Rep. Chris Welch

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Real Estate License Act of 2000. Abolishes the Real Estate Education Advisory Council. Transfers functions of the Council to the Real Estate Administration and Disciplinary Board or the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Allows the Department to make continuing education requirements for licensed leasing agents without the advice of the Advisory Council and Board. Makes changes to the membership and terms of the Board. Allows the Secretary of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to establish temporary or permanent committees of the Board. Effective immediately.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Requires the Department of Labor to publish, by July 15 of each year on its official website, a prevailing wage schedule for each county in the State based upon the prevailing rate of wages investigated and ascertained by the Department during the month of June. Effective immediately.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall establish reimbursement rates that build toward livable wages for front-line personnel in residential and day programs and service coordination agencies serving persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including, but not limited to, intermediate care for the developmentally disabled facilities, medically complex for the developmentally disabled facilities, community-integrated living arrangements, community day services, employment, and other residential and day programs for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities supported by State funds or funding under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act. Provides that the Department shall increase rates and reimbursements so that by July 1, 2018 direct support persons earn a base wage of not less than $13.50 per hour and so that other front-line personnel earn a commensurate wage, and by July 1, 2020, direct support persons earn a base wage of not less than $15 per hour and so that other front-line personnel earn a commensurate wage. Defines "front-line personnel". Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In a provision concerning the Community Care Program, establishes the following rate increases in the wages paid by vendors to their employees who provide homemaker services: on July 1, 2018, rates shall be increased to $19.89 for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour; on July 1, 2019, rates shall be increased to $21.49 for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour; on July 1, 2020, rates shall be increased to $23.09 for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour; and on July 1, 2021, rates shall be increased to $24.69 for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour. Provides that fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, any paid time off or payments for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases established in this provision. Effective July 1, 2018.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the School Code. With regard to the textbook block grant program, provides that the textbooks authorized to be purchased must accurately portray the diversity of our society, including the role and contributions of people protected under the Illinois Human Rights Act, and must be non-discriminatory as to certain characteristics under the Act. Provides that the teaching of history of the United States in public schools shall include a study of the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State. Requires every public elementary school and high school to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the significant role of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals in society. Specifies instruction requirements. Requires the regional superintendent of schools to monitor a school district's compliance with the curriculum requirements. Effective July 1, 2019.

Amends the Prompt Payment Act. Provides that utility services provided to the State by a unit of local government are subject to the provisions of the Act. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Workers' Rights and Worker Safety Act. Provides that except as authorized by State law enacted after January 1, 2017, a State agency may not amend or revise its rules relating to protection of workers' rights or worker safety in a manner less stringent than specified federal laws. Provides that a State agency may establish workers' rights and worker safety standards that are more stringent than those provided in federal law in existence as of January 1, 2017. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that in certain circumstances an action may be brought in a circuit court by a person in the public interest to enforce standards or requirements concerning air, water, drinking water, and endangered and threatened species adopted under specified provisions of the Act and the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act. Provides that the provisions concerning public interest enforcement shall only become operative if specified events occur. Provides that the enforcement provisions of the Act are severable. Adds provisions concerning protection of the environment, natural resources, and public health. Requires various State agencies to adopt, maintain, and enforce rules concerning air, water, drinking water, and endangered and threatened species that are at least as stringent as various regulatory baselines under federal law, in addition to State law requirements. Provides that every State agency shall undertake all feasible efforts to implement and enforce these provisions. Contains reporting requirements. Deletes provisions providing that an air pollution construction or operating permit shall not be required due to emissions of greenhouse gases if certain events occur. Deletes certain language concerning exemptions from provisions concerning the Clean Air Act Permit Program.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Contains provisions requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to create a State beneficiary mitigation plan in accordance with specified consent decrees. Provides that the Agency shall establish the Volkswagen Settlement Task Force. Contains provisions concerning the membership of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall conduct listening sessions, review the requirements of a specified trust agreement, evaluate public comments, and prepare a report of its recommendations for use of the funds received by the State from the trust agreement. Provides that the Task Force shall submit the report to the Governor and the General Assembly by no later than January 1, 2019. Provides that based on information provided by the Task Force, a public comment period, and other specified considerations, the Agency shall create a draft and final version of the State plan. Provides that within 30 days of the effective date, the Environmental Protection Agency shall create a page on its website that provides the public with specified information relating to the specified consent decrees. Effective immediately.