Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch

Creates the Inter-Agency Report on Decarbonization and Economic Opportunities Act. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and the Illinois Power Agency to work jointly to design a broad-based policy approach, including specific programs, to decarbonize Illinois' electric sector (including energy production and consumption) in a just and equitable way that puts our State on track to phase out polluting power plants by 2030 and create new economic opportunities across the State. Effective immediately.

Mourns the passing of Justice Charles E. Freeman.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that each election authority shall collaborate with the county jail within the jurisdiction of the election authority to facilitate voting by mail for voters eligible to vote in the county who are confined or detained in the county jail. Provides that in a county with a population of 3,000,000 or more, the election authority in the county shall establish a temporary branch polling place in the county jail. Provides that a refusal by an eligible voter to participate in the voting process must be documented by the voter or witnessed by a pollwatcher. Provides that individuals who facilitate a vote by mail process must receive training on the process, responsibilities, and requirements of implementing a vote by mail program. Contains additional provisions concerning the temporary branch polling place in the county jail. Prohibits certain individuals from from being election judges in a temporary branch polling place in a county jail. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that each election authority shall collaborate with the county jail within the jurisdiction of the election authority to facilitate voter registration for voters eligible to vote in that county who are confined or detained in the county jail. Provides that a county jail shall provide a voter registration application to any person in custody at the jail who requests an application and is eligible to vote. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that upon release of a person who is eligible to vote, the Department of Corrections shall provide the person with a specified form that informs him or her that his or her voting rights have been restored. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections and Counties Code. Provides that upon discharge from a county jail or release from the Department of Corrections, a person shall be provided with a voter registration form. Provides that the Department, each county jail, and each county probation office shall provide an individual in its custody with specified information on voting rights. Makes other changes.

Urges support for funding the physical infrastructure of early childhood education programs.

Directs the Illinois Gaming Board to conduct a disparity study on whether minority-owned businesses face any barriers that prevent their equitable participation in the business of legalized sports wagering.

Amends the State Treasurer Act. Provides that the State Treasurer shall establish the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program for the purpose of expanding access to higher education through savings. Provides for enrollment in the Program. Provides further duties and requirements of the Treasurer regarding the Program. Creates the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program Fund as a fund held outside of the State treasury to be the official repository of all contributions, appropriations, interest, and dividend payments, gifts, or other financial assets received by the State Treasurer in connection with the operation of the Program or related partnerships. Provides for audits and reports concerning the Program. Allows the Treasurer to adopt any rules that may be necessary to implement the Program. Amends the Freedom of Information Act to provide an exemption for information that is exempt from disclosure under the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that notwithstanding any court order which would otherwise prevent the release of information, the Department of Public Health is authorized to release specified information to the State Treasurer for the purposes of the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate. Fiscal Note (Office of the Treasurer) Based upon Illinois' current birth rate of 155,000 to 165,000 newborns per year, the annual cost for this program is expected to be $9-10 million per year, beginning in FY21. This includes approximately $8 million for the initial seed funding of $50 per child and an estimated $1.5 million to develop local savings incentive partnerships, engage parents and children in related financial literacy initiatives, and administer the program. Because unclaimed and unused funds will remain with the program for future use, the need for annual appropriations will decline after year 10 of the program as unclaimed and unused funds are recycled. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Modifies the definition of "eligible child".

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a grammatical correction in provisions relating to the procurement of power and energy, zero emission credits, and renewable energy resources by electric utilities. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 3855/1-10 20 ILCS 3855/1-20 20 ILCS 3855/1-75 220 ILCS 5/16-115 220 ILCS 5/16-115A 220 ILCS 5/16-115B 220 ILCS 5/16-115C 220 ILCS 5/16-115E new 220 ILCS 5/16-118 220 ILCS 5/16-120 220 ILCS 5/19-110 220 ILCS 5/19-115 220 ILCS 5/19-116 new 220 ILCS 5/19-117 new 220 ILCS 5/19-120 220 ILCS 5/20-140 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Authorizes the Illinois Power Agency to develop capacity procurement plans and conduct competitive procurement processes for the procurement of capacity to meet the capacity requirements of all retail customers of electric utilities that serve at least 3,000,000 retail customers in this State. Provides for the goal that no later than the delivery year commencing June 1, 2032, the Agency's procurement plans and processes shall include bundled clean capacity in an amount equal to 100% of the electric load measured in megawatt-hours for all retail customers of electric utilities that serve more than 3,000,000 customers in this State. Requires the Planning and Procurement Bureau to develop plans and processes and conduct competitive procurement events to procure capacity for all retail customers of electric utilities that serve at least 3,000,000 retail customers in this State that are located in the Applicable Fixed Resource Requirement Service Area of PJM Interconnection, LLC. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Establishes requirements for procurement of contracts for capacity by the Illinois Power Agency for electric utilities serving at least 3,000,000 retail customers in this State located in the Applicable Fixed Resource Requirement Service Area of PJM Interconnection, LLC. Provides additional findings that the Illinois Commerce Commission must make in granting an application for a certificate of service authority for alternative retail electric suppliers and alternative gas suppliers. Provides additional requirements for an alternative retail electric supplier or alternative gas supplier to comply with when marketing, offering, and providing products or services to residential and small commercial retail customers. Makes changes concerning rates that may be charged by an alternative retail electric supplier, alternative gas supplier, or electric utility or gas utility other than the utility in whose service area a retail customer is located to a customer at the beginning of a contract term or for any renewal term. Provides that the Commission may require an alternative retail electric supplier or alternative gas supplier to enter into a compliance plan if the Commission concludes that an alternative retail electric supplier is violating the Act or the Commission's rules. Provides that any person or entity licensed to engage in the procurement or sale of retail electricity supply for third parties must disclose to each customer the amount of the compensation being charged by the agent, broker, or consultant. Contains provisions concerning alternative retail electric supplier and alternative gas supplier utility assistance recipients; variable gas rate contracts; and expanded use of energy savings programs. Defines terms. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Freedom from Aggressive Insurance Increases Review Act. Creates the independent, quasi-judicial Health Insurance Rate Review Board to ensure insurance rates are reasonable and justified. Sets forth duties and prohibited activities concerning the Board. Sets forth the procedures for appointment to the Board. Provides requirements and procedures for health carriers to file current and proposed rates and rate schedules with the Board. Provides that the Board shall review and approve or disapprove all rates and rate schedules filed or used by a health carrier. Sets forth provisions concerning rate standards, public notice, hearings, and the disapproval and approval of rates and rate schedules. Requires the Board to annually report to the General Assembly all rate and rate schedules approved, disapproved, and amended.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that the rates and minimum mandated wage increases for homemaker services shall be, at a minimum, as of January 1, 2019, a rate of $19.96 per hour, for a minimum wage of $12 per hour, and as of July 1, 2019, a rate of $21.64 per hour for a minimum wage of $13 per hour. Provides that rates in future State fiscal years shall be no lower than the rates in effect on July 1, 2019. Provides that in-home service provider agencies shall be required to certify to the Department on Aging that they are in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Provides that fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, any paid time off, payment for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation payment, shall not be reduced in relation to these rate increases. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides for a water's edge apportionment election for certain members of a unitary business group. Provides that, with respect to foreign corporations that make a water's edge election, the deduction for dividends is limited to 75%.