Rep. Joe Sosnowski

Creates the Paraprofessional Fast Track to Teaching Degree Pilot Program Act. Makes findings. Provides that the Paraprofessional Fast Track to Teaching Degree Pilot Program is created for a 2-year degree pathway by which paraprofessional educators may enroll to achieve the education requirements to attain a professional educator license in this State, which shall comply with the standards of the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education. Provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year or, if funds are not appropriated for the Program that academic year, beginning with the academic year in which funds are appropriated for the Program, the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education shall coordinate with each other to assign a qualified individual to serve as a Program director to develop the curriculum for the Program. Provides that one public elementary or public secondary school and one public university in this State shall be chosen to develop a program for transitioning paraprofessionals to teachers. Includes the core components of the Program. Provides that the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education must submit a report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Legislative Reference Bureau detailing the impact of the Program and then the Program is dissolved and the Act is repealed. Effective immediately.

Creates the End Aldermanic Privilege Law in the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, in the City of Chicago, a property owner, or a developer or contractor having the written permission of the property owner, shall not have any approvals denied because of an aldermanic hold, objection, extra-judicial or extra-legal request, or for any law or ordinance enacted or adopted after the date on which the property owner, developer, or contractor: (1) participated in a concept meeting for construction with representatives from the City of Chicago regarding the subject property; (2) filed a building permit application with the City of Chicago for the subject property; (3) presented a proposed development plan to a city council for the subject property; (4) substantially invested resources in the preparation of building plans, concept drawings, or securing building contracts for a preceding period of one year for the subject property; or (5) otherwise gave sufficient notice of an intent to develop to the pertinent regulatory authorities for the subject property. Allows suit against the State or the City of Chicago that seeks to enforce or impose a more restrictive law, regulation, ordinance, or resolution against the property owner, developer, or contractor and allows for a $5,000 civil penalty and other damages if the property owner's, developer's, or contractor's claim is successful. Limits home rule powers.

Amends the Township Code. Provides that a township must expend at least 51% of the funds deposited into the general assistance fund in a calendar year by the following calendar year. Provides for elimination of the general assistance tax for one year if a township expends less than 51% of the funds deposited into the general assistance fund in a calendar year by the following calendar year. Provides for the reduction of the general assistance tax levy to 0.05% if a township expends at least 51% but less than 70% of the funds deposited into the general assistance fund in a calendar year by the following calendar year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that a retail licensee may not sell alcoholic liquor for off-premises consumption at a price that exceeds 125% of the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Excludes auction liquor licensees from the provisions.

Creates the Human Trafficking Order of Protection Act. Provides that the following persons may bring an action under the Act: (1) a person who is a victim of human trafficking regardless of the relationship between the victim and the trafficker; or (2) a person on behalf of a minor child or an adult who has been the victim of human trafficking. Establishes procedures on how to commence actions for human trafficking, including independently, in conjunction with another civil proceeding, or in conjunction with a delinquency petition or a criminal prosecution. Establishes further procedures in relation to filing fees and dismissal and consolidation. Provides that the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts may adopt rules to establish a pilot program to allow for electronic filing of petitions for temporary orders of protection and issuance of orders by audio-visual means. Establishes the applicability of the rules of civil procedure including venue, objections, and summons. Provides for specified remedies.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Creates a distiller showcase permit and a class 3 craft distiller license. Provides that a class 3 craft distiller license, which may be issued to a distiller or a non-resident dealer, shall allow the manufacture of no more than 100,000 gallons of spirits per year and shall allow the sale of no more than 5,000 gallons of spirits in the aggregate from the class 3 craft distiller's in-state or out-of-state class 3 craft distillery premises to retail licensees, class 3 brewers, and class 3 craft distillers as long as the class 3 craft distiller licensee meets certain requirements. Authorizes a class 3 craft distiller to self-distribute subject to certain requirements and limitations. Provides that a spirits showcase permit shall allow an Illinois-licensed distributor to transfer a portion of its spirits inventory from its licensed premises to the premises specified in the spirits showcase permit license, and, in the case of a class 3 craft distiller, transfer only spirits the class 3 craft distiller manufactures from its licensed premises to the premises specified in the spirits showcase permit license; and to sell or offer for sale at retail, only in the premises specified in the spirits showcase permit license, the transferred or delivered spirits for on or off premises consumption, but not for resale in any form and to sell to non-licensees not more than 156 fluid ounces of spirits per person. Provides that a distilling pub license shall allow the licensee to manufacture up to 10,000 gallons (instead of 5,000 gallons) of spirits per year on the premises specified in the license.

Appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Transportation for the Statewide Railway Program for salaries and other expenses related to adding the professional staff in the rail division of the Office of Intermodal Project Implementation. Effective July 1, 2024.

Amends the Counties Code. Restores certain provisions of the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code concerning citizenship of employees of a sheriff's department and police officer applicants to the form in which they existed before their amendment by Public Act 103-357. Effective immediately.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as Draco's Law. Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act. Provides that a person convicted of willfully or maliciously torture, mutilate, injure, disable, poison, or kill (1) any animal used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or agency or when placed in confinement off duty, (2) any search and rescue dog, (3) any law enforcement, service, or search and rescue animal in training, or (4) any accelerant detection canine used by a fire officer for arson investigations in the performance of his or her functions or while off duty is guilty of a Class 3 felony if the animal is not killed or totally disabled. Provides that if the animal is killed or totally disabled, a person convicted of the violation is guilty of a Class 2 felony. Provides that if the offender is convicted of the violation, the offender shall be responsible for any veterinarian bills for an animal that was injured, and training costs for another animal, if the animal injured or killed is no longer able to be in service. Provides that a person does not violate these provisions if the animal used by a law enforcement department or agency was used against the person in violation of the law enforcement department or agency's use of force continuum or policy.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides for a non-binding, advisory referendum on the question of whether a taxing district should reduce its aggregate extension by up to 10% from its aggregate extension for the previous taxable year. Provides that the referendum shall be initiated by a petition signed by a number of registered voters of the taxing district that is equal to or greater than 1% but less than 5% of the total number of votes cast in the taxing district in the preceding general election. Provides for a binding referendum on the question of whether a taxing district shall reduce its aggregate extension by up to 10% from its aggregate extension for the previous taxable year. Provides that the referendum shall be initiated by a petition signed by a number of registered voters of a taxing district that is equal to or greater than 5% of the total number of votes cast in the taxing district in the preceding general election. Preempts the power of home rule units to tax. Effective immediately.