Rep. Chris Welch

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Provides that, unless mutually agreed otherwise, any party to a collective bargaining agreement who fails to timely comply with an arbitration award or who, after timely demand, fails to submit a grievance dispute concerning the administration or interpretation of an agreement to arbitration shall pay to the prevailing party all reasonable costs of the proceeding in the trial and reviewing courts. Provides that, unless mutually agreed otherwise, any party to a collective bargaining agreement who obtains a stay of an award issued by an arbitration panel or single arbitrator, or any mutually agreed procedures, shall pay all reasonable costs of the proceedings in the reviewing courts. Provides for permissive subjects of collective bargaining. Makes conforming change. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Housing Development Act. Requires the Director of the Illinois Housing Development Authority to oversee an annual evaluation of derivative deals, including interest rate swaps, initiated to manage interest rate exposure, in order to ascertain the financial costs of these agreements. Provides that if these agreements have resulted in losses to the Authority, the Director shall make all necessary efforts to recover those moneys. Requires the Authority to conduct specified duties to achieve these goals. Makes similar changes concerning the annual evaluation of derivative deals under the General Obligation Bond Act, the State University Certificates of Participation Act, the University of Illinois Revenue Bond Financing Act for Auxiliary Facilities, and the Toll Highway Act. Further amends the General Obligation Bond Act by removing a provision permitting a Bond Sale Order to provide for variable interest rates to be established pursuant to a process generally known as an auction rate process and to provide for appointment of one or more financial institutions to serve as auction agents and broker-dealers in connection with the establishment of such interest rates and the sale and remarketing of such Bonds. Provides that after July 1, 2017, the State may not, with respect to Bonds issued or anticipated to be issued, participate in and enter into interest rate exchange agreements, financial futures contracts, or any other similar arrangements alleged to have the purpose of managing interest rate exposure. Provides that the amount of the State's variable rate exposure with respect to Bonds shall not exceed 10% (rather than 20%). Makes other changes.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the members of the State Board of Education.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education is, subject to appropriation, authorized to award competitive grants under a Safe Schools and Healthy Learning Environments Program. Provides that under the program, selected school districts must reallocate funding for school-based law enforcement personnel in some or all of their schools to other evidence-based and promising practices designed to promote school safety and healthy learning environments, including, but not limited to, restorative justice programs; increased use of school psychologists, social workers, and other mental and behavioral health specialists; drug and alcohol treatment services; wraparound services for youth; and training for school staff on conflict resolution techniques and other disciplinary alternatives. Provides that the program shall match the amount that is reallocated from school-based law enforcement personnel to alternative methods of addressing student behavior on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Prohibits grant funds from being used to increase the use of school-based security personnel. Provides for an annual report to update progress on the Program. Prohibits arrest or being otherwise cited for a criminal offense committed during school hours while on school grounds, in school vehicles, or at school activities or sanctioned events except in certain circumstances.

Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning unfair labor practice procedures.

Amends the Private Business and Vocational Schools Act of 2012, the Private College Act, and the Academic Degree Act. Defines "religious institution" in these Acts. Provides that any religious institution (instead of any institution devoted entirely to the teaching of religion or theology) shall not be considered to be a private business and vocational school; makes related changes. Provides that no religious institution shall be subject to the educational requirements, standards, or demands contained in the Private College Act or the Academic Degree Act or in those Acts' administrative rules, and requires a religious institution to notify each of its students in writing that the religious degree being earned or course work earned at a religious, non-accredited, post-secondary educational institution may not transfer to other institutions.

Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.

Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning employee rights.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2019-2020 school year or a subsequent school year must successfully complete one semester of computer science as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma. Effective immediately.