Rep. Norma Hernandez

Creates the Department of Early Childhood Act. Creates the Department of Early Childhood to begin operation on July 1, 2024 and transfers to it certain rights, powers, duties, and functions currently exercised by various agencies of State Government. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026 the Department of Early Childhood shall be the lead State agency for administering and providing early childhood education and care programs and services to children and families including: home-visiting services; early intervention services; preschool services; child care services; licensing for day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes; and other early childhood education and care programs and administrative functions historically managed by the State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Children and Family Services. Makes conforming changes to various Acts including the Department of Human Services Act, the Illinois Early Learning Council Act, the Illinois Procurement Code, the School Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Early Intervention Services System Act and the Children and Family Services Act. Effective immediately.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Makes changes to the provisions concerning the in-state tuition charge to require that, for tuition purposes beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the governing board of each public university, at a minimum, deem an individual, other than an excluded nonimmigrant alien, an Illinois resident, until the individual establishes a residence outside of this State, if the individual (1) attended a specified institution located in this State; (2) graduated from a high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this State, attained an associate degree from a public community college, or completed a General Education Core Curriculum package under the Illinois Articulation Initiative Act for students transferring from a public community college; (3) is a current student of or is registering as an entering student in the university; and (4) attests, if the individual is not a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States, that the individual will file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States at the earliest opportunity.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the purpose of the Medical Assistance Article.

Amends the Rent Control Preemption Act. Provides that the Act does not prohibit a municipality from setting rent controls for manufactured homes.

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the Career and Technical Education Task Force is created within the State Board of Education to examine how to involve more students in technical education. Specifies the members of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall meet once every 3 months at the call of the State Board of Education and shall receive administrative and other support from the State Board of Education. Provides that the Task Force shall prepare and deliver to the State Board of Education a report each year covering the Task Force's findings. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved and the provisions are repealed on January 1, 2026. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall prohibit a school from using a native name, logo, or mascot; defines "native name, logo, or mascot". However, provides that a school may continue to use uniforms or other materials bearing a native name, logo, or mascot that were purchased on or before the effective date of the amendatory Act until September 1, 2027 if specified requirements are met.

Mourns the death of Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough.

Urges support for the Family Roots Genealogy Pilot Program as it provides African American descendants of enslaved individuals the opportunity to trace their roots back to their ancestral homelands, to reconnect with their ancestral heritage, and to promote their well-being.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits a forest preserve district from prohibiting persons from carrying a firearm into any botanic garden, campground, aquatic center, grounds of an aquatic center, boat launch, boating center, athletic venue, picnic grove, nature center, grounds of a nature center, pavilion, grounds of a pavilion, golf course, parking lot, driving range, adventure course, grounds of an adventure course, zipline building, grounds of a zipline, equestrian center, grounds of an equestrian center, exercise venue, grounds of an exercise venue, any Illinois nature preserve, land and water reserve, or any public or private gathering or special event conducted on property that requires the issuance of a permit. Defines "grounds".

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that a certified registered nurse anesthetist providing anesthesia services outside the hospital, ambulatory surgical treatment center, or hospital affiliate shall enter into a written collaborative agreement with a physician, podiatric physician, or dentist. Removes provisions providing that a certified registered nurse anesthetist, an anesthesiologist, a physician, a dentist, or a podiatric physician must participate through discussion of an agreement with the anesthesia plan and remain physically present and available on the premises during the delivery of anesthesia services. Makes corresponding changes in the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act and the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Effective immediately.