Rep. Chris Welch

Amends the School Code. Requires each school board to provide for a program by which both halal and kosher food options are offered in public school cafeterias by request. Provides further requirements concerning the provision of halal and kosher food in public schools. Amends the Halal Food Act. Defines "State-owned or State-operated facility". Provides that any State-owned or State-operated facility that provides food services or cafeteria services for which food products are provided or offered for sale also shall offer, upon request provided with reasonable notice, halal food options at the State-owned or State-operated facility. Provides that any halal food product offered shall be certified as halal by a State-approved organization or purchased from a State-approved halal-certified vendor. Provides that any person, organization, or vendor falsely representing a food product it provides as halal or falsely representing itself as a halal-certified vendor shall be subject to penalties under the Act. Provides for the adoption of rules. Provides that the amendatory provisions shall not infringe upon or affect any obligation in a contract entered into and in effect on or before the amendatory Act's effective date. Amends the Kosher Food Act. Makes substantially similar changes as to kosher food options at State facilities, defines "kosher", and provides that a violation of the provisions concerning State facility kosher food services is a Class C misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class A misdemeanor for the second and each subsequent offense. Effective June 1, 2025.

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to create an Equity for Autistic Students Commission to research, recommend, and review policies that affect autistic students to ensure fair access to resources, therapies, education, and equity with a focused lens on historically marginalized groups. Provides that the Commission shall review different therapies and practices used or recommended for autistic students and, with the help of experts appointed to the Commission, decide if those therapies and practices are still the best therapies and practices. Provides that the Commission shall consist of members appointed by the State Board of Education and shall include experts in the field of autism in children and students. Provides that at least one member appointed to the Commission by the State Board of Education shall have autism. Provides that the State Board of Education shall provide administrative assistance and necessary staff support services. Provides for meetings and reporting.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Creates the Commission on Dependency and Addiction. Provides that the purpose of the Commission shall be to study fiscal matters regarding appropriating money across statewide programs aimed at tackling substance dependency and addiction. Provides that the Commission shall consist of members appointed by the Department of Human Services. Provides that the Department shall provide administrative assistance and necessary staff support services.

Amends the Early Childhood Workforce Act. Creates the Early Childhood Workforce Standards Board (Board). Provides that Board members must be appointed within 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Sets forth the Board's membership. Provides that for State Fiscal Year 2025, and for each state fiscal year thereafter, the Board shall: (1) determine an hourly wage floor, and salaried equivalent, for workers in State-funded early childhood programs which the Board believes will serve to recruit and retain early childhood workers; and (2) determine minimum increments above the wage floor as may be necessary to retain workers in State-funded early childhood programs such as for years of experience or job title. Provides that subject to appropriation, beginning in State Fiscal Year 2025 the Department of Human Services shall implement and administer a program making grants to early childhood worker training programs that value experience, inclusion, equity, and racial justice; and center worker voices and needs such as mentorship, apprenticeships, and peer-led learning. Amends the School Code. Provides that in order to ensure the quality and continuity of services, within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, all grant agreements shall require each child care center to (i) comply with the wage floor and compensation policies set forth in the Early Childhood Workforce Act, (ii) report quarterly up-to-date contact information for staff to the Department to allow the State Board of Education to communicate with the workers about their rights and supports available to them, (iii) supply the State Board of Education with current copies of its wage scales for classroom and support staff and other matters, and (iv) reconcile expenses quarterly and annually submit a year-end comprehensive financial report in a form prescribed by the State Board of Education. Imposes similar requirements on child care centers in a purchase of service contract with the Department of Human Services under its Child Care Assistance Program.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that, to ensure that foster parents who foster children with diabetes have the knowledge and tools they need to provide and advocate for their foster children's proper care, the Department of Children and Family Services shall provide eligible foster parents with training on diabetes care, including training on insulin pump therapy, general diabetes management, carbohydrate counting, how to administer insulin with an insulin pen or syringe, and how to identify the warning signs of low blood sugar and diabetic ketoacidosis. Grants the Department rulemaking authority.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Creates the Opioid Crisis Committee. Provides that the purpose of the Commission shall be to study the opioid crisis across the nation and the State. Provides that the Commission shall develop strategies and policies to reduce the number of overdoses and deaths due to opioids in the State. Provides that the Commission shall ensure that any policy developed will be equitably accessible across historically marginalized groups and in both rural and urban areas. Provides that the Commission shall consist of members appointed by the Department of Human Services. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall provide administrative assistance and necessary staff support services. Provides that the Commission shall issue a report on the findings and strategies developed by the Commission to the General Assembly and the Governor. Provides that the Commission shall be dissolved upon delivery of the report. Repeals the provisions on January 1, 2027.

Mourns the death of Kenyetta Javon "Ken" Barlow Sr.

Honors and thanks State Representative Frances Ann Hurley for her years of dedicated service. Wishes her the best on her future success.

Congratulates Major General Rodney Boyd of the Illinois National Guard on his promotion. Thanks him for his continued service to the State of Illinois and the United States.