Rep. Kathleen Willis

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning noise.

Amends the Public Defender and Appointed Counsel Division of the Counties Code. Creates the Public Defender Quality Defense Task Force. Provides that the Task Force is established to: (i) examine the current caseload and determine the optimal caseload for public defenders in the State; (ii) examine the quality of legal services being offered to defendants by public defenders of the State; and (iii) make recommendations to improve the caseload of public defenders and quality of legal services offered by public defenders. Provides that the Task Force shall hold a minimum of 2 public hearings and at other times of its choosing. Provides that the Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study to the General Assembly and Governor no later than December 31, 2020. Repeals the provisions on December 31, 2021. Effective immediately. Fiscal Note (Office of the State Appellate Defender) If the only responsibility to the Agency would be to provide space for meetings, the cost would be minimal because meetings could be held in our Chicago or Springfield office. If the Agency was responsible for administrative costs, travel reimbursement for board members, preparation of meeting materials or research and analysis, the cost could be significantly more. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Removes a requirement that the Governor appoint at least one Task Force member from the Legal Resources Division of the Office of the Cook County Public Defender. Provides that the Governor shall appoint 5 (rather than 3) public defenders or assistant public defenders to the Task Force from 5 (rather than 3) counties other than Cook County.

Mourns the death of Captain Jake Ringering of Godfrey.

Amends the Counties Code. In provisions concerning winds farms and electric-generating wind devices, makes the provisions applicable even if a county has or has not formed a zoning commission and adopted formal zoning. Clarifies that only a county may establish standards for wind farms, electric-generating wind devices, and commercial wind energy facilities in unincorporated areas of the county outside of the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality and the 1.5 mile radius surrounding the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that only a county may establish standards for wind farms outside the 1.5 mile radius (rather than in the 1.5 mile radius) surrounding the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality.

Amends the Restroom Access Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 410 ILCS 39/1 Adds reference to: 410 ILCS 35/20 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 3751-20 410 ILCS 35/25 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Equitable Restrooms Act. Provides that every single-occupancy restroom in a place of public accommodation or public building shall be identified as all-gender and designated for use by no more than one person at a time or for family or assisted use. Provides that "place of public accommodation" has the meaning provided in the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that each single-occupancy restroom shall be outfitted with exterior signage indicating "all-gender" or "gender-neutral". Provides that these provisions apply to any existing or future places of public accommodation or public buildings. Provides that during an inspection of a place of public accommodation or public building by a health officer or health inspector, the health officer or health inspector may inspect the place of accommodation or public building to determine whether it complies. Effective January 1, 2020. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Provides that each single-occupancy restroom shall be outfitted with exterior signage that marks the single-occupancy restroom as a restroom and does not indicate any specific gender (rather than exterior signage indicating "all-gender" or "gender-neutral").

Calls on the 116th United States Congress to pass the Dream Act.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 relating to the offense of disorderly conduct at a funeral or memorial service. Increases the time that a specified place can be considered a "funeral site" from 30 minutes before and after a funeral to one hour before and after. Increases the distance from which the conduct at the funeral or memorial service is prohibited from 300 feet to 1,000 feet of any ingress or egress of the funeral site. Effective immediately.

Amends the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act. Provides that the Business Enterprise Council has the authority and responsibility to, among other authorities and responsibilities, (1) devise a certification procedure that certifies like certifications, including, but not limited to, such certifications for the City of Chicago and Cook County, and (2) annually evaluate certification procedures to ensure efficient standardization with like certifications to ensure current procedures do not cause undue burden to potential vendors owned by minorities, women or persons with disabilities.

Urges the Illinois Department of Public Health to adopt new guidelines for painkillers.

Amends the County Auditing Law of the Counties Code. Provides that a county board must notify newly elected countywide officials of the option for the county auditor to conduct a transitional audit at the county's expense. Provides that the transitional audit shall examine funds expended by the official for whom the newly elected official is taking over and report if the expended funds were consistent with the county board's financial allocations to that official. Provides that a county board shall give the option for a transitional audit to all county officials elected in or after November 2016. Limits home rule powers. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the introduced bill with the following changes: Removes examples of countywide officials to be notified of the availability of a transitional audit. Provides that an elected county auditor shall conduct the audit upon the request of a newly elected countywide official. Provides that, in a county that does not have an elected county auditor, the newly elected countywide official may hire a qualified auditing firm. Requires the county board to pay all costs associated with an audit.