Rep. Dan Swanson

Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to adopt a policy to (i) allow the parent or legal guardian of a child to notify the school principal or a designee in writing that the parent or legal guardian objects to the use of specific course material and (ii) allow the child to use alternative course material. Requires the alternative course material to be provided at the expense of the parent or legal guardian. Requires the content of the alternative course material to be sufficiently equivalent to the specific course material to enable the child to meet State standards in a particular subject area. Effective July 1, 2022.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to the foster care expenses, not to exceed $1,000 in any taxable year, paid or incurred by the taxpayer with respect to a qualified dependent child. Provides that the credit may be prorated. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Mandates Act. Provides that any State mandate regarding any subject matter enacted on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act that necessitates additional expenditures from local government revenues shall be void and unenforceable unless the General Assembly makes necessary appropriations to implement that mandate. Provides that the failure of the General Assembly to make necessary appropriations shall relieve the local government of the obligation to implement any State mandate. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Fund the Police Act. Creates the Fund the Police Grant Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that from appropriations to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board from the Fund, the Board must make grants to units of local government and Illinois public universities for the purpose of: (1) hiring law enforcement officers; (2) providing mental health care for law enforcement officers; (3) providing for hiring, retention incentives, and overtime payments for law enforcement officers; (4) purchasing public safety equipment designed to prevent gang violence, motor vehicle theft, vehicular hijacking, or the sale of contraband; and (5) training for law enforcement officers in preventing gang violence, motor vehicle theft, vehicular hijacking, or the sale of contraband. Provides that moneys in the Fund the Police Grant Fund may not be appropriated, assigned, or transferred to another State fund. Provides that, as soon as practical after the effective date of the Act, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer the sum of $100,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Fund the Police Grant Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the School Code. Provides that each school board shall adopt a policy to allow pupils, parents, guardians, and members of the public to review each textbook that the superintendent or school board is considering approving for use in the schools of the district for a period of no less than 30 days prior to the textbook being approved for use by the superintendent or the school board. Provides that the policy must be published in the student handbook and on the district's Internet website if one is maintained. Effective July 1, 2022.

Amends the Boat Registration and Safety Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities, provides that an otherwise qualified residence that is located upon 2 adjacent parcels in 2 different townships is entitled to the exemption. Provides that a portion of the maximum exemption amount shall be applied to each parcel according to each parcel's share of the total assessed value of the property. Effective immediately.

Amends the Waterworks and Sewerage Connection Charge Division of the Illinois Municipal Code. In provisions regarding billing requirements for municipalities that operate a waterworks or combined waterworks and sewerage system, provides that, on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the provisions apply to home rule municipalities. Limits home rule powers. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 65 ILCS 5/Art. 11 Div. 150 heading Changes the heading of Division 150 of Article 11 of the Illinois Municipal Code. Changes the immediate effective date to January 1, 2022.

Declares November 3, 2021 as Amtrak Anniversary Day in the State of Illinois. Recognizes the work in 1971 and again in 2006 that resulted in this region of Illinois having vital passenger train connections to and from Chicago and cities in Western and North-Central Illinois. Urges the cities on the route to continue to work with each other, Amtrak, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and others to maintain and improve the local Amtrak service that is such an asset to the communities it serves.

Amends the Veterans and Servicemembers Court Treatment Act. Provides that each judicial circuit shall report to the General Assembly on or before January 1 of each year: (1) the number of Veterans and Servicemembers Courts established in the circuit; (2) the number of participants each Veterans and Servicemembers Court had during the preceding year; (3) the number of participants who completed the program successfully during the preceding year; and (4) the number of participants who did not complete the program successfully during the preceding year.