Rep. Joe Sosnowski

Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Provides that in any 12-month period the Governor shall have the authority to issue only one proclamation per disaster and that any further proclamation for the disaster that triggered the original proclamation shall be in force only after a two-thirds vote of each chamber of the General Assembly approves a joint resolution containing the exact language of the proclamation and which the Governor must follow. Provides that the Governor shall have no authority to amend or change the language of the proclamation as approved by joint resolution.

Creates the Taxpayer Empowerment Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Special License Plates and Special License Plate Stickers Article of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that each special license plate that the Secretary is required to issue to a second division vehicle weighing 8,000 pounds or less shall also be issued to a second division vehicle weighing between 8,001 and 10,000 pounds.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board or the governing board of a nonpublic school has the authority to determine, in consultation with the local health department, whether to implement mask-wearing requirements for school staff, students, and visitors when the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency related to COVID-19. Effective immediately.

Repeals the Statewide Use of Force Standardization Act, the No Representation Without Population Act, the Reporting of Deaths in Custody Act, and the Task Force on Constitutional Rights and Remedies Act. Restores various provisions of specified Acts to the form in which they existed before their amendment by Public Acts 101-652 and 102-28, except for changes made to the Crime Victims Compensation Act. Effective immediately.

Makes application to Congress under the provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States for the calling of a convention of the states limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress.

Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Instead of prohibiting an employee of the corporate authority of a host community from having financial interests in a riverboat or casino, receiving certain things of value from a riverboat or casino, or accepting employment from a casino or riverboat, requires the employee to make a public disclosure to the Illinois Gaming Board. Requires the spouse, child, or parent of an employee of the corporate authority of a host community or a former employee of the corporate authority of a host community to make a public disclosure of certain conduct. Makes conforming changes in the Freedom of Information Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Declares that all changes to the existing nursing facility direct care reimbursement rate methodologies and to the bed assessment and collection procedures must be approached with caution, executed deliberately, and held to the highest of standards in order to protect nursing facility residents from disruption in care, protect workers from lost wages and jobs, and protect providers from the increased instability within the industry. Provides that a Nursing Facility Oversight Committee (Committee) shall be named by the 4 legislative leaders to oversee, assess, and provide direction to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services as it relates to long term care services. Contains provisions on the Committee's composition, meetings, proxy voting, and other matters. Requires the Department to seek the advice and consent of the Committee prior to filing emergency or permanent administrative rules with the Secretary of State or submitting Medicaid State Plan amendments and all correspondence to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Requires the Department to prepare transition plans for the redesign of the direct care reimbursement rate methodologies and the assessment tax schedule and collection proceedings. Contains provisions concerning advanced notice to nursing facilities of all payment, award, and rate changes; a quarterly direct care per diem reimbursement rate for each nursing facility; direct care reimbursement rate components subject to redesign; establishment of a single quarterly non-Medicare occupied bed varied tax assessment; State Plan amendments to permit expedited implementation of the redesigned bed assessment; compliance requirements for managed care organizations; penalties for non-compliance; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Prohibits a political committee from making expenditures for payments to attorneys, expert witnesses, investigators, or others to provide a defense in a criminal case.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the board of review may establish reasonable procedures for contesting the payment of taxes, interest, fees, or costs that the chief county assessment officer determines are due because a portion of the property was omitted based on an erroneously granted homestead exemption. Provides for the number of years that may be contested and for the collection of fees, interest, and penalties.