Rep. Norma Hernandez

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the following amounts shall be deposited into the Local Government Distributive Fund as the revenue is realized from the specified taxes: (i) 8% of the net revenue realized from the tax imposed under the Act upon individuals, trusts, and estates; (ii) 8% of the net revenue realized from the tax imposed by the Act upon electing pass-through entities; and (iii) 9.11% of the net revenue realized from the tax imposed by the Act upon corporations. Amends the State Revenue Sharing Act to provide that amounts paid into the Local Government Distributive Fund are appropriated on a continuing basis. Effective July 1, 2023.

Declares July 15, 2023 as Unplug Illinois Day in the State of Illinois. Encourages all citizens to participate in this opportunity by unplugging from their electronic devices and visiting their local parks, recreation sites, and conservation areas.

Declares the State of Illinois should take the lead on issues of Pan-Africanism, citizenship in Africa, and reparatory justice, and the State should champion the Eighth Pan-African Congress Part 1 (8PAC1) and its agenda to develop a continental-wide diaspora citizenship plan, establish the African Diaspora as the 6th Region of the African Union (AU), and determine a permanent headquarters for the 6th Region. Calls upon the State to immediately, through its African Descent-Citizens Reparations Commission (ADCRC), provide matrilineal and patrilineal DNA testing through African ancestry to determine the ancestral lineages and territories of origin of its Black residents so that they can seek citizenship in their ancestral homelands, if so desired. Calls upon the State to become the first to conduct a repatriation census in preparation for honoring President Abraham Lincoln's desire for voluntary repatriation with compensation and to make conducting the repatriation census its immediate priority.

Urges the federal government to expand legal protections for asylum seekers and expedite authorization for them to join the workforce, provide for their families, and truly live the American dream. Expresses support of policies that welcome and support immigrant communities across the United States and urges the federal government to act as swiftly as possible to modernize federal immigration law.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Community Care Program, provides that within 30 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, rates for adult day services shall be increased to $16.84 per hour and rates for each way transportation services for adult day services shall be increased to $12.44 per unit transportation. Effective immediately.

Declares March 14, 2023 as "Equal Pay Day". Encourages the citizens of this State to learn about the pay gap that women experience in society and to learn about these various dates that bring attention to the pay gap that specific groups experience.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to annually review and update the underlying data for, and use of, indicators used to determine whether a community is designated as an environmental justice community and to establish a process by which communities not designated as environmental justice communities may petition for such a designation. Provides that an applicant for a permit for the construction of a new source that will become a major source subject to the Clean Air Act Permit Program to be located in an environmental justice community or a new source that has or will require a federally enforceable State operating permit and that will be located in an environmental justice community must conduct a public meeting prior to submission of the permit application and must submit with the permit application an environmental justice assessment identifying the potential environmental and health impacts to the area associated with the proposed project. Provides requirements for the environmental justice assessment. Provides that a supplemental fee of $100,000 for each construction permit application shall be assessed if the construction permit application is subject to the requirements regarding the construction of a new source located in an environmental justice community. Contains provisions regarding public participation requirements for permitting transactions in an environmental justice community. Provides that, if the Agency grants a permit to construct, modify, or operate a facility that emits air pollutants and is classified as a minor source, a third party may petition the Pollution Control Board for a hearing to contest the issuance of the permit. Contains provisions regarding environmental justice grievances. Defines terms. Contains other provisions.

Appropriates $50,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for the Illinois YMCA Youth and Government program. Effective July 1, 2023.

Declare's March 8, 2023 as International Women's Day. Reaffirms the State's commitment to pursue strategies that guarantee the basic human rights of women and girls, to promote meaningful and significant participation of women in all aspects of our society, to encourage equitable access to and healthcare for all women and girls, and to support policy initiatives that seek to achieve gender parity and empower all women.

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that the board shall create an educator pipeline development program. Provides that the program shall seek to develop a licensed practical nurse seeking to become a health service nurse, a paraprofessional and related service personnel seeking to become a licensed teacher, or a multilingual staff employee seeking to become a licensed bilingual teacher. Provides that the program shall support up to 120 people per school year. Provides that the program shall partner with Chicago State University, Northeastern Illinois University, and the City Colleges of Chicago. Provides that members of the pipeline program shall complete necessary collegiate course work to attain the members' additional licensure. Provides that program members shall continue to work normally until required student teaching or clinical experiences are required. Provides that members of the program will work with cooperating instructors from the member's affiliate institution toward the successful completion of the member's required work experience. Provides that members of the program will have 3 years to complete the member's coursework and required work experience. Provides that members of the program who successfully complete the member's training will be placed, to the extent practicable, in the school where they completed the member's required work experience. Provides that those members who were unable to be placed at the school where the member completed the work experience shall be placed elsewhere in the school district. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education and the board shall split the costs of the program equally.