Rep. Joe Sosnowski

Amends the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Act. Modifies the term "local farm or food products" for purposes of the Act. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill, and further modifies the term "local farm or food products" to include products processed and packaged in Illinois using at least one ingredient grown in Illinois.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that notwithstanding any law or rule to the contrary, gender reassignment surgery, including, but not limited to, genital or breast-related surgery for persons diagnosed with gender dysphoria, shall not be a covered service under the medical assistance program.

Amends the Counties Code. In provisions concerning winds farms and electric-generating wind devices, makes the provisions applicable even if a county has or has not formed a zoning commission and adopted formal zoning. Clarifies that only a county may establish standards for wind farms, electric-generating wind devices, and commercial wind energy facilities in unincorporated areas of the county outside of the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality and the 1.5 mile radius surrounding the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that only a county may establish standards for wind farms outside the 1.5 mile radius (rather than in the 1.5 mile radius) surrounding the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality.

Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to publish a notice that the district's annual statement of affairs is available on the State Board of Education's Internet website and in the district's main administrative office (instead of requiring a summary of the statement of affairs to be published). Effective immediately.

Congratulates Lisa Guinan on her long service to the Illinois General Assembly.

Amends the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act. Provides that a permit for incidental taking under the Act shall not be required if a federal conservation agreement, including, but not limited to, a candidate conservation agreement, habitat conservation plan, or safe harbor agreement that includes conservation practices conducted in the State in effect and approved by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973. Provides that incidental taking of species that are listed as endangered or threatened by the State only and not listed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall follow the provisions under the Act. Provides that of the remaining appointed members, one member shall be a landowner representing the State's largest general farm organization. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 520 ILCS 10/5.5 520 ILCS 10/6 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act. Provides that a permit for incidental taking under the Act shall not be required: (1) on land that is subject to and for activities that are implemented in compliance with a federal Candidate Conservation Agreement or Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances approved by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973; or (2) for covered conservation practices conducted in this State within a federal program authorized under a Conference Report under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 on land subject to that program. Provides that upon an automatic listing of a federally-listed species, the Endangered Species Protection Board shall immediately publish a notice for a public hearing and conduct a hearing within 14 days of the automatic listing. Provides that the listing, delisting, or change of listing status for any non-federally listed species shall be made only after a public hearing. Effective immediately.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 5 ILCS 120/1.01 Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 120/2.03.5 new 5 ILCS 140/7.5 20 ILCS 405/405-335 30 ILCS 805/8.43 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that a unit of local government or school district with an operating budget of $1,000,000 or more shall maintain a website and post to its website for the current calendar or fiscal year specified information. Provides that the information required to be posted must be easily accessible from the unit of local government's or school district's website home page and searchable. Provides penalties for noncompliance. Provides that no home rule unit may adopt posting requirements that are less restrictive than those provided in the Act. Provides that all local records required to be posted shall remain posted on the entity's website, or subsequent websites, for 10 years. Exempts the School District of the Department of Juvenile Justice. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides an exemption from inspection and copying of any record or information that a unit of local government or school district maintains an electronic copy of on its website to comply with the Open Meetings Act. Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Illinois Transparency and Accountability Portal shall have the capability to compile and update its database with information received from all school districts and units of local government. Authorizes the Illinois Transparency and Accountability Portal to provide direct access to information compiled under specified provisions of the Open Meetings Act. Provides an exempt mandate provision. Provides a severability clause. Effective immediately.

Proposes to amend the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Constitution. Repeals a provision that specifies that membership in any pension or retirement system of the State, any unit of local government or school district, or any agency or instrumentality thereof shall be an enforceable contractual relationship, the benefits of which shall not be diminished or impaired. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Creates the Taxpayer's Fiscal Charter Act. Provides for a discretionary spending freeze for fiscal years 2020 and 2021. Sets forth requirements to increase discretionary spending beginning in fiscal year 2022. Requires any new spending proposed by the General Assembly in addition to existing obligations shall be accompanied by a proposed source of revenue to pay for the proposed spending or specified cuts necessary to offset the proposed spending. Prohibits unfunded mandates. Requires the publishing of certain information before voting on or enacting an appropriations bill. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning with the next registration year after the effective date in which the Secretary of State distributes newly designed standard registration plates for motor vehicles, the Secretary of State shall issue one registration plate (instead of 2) for newly registered motor vehicles and the registration plate shall be attached to the rear (instead of front and rear) of the motor vehicle. Effective immediately.