Rep. Joe Sosnowski

Amends the Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Act. In provisions concerning personal assistants contained in Public Acts 97-732 and 97-1019, provides that any person providing services as a personal assistant or an individual provider under the Department of Human Services' Home Services Program shall submit to a criminal history background check. Provides that the cost of the criminal history background check shall be paid by the personal assistant or individual provider. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules that: (i) are necessary to implement the provision; and (ii) indicate any condition or circumstance under which a personal assistant or an individual provider shall be denied employment as a result of the criminal history background check. Defines "individual provider" to mean a person providing services under the Home Services Program who is a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, certified nurse assistant, occupational therapist, physical therapist, or speech therapist and has been privately hired by the customer. Adds similar requirements to provisions concerning home care and home health workers who function as personal care attendants, personal assistants, or individual maintenance home health workers contained in Public Act 97-1158.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the corporate authorities of a municipality may regulate, locate, and prohibit retail tobacco stores. Defines "retail tobacco stores".

Creates the Illinois Virtual School Act. Establishes the Illinois Virtual School as a statewide virtual school to serve Illinois students in kindergarten through grade 12 and Illinois teachers and other educators, to be funded through an annual State appropriation to meet the operation and capital needs of the Illinois Virtual School. Sets forth provisions concerning fees, accountability, online courses, access and equity, a Board of Trustees, the powers of the Board, and the transition from the existing State Board of Education program. Effective immediately.

Amends the State aid formula provisions of the School Code with respect to equalized assessed valuation data. Removes language that provides that, with respect to any part of a school district within a redevelopment project area in respect to which a municipality has adopted tax increment allocation financing pursuant to the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act or the Industrial Jobs Recovery Law, no part of the current equalized assessed valuation of real property located in the project area that is attributable to an increase above the total initial equalized assessed valuation of the property shall be used as part of the equalized assessed valuation of the district until such time as all redevelopment project costs have been paid and that, for the purpose of the equalized assessed valuation of the district, the total initial equalized assessed valuation or the current equalized assessed valuation, whichever is lower, shall be used until such time as all redevelopment project costs have been paid. Effective July 1, 2013.

Amends the Illinois Plumbing License Law. Removes the 4-year apprenticeship requirement for plumber's license applicants.

Amends the Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Act. Provides that any person providing services as an individual provider under the Department of Human Services' Home Services Program shall submit to a criminal history background check. Requires the Department to promulgate rules that (i) are necessary to implement this provision; and (ii) indicate any condition or circumstance when an individual provider shall be denied employment as a result of the criminal history background check. Defines "individual provider" to mean a person providing services under the Home Services Program who is a personal assistant, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, certified nurse assistant, occupational therapist, physical therapist, or speech therapist and has been privately hired by the customer. Effective June 1, 2015.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that upon admission to a mental health facility, the facility director is responsible for renewing the registration of a sex offender as defined in the Sex Offender Registration Act who is admitted on an inpatient basis. Provides that the facility director shall act in the name of the sex offender and perform the renewal duties prescribed for sex offenders under the Sex Offender Registration Act, including the payment of registration renewal fees. Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, if a political subdivision that is choosing candidates or submitting a public question is located within the jurisdiction of 2 or more election authorities and has its principal office located in the territorial jurisdiction of a city board of election commissioners, then the election authority in which a majority of the territory of the city board of election commissioners is located shall have jurisdiction, and the city board of election commissioners shall not have jurisdiction.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that any investor-owned public utility, municipal-owned public utility, public or municipal corporation, or political subdivision furnishing water or sewer service may discontinue service only on a day followed by a business day and after the water or sewer utility has mailed or delivered by other means a written notice of discontinuance. Provides that specified water or sewer utilities shall not consider a customer's bill, when paid in person, past due unless the payment is made after the due date printed on the bill. Provides that the due date printed on the bill may not be less than 28 days after the date upon which (i) the bill is mailed to the customer, (ii) the bill is delivered in person to the customer, (iii) the bill is sent electronically to the customer, or (iv) the customer is notified that the bill is available electronically. Provides that the bill shall include a bill date that shall not be less than 28 days prior to the due date on the bill. Makes similar changes in the Public Utilities Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.