Rep. Ryan Spain

Creates the Right to Speak Your Truth Act. Prohibits a person accused of sexual misconduct, sexual abuse, sexual assault, and sexual harassment from using a defamation action to silence, or retaliate against, the accusing person, staff, or third party reporting the forms of sexual misconduct, sexual abuse, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. Provides that defamation claims, where an accuser is publicly named by a person, staff, or third person reporting alleged sexual misconduct, sexual abuse, sexual assault, or sexual harassment, shall be reserved for cases where cited documentation and evidence can establish within the initial court filing one or more of the following: (1) the claimed act in the reported accusation was a factual impossibility for the accused to have perpetrated; (2) the accuser has been impeached in a courtroom proceeding regarding the same alleged facts as in the present reported accusation; (3) the accuser has publicly made contrary statements involving relevant, material facts regarding the present reported incident; or (4) the accuser has publicly stated that the present reported incident did not occur.

Amends the Salaries Act. Deletes provisions made by Public Act 102-1115. Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act. Removes changes made by Public Act 102-1115.

Amends the Township Code. Provides that a township board may not enter into or authorize an employment, equipment, or service contract, with the exception of a contract negotiated with a labor union, that would extend 90 days past the next township election. Provides that employment, equipment, or service contracts entered into or authorized in violation of the provisions are voidable. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Township Code. Provides that a township board of trustees or township official may not enter into or authorize an employment, equipment, or service contract during the 14 days before a consolidated election through the third Monday in May following the consolidated election. Provides that a township board or township official may enter into a contract that does not extend more than 60 days after the third Monday of May following the consolidated election to address an emergency. Provides that an employment, equipment, or service contract entered into or authorized in violation of the Section is voidable. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 60 ILCS 1/85-70 new Adds reference to: New Act Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Tourism Preservation and Sustainability District Act. Provides that hotel owners can petition a governmental unit (a municipality, county, or township) to create a tourism preservation and sustainability district if the hotel owners believe their businesses would represent more than 50% of transaction charges collected inside the district. Requires the owners to create a district plan. Provides for the governmental unit to pass a resolution of intent to create the district within 60 days after the filing of the petition if the governmental unit wants to proceed with the district. Provides that, in certain circumstances, a governmental unit must enter into an intergovernmental agreement with another governmental unit if territory of the other governmental unit is included within the territory of the district. Requires a public hearing with the opportunity for hotel owners to object to the formation. Provides that, if not enough objections are received by the governmental unit's clerk, then the governing body of the governmental unit may form the district. Provides that transaction charges (charged either on a fixed dollar or percentage rate per hotel room per night) collected by a governmental unit shall be transferred to the local tourism and convention bureau included in formation ordinance which shall use the moneys for improvements and services within the district. Includes requirements for annual reports; modification; renewal, and termination of the district; and contesting the formation of the district or transaction charges in court. Contains other provisions relating to the operation of the district. Effective immediately.

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, 2023.

Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Removes the requirement for each Legislative District to be divided into two Representative Districts. Modifies provisions concerning legislative redistricting. Provides specified requirements for each Legislative District, Representative District, and Congressional District for redistricting purposes. Replaces the current method of legislative redistricting. Provides for the creation of a sixteen-member commission, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the most senior Supreme Court Justice of a different political party, in accordance with specified criteria. Requires the commission to adopt and file with the Secretary of State redistricting plans for Legislative, Representative, and Congressional Districts following a series of public hearings by August 1 of the year following a federal decennial census. Permits the public to submit redistricting plans during the redistricting process for consideration by the Commission. Specifies that, if a redistricting plan is not adopted by August 1 of the year following a federal decennial census, then a seventeenth member shall be appointed to the commission and redistricting plans shall be filed by September 1. Adds provisions concerning the membership of the commission and budgetary matters related to the commission. Effective upon being declared adopted and applicable to redistricting beginning in 2031 and to the election of General Assembly members beginning in 2032.

Thanks Representative Mark Luft for his service to the people of his district and all of Illinois.

Congratulates State Representative Tom Demmer on his retirement from the General Assembly and wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that appointments to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, other than the ex officio members, shall be made by the Executive Director of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board from a list of nominees selected by a majority of votes of the President of the Illinois Sheriffs' Association, the President of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, the President of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council and the President of the Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge 7 (rather than the Governor).

Creates the Decennial Committees on Local Government Consolidation and Efficiency Act. Provides that within one year after the effective date of the Act and at least once every 10 years thereafter, each unit of local government (except municipalities and counties) must form a committee to: study local efficiencies, including an analysis of whether to consolidate with another governmental unit, municipality, or county; and create a report with recommendations regarding efficiencies, increased accountability, and consolidation. Provides that the duties of the committee include, but are not limited to, the study of the unit of local government's governing statutes, ordinances, rules, procedures, powers, jurisdiction, shared services, intergovernmental agreements, and interrelationships with other units of local government and the State. Provides that the committee shall collect data, research, analysis, and public input. Dissolves the committee after completion of its report and oral presentation of the report. Contains provisions about committee membership, meetings, and report requirements. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that the 2 residents appointed to the commission shall be appointed by the board of the governmental unit (rather than appointed by the county board chairperson or the president of the board of county commissioners in the county in which the governmental unit lies). Removes a government studies representative from a community college or State university from the committee and, instead, provides that the committee may seek assistance from community colleges or universities with research and the development and review of reports of the committee. Provides that, at the conclusion of each meeting, the committee shall conduct a survey of residents who attended asking for input on what was discussed at the meeting (rather than allowing public input though at least one public survey sent to at least 10% of residents within the governmental unit). Allows the committee meetings to take place at the same time as the governmental unit's regularly scheduled meetings under specified circumstances. Removes a requirement of an oral presentation of the committee's report. Requires that the committee submit its report no later than 18 months (rather than 6 months) after the formation of the committee.

Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act. Provides that if the State has not cut the backlog of unpaid bills by 10% by the end of fiscal year 2022, salaries of the members of the General Assembly shall be cut by 10%. Provides that the percentage by which the backlog of unpaid bills has decreased or increased at the end of the fiscal year shall be certified by the State Comptroller. Provides that the 10% salary decrease shall only apply to members sworn into office on and after the second Wednesday in January of 2023, and shall only take effect during the term for which members are elected. Effective immediately.