Amends the Fire Protection District Act. Changes the requirement for competitive bidding for fire protection district contracts to contracts over $30,000 (currently, over $20,000).
Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that any task force, study committee, blue ribbon panel, commission, or organization created or appointed by the State Board of Education or the State Superintendent of Education after the effective date of the amendatory Act, including one created by the State Board of Education or one mandated by the Governor or General Assembly, shall include representatives that reflect the racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity of this State, including representatives of rural, suburban, and urban areas.
Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Increases penalties for unlawful use or possession of weapons by felons or persons in the custody of the Department of Corrections facilities. Provides that a person commits unlawful sale or delivery of firearms when he or she knowingly: (1) sells or gives a firearm to a person who has been convicted of a felony or who is a streetgang member or (2) sells or gives a firearm that has been purchased or acquired out of state to a person who has been convicted of a felony or is a streetgang member. Provides that a violation is a Class 1 felony. Provides that a second or subsequent violation is non-probationable. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Deletes a provision that the first offense had to be committed when the person was 21 years of age or older to be adjudged a habitual criminal. Provides that a person who attained the age of 18 at the time of the third offense may be adjudged a habitual criminal. In the Class X sentencing provision for a defendant over 21 years of age who is convicted of a Class 1 or Class 2 felony after twice being convicted of a Class 1 or Class 2 felony, deletes a provision that the first offense had to be committed when the person was 21 years of age or older and deletes a provision that the offenses had to be forcible felonies. Exempts theft from this calculation.
Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Prohibits persons who fail to report to the Department of Public Health individuals who commit certain violations from being involved in direct care for clients, patients, or residents, or access to the living quarters or the financial, medical, or personal records of clients, patients, or residents unless they have been issued a waiver under the Act. Provides that reports of violations shall be made no later than 5 days after the incident constituting the violation. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits aggravated battery when the person battered, other than by the discharge of a firearm, is known to be a patient at a Department of Human Services facility and the person who commits the battery is an employee of the Department of Human Services; and a recipient at a community-integrated living arrangement, as defined in the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act, who is battered by an employee of the community-integrated living arrangement. Provides that the offense is a Class 2 felony.
Amends the Business Assistance and Regulatory Reform Act. Modifies requirements concerning the Office of Business Permits and Regulatory Assistance. Provides that the Office shall implement reforms to improve interagency coordination and encourage expeditious permit issuance. Provides that the Office shall use information technology tools to track project schedules and metrics in order to improve transparency and accountability of the permitting process, reduce uncertainty and delays, and reduce costs and risks to taxpayers. Modifies and adds requirements concerning the expediting of permit reviews. Provides for the creation of an Interagency Permitting Advisory Committee. Provides additional requirements to improve the coordination of permit reviews. Defines terms. Makes other changes.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Changes the definition of "all-terrain vehicle" to mean certain vehicles that are 74 (instead of 50) inches or less in width. Permits the operation of all-terrain vehicles meeting certain criteria on any street, roadway, or highway in this State, unless the highway is an interstate system or is near a grade-separated portion of the highway. Provides that an all-terrain vehicle may be registered in the same manner as provided for snowmobiles and shall comply with the registration, fees, insurance, and other requirements for snowmobiles under the Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act. Outlines the vehicle equipment requirements for the operation of an all-terrain vehicle on a roadway. Makes other changes.
Creates the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Act. Enters into the compact, which may be entered into by any state, commonwealth, district, or territory of the United States of America, in order to facilitate interstate practice of audiology and speech-language pathology with the goal of improving public access to audiology and speech-language pathology services, along with other stated objectives. Defines terms. Provides that a license issued to an audiologist or speech-language pathologist by a home state to a resident in that state shall be recognized by each member state as authorizing an audiologist or speech-language pathologist to practice audiology or speech-language pathology, under a privilege to practice, in each member state. Contains other provisions relating to: state participation in the compact; compact privilege, including practicing telehealth; designation of home state by active military or their spouses; taking adverse actions against audiologists and speech-language pathologists; creation of the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Compact Commission, including rulemaking authority; database and reporting system; oversight, dispute resolution, and enforcement; construction and severability; and the binding effect of compact and other laws. Provides that the Compact shall come into effect on the date on which the Compact is enacted into law in the 10th member state, commonwealth, district, or territory. Amends the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act. Provides that, if the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact becomes law, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall revise its rules related to implementing and enforcing the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act to be in conformance with the Compact, if necessary. Provides that the Department shall also make recommendations in a report to the General Assembly as to what portions of the Act and other laws should be modified, if at all, to be consistent with the Compact.
Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that a qualified child care director must be present at the open or close of the facility. Provides that a qualified early childhood teacher who has been employed by the facility continuously for at least 24 months may otherwise be present for the first or last hour of the workday. Provides that a child care facility licensed under the Act may allow programs to staff classrooms with early childhood assistant qualified staff for up to 3 hours of the program day if it is documented in the facility's written staffing plan. Provides that an early childhood teacher must meet one of the following qualifications: (1) complete 60 semester hours from an accredited college or university with either 6 semester hours in early childhood education or complete the Gateways Early Childhood Education Credential Level 1 training; (2) complete 1,560 clock hours of child development experience and 30 semester hours from an accredited college or university with either 6 semester hours in early childhood education or Gateways Early Childhood Education Credential Level 1 training; (3) complete 2,080 clock hours of child development experience as a teacher assistant in a day care center, complete the Gateways Early Childhood Education Credential Level 1 training, and provide proof of enrollment from an accredited college or university until 30 semester hours are attained or proof of enrollment in an early childhood teacher credentialing program, either of which must be completed in no more than 5 years from the date of initial enrollment; or (4) complete a credentialing program approved by the Department of Children and Family Services in accordance with administrative rule. Makes a corresponding change.
Honors and thanks State Representative Frances Ann Hurley for her years of dedicated service. Wishes her the best on her future success.
Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. In provisions concerning notification of the status of classes, provides that each governing board must notify an adjunct professor and a nontenured-track faculty member about the status of enrollment of the class the person was hired to teach (instead of just an adjunct professor). Makes corresponding changes.
