Rep. Dan Swanson

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that through June 30, 2026 (instead of June 30, 2023), an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status if that employment is not within the school year during which service was terminated and does not exceed 120 paid days or 600 paid hours in each school year. Deletes language concerning an additional 20 days or 100 paid hours that an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status for the period between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. Effective immediately.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Allows approved providers of professional development activities to make available professional development opportunities that provide educators with training on reading and literacy instruction.

Declares the week of May 7 through May 13, 2023 as Read with Your Child Week in the State of Illinois. Encourages all Illinois schools to promote Read with Your Child Week with appropriate activities.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision concerning suspensions of retirement annuities during employment with a participating employer, provides that an annuitant receiving a sheriff's law enforcement employee annuity shall be considered a participating employee if the annuitant returns to work as a school security guard employed by a participating employer and works more than 999 hours annually. Effective immediately.

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

Amends the Labor Dispute Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school nurse or other designated person employed by a school district shall remove a tick from a student in accordance with guidelines issued by the Department of Public Health. After the tick has been removed, requires (i) the school nurse or other designated person to notify the parent or guardian of the student (and sets forth what the notice must state), (ii) the school to provide the parent or guardian with an information sheet from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Public Health regarding the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever and testing labs for ticks, and (iii) the school to preserve the tick for 72 hours so that the parent or guardian may send the tick to a lab for testing and provide information to the parent or guardian on how to send the tick to a lab for testing (but allows the parent or guardian to give the school permission to dispose of the tick before the 72-hour time period has expired). Provides that the Department of Public Health shall issue guidelines on how to remove a tick, publish those guidelines on the Department of Public Health's Internet website, and, in consultation with the State Board of Education, provide the guidelines to school districts. Provides that a school district and its employees and agents shall incur no liability, except for willful or wanton conduct, as a result of any injury arising from the removal of a tick if the removal of the tick followed the guidelines issued by the Department of Public Health. Effective July 1, 2024.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the surviving spouse of a veteran who has a service connected disability of 100% and is deemed to be permanently and totally disabled shall not be required to reapply for the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a veteran may submit an application for the homestead exemptions for veterans with disabilities to the chief county assessment officer with respect to a specific property before the veteran purchases the property. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, in all counties, any change in assessment resulting from reassessment in the general assessment year shall not exceed the lesser of the following: (1) 3% of the assessed value of the property for the prior year; or (2) the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index during the 12-month calendar year preceding the assessment year. Provides that the limitation does not apply if the increase in assessment is attributable to an addition, improvement, or modification to the property. Preempts the power of home rule units to tax. Effective immediately.