Rep. Kathleen Willis

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that it is a violation for an employer to impose as a condition of obtaining or retaining employment any term or condition that requires a person to violate or forgo a sincerely held practice of his or her religion including the wearing of any attire, clothing, or facial hair in accordance with the requirements of his or her religion. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to make application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by July 1, 2017 for a State plan amendment to implement the Community First Choice Option pursuant to the Social Security Act. Requires the Department, beginning on July 1, 2017, but no later than July 1, 2018, to submit applications to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for all Medicaid funding options available for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including a research and demonstration waiver application pursuant to the Social Security Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. With respect to a school district petitioning to withdraw from its special education joint agreement program, provides that if the petition for withdrawal is not approved by all of the remaining member districts and the petitioning member district is a part of a Class II county school unit outside of a city of 500,000 or more inhabitants (suburban Cook County), the petitioning member district may appeal the disapproval decision to its respective intermediate service center. Provides that if the chief administrative officer of the intermediate service center approves the petition for withdrawal, then the petitioning member district shall be withdrawn from the joint agreement effective the following July 1 and shall notify the State Board of Education of the approved withdrawal in writing. Effective immediately.

Amends the Coal Mining Act. Provides that a mine operator must provide the number of self-contained self-rescuer devices as required by the mine's approved Mine Safety and Health Administration Emergency Response Plan. Removes language concerning plan requirements submitted for approval to the Mining Board. Provides that rescue chambers must be provided and located within 1,000 (rather than 3,000) feet from the nearest working face of each working section of a mine. Provides that outby rescue chambers must be provided at distances and locations approved in the mine's approved Mine Safety and Health Administration Emergency Response Plan. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Personnel Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Extends the operation of the Mobile Integrated Healthcare Task Force.

That the P-20 Council, in collaboration with the Early Learning Council, shall establish an Advisory Committee for the purposes of reviewing kindergarten transitions.

Amends the Illinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Mourns the death of Officer Raymond Murrell of Addison.

Amends the General Assembly Organization Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the deposit of books, bills, documents, and papers with the Secretary of State.