Rep. Lance Yednock

Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any provision of the Personnel Code to the contrary, the Department of Natural Resources shall, by administrative rule, establish a process and criteria for hiring its employees. Provides that the Director of Natural Resources may permit local administrators of Department properties and State parks to conduct interviews of prospective Department employees and make recommendations to the Director of Natural Resources as to their suitability for employment with the Department. Amends the Personnel Code. Exempts Department of Natural Resources positions from personnel jurisdictions A, B, and C under the Code.

Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who make a qualified donation of a crop to a food bank or other charitable organization in Illinois. Provides that the amount of the credit shall be 15% of the value of the quantity of the crop donated. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "M998 HMMWV" as an AM General Series M998 High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle produced for military or government use. Provides that the owner of an M998 HMMWV may register the vehicle as a former military vehicle if specified conditions are met. Provides that a certificate of title issued for an M998 HMMWV shall not indicate that the M998 HMMWV is limited to off-road use.

Congratulates and thanks Representative Michael Halpin for his years of dedicated service. Wishes him luck in his future endeavors as a state senator.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning coverage for the reasonable and necessary medical treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder and craniomandibular disorder, provides that on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, every insurer that delivers or issues for delivery in the State a group accident and health policy providing coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical treatment on an expense-incurred basis shall offer coverage (rather than offer optional coverage for an additional premium) for the reasonable and necessary medical treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder and craniomandibular disorder. Removes provisions that provide that the group policyholder shall accept or reject optional coverage in writing on the application or an amendment to the master group policy and that an insurer may offer coverage for temporomandibular joint disorder and craniomandibular disorder as part of a policy's basic coverage instead of optional coverage. Makes conforming changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 and the Illinois Public Aid Code.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Code does not apply to the leasing of State-owned facilities by a wireless carrier. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates credit for the cost of equipment and materials used in the business of providing broadband services in a county in the State with a population of fewer than 40,000 people or a township in the State with a population density of less than 50 households per square mile in a county with a population of less than 300,000 people. Provides that the credit does not apply to equipment and materials placed in service after December 31, 2026. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act to exempt equipment and materials used to provide broadband services in a county in the State with a population of fewer than 40,000 people or a township in the State with a population density of less than 50 households per square mile in a county with a population of less than 300,000 people. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision of the IMRF Article concerning service credit for accumulated unused sick leave, provides that if the employee was in the service of more than one employer or regional office of education (instead of more than one employer), then sick leave days from all such employers shall be credited. Amends the School Code. Provides that beginning July 1, 2022, all regional superintendents of schools shall receive the same salary regardless of the population of the region they serve. Provides that the salary for all regional superintendents shall be equal to the highest annual salary tier. Makes a change concerning the posting of information on the institute fund. Repeals a provision of the Code that prohibits regional superintendents from practicing or from holding themselves out as practicing any other profession. Amends the School Construction Law. Authorizes the State Board of Education to make school maintenance project grants to regional offices of education and intermediate service centers. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 230/5-100 In provisions amending the School Code, provides that the salary for all regional superintendents shall be equal to the middle (instead of highest) annual salary tier. Removes language amending the School Construction Law.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that beginning July 1, 2020 and ending on December 31, 2025, a hospital that would have qualified for the rate year beginning October 1, 2020 and was designated a federal rural referral center under a specified provision of the Code of Federal Regulations as of October 1, 2020 shall be a Safety-Net Hospital. Effective immediately.

Amends the Litter Control Act. Provides that a hauler who overfills his or her hauling vehicle such that waste or construction material falls off the top of the hauling vehicle while in transit is subject to a civil penalty of $250. Requires moneys from civil penalties received under the provisions to be paid to the Department of Agriculture, which shall deposit the moneys into the Agriculture in the Classroom Fund.