumulative with any other preference allowed by a housing authority for which the veteran qualifies. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act shall be construed to supersede any federal law or regulation.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision concerning service credit for accumulated unused sick leave, provides that if the employee was in the service of more than one employer or regional office of education (instead of more than one employer), then sick leave days from all such employers shall be credited. Amends the School Code. Provides that beginning July 1, 2023, all regional superintendents of schools shall receive the same salary regardless of the population of the region they serve. Provides that the salary for all regional superintendents shall be equal to the middle annual salary tier. Makes a change concerning the posting of information on the institute fund. Repeals a provision of the Code that prohibits regional superintendents from practicing or from holding themselves out as practicing any other profession. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Provides for the repeal of the Illinois Public Accounting Act on January 1, 2029 (rather than January 1, 2024). Amends the Illinois Public Accounting Act. Provides that all applicants and registrants shall: (1) provide a valid address and email address to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which shall serve as the address of record and email address of record, respectively, at the time of application for registration or renewal of a registration and (2) inform the Department of any change of address of record or email address of record within 14 days after such change either through the Department's website or by contacting the Department's licensure maintenance unit. Provides that a license application shall have an applicant's federal individual taxpayer identification number. Provides that all CPA firms or sole practitioners required to undergo a peer review shall submit to the Department peer review reports; letters of response, if applicable; acceptance letters; letters signed by the reviewed CPA firm accepting the peer review documents with the understanding that the CPA firm agrees to take certain actions, if applicable; and letters notifying the reviewed CPA firm that certain required actions have been completed, if applicable. Provides that the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation shall appoint a full-time CPA Coordinator. Provides that the hearing officer shall report the hearing officer's findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations to the Committee (rather than to the Committee and the Secretary). Removes a provision providing that exhibits shall be certified without cost. Makes corresponding and other changes. Specifies that the changes made to the Regulatory Sunset Act take effect immediately.

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Creates the Air Quality in Schools Task Force. Provides that the purpose of the task force is to study and make recommendations to the General Assembly on air quality goals for elementary, middle and high schools, processes to assess current ventilation systems in schools, processes to improve ventilation after assessment, and potential State and federal funding sources to improve school school air quality in the State. Sets forth members of the task force. Provides that the State Board shall provide administrative assistance and necessary staff support services. Provides that the task force shall issue a report on air quality goals for elementary, middle and high schools, processes to assess current ventilation systems in schools, processes to improve ventilation after assessment, and potential State and federal funding sources to improve school air quality in the State.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, in determining the lowest responsible bidder, a county board of a county with fewer than 2,000,000 inhabitants shall for certain procurements take into consideration, among other things, the bidder's active participation in an apprenticeship program registered with the United States Department of Labor.

Amends the School Code. Provides that Constitution Day (September 17) shall also be a commemorative holiday. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a member may establish optional credit for up to 2 years of service as a teacher or administrator employed by a private school recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education, provided that the teacher (i) was certified under the law governing the certification of teachers at the time the service was rendered, (ii) applies in writing on or before June 30, 2028 (instead of June 30, 2023), (iii) supplies satisfactory evidence of the employment, (iv) completes at least 10 years of contributing service as a teacher, and (v) pays the required contribution. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning provider notification of dental plan changes, provides that no insurer, service corporation, dental service plan corporation, insurance network leasing company, or any company that issues, delivers, amends, or renews an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act that provides dental insurance may automatically enroll a provider in a leased network without the provider's written consent. Provides that any contract entered into or renewed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act that allows the rights and obligations of the contract to be assigned or leased to another insurer shall provide for notice that informs each provider in writing via certified mail 90 days before any scheduled assignment or lease of the network to which the provider is a contracted provider (rather than shall provide notice of that assignment or lease within 30 days after the assignment or lease to the contracting dentist). Provides that an insurer, service corporation, dental service plan corporation, insurance network leasing company, or any company that issues, delivers, amends, or renews an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act that provides dental insurance that leases or assigns its network shall not cancel a network participating dentist's contractual relationship or otherwise penalize a network participating dentist in any way based on whether or not the dentist accepts the terms of the assignment or lease.

Amends the Downstate Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision concerning submission to an examination to determine fitness for duty for police officers whose duties have been suspended because of disability, certification that a police officer is no longer disabled, and authorizing disabled police officers to be assigned to duty during an emergency, excludes police officers who have attained the age of 60. Amend the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a deputy sheriff or police officer who is retired for disability and is 60 years old or older may not be recalled to service in any capacity. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Adds duties to various Divisions of the Illinois State Police. Amends the State Finance Act. Abolishes the State Police Streetgang-Related Crime Fund. Provides for, on the effective date of the amendatory Act, or as soon thereafter as practical, the transfer of the remaining balance from the State Police Streetgang-Related Crime Fund to the State Police Operations Assistance Fund. Amends the Intergovernmental Missing Child Recovery Act of 1984. Provides that the Illinois State Police's quality control program shall assess (rather than monitor) the timeliness of entries of missing children reports into LEADS and conduct performance audits of all entering agencies. Amends the School Code. Provides that, upon receipt of any written, electronic, or verbal report from any school personnel regarding a verified incident involving a firearm in a school or on school owned or leased property, including any conveyance owned, leased, or used by the school for the transport of students or school personnel, the local law enforcement authorities shall report all such firearm-related incidents occurring in a school or on school property to the Illinois State Police (rather than the superintendent or his or her designee reporting to the Illinois State Police) in a form, manner, and frequency as prescribed by the Illinois State Police. Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Provides for, on the effective date of the amendatory Act, or as soon thereafter as practical, the transfer of the remaining balance from the Sex Offender Investigation Fund to the Offender Registration Fund. Provides that upon completion of the transfers, the Sex Offender Investigation Fund is dissolved, and any future deposits into the Sex Offender Investigation Fund and any outstanding obligations or liabilities of the Sex Offender Investigation Fund pass to the Offender Registration Fund. Effective January 1, 2024, with some provisions concerning funds transfers effective immediately.