Rep. Jackie Haas

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides for enhanced penalties for hate crime. Provides that hate crime is: (1) a Class 1 felony if committed by a person 18 years of age or older while armed with a firearm or if the victim of the hate crime is under 18 years of age; (2) a Class X felony if a crime of violence as defined in the Crime Victims Compensation Act is committed against a person by reason of the actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, citizenship, immigration status, or national origin of another individual or group of individuals; or (3) a Class X felony for which the person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years and not more than 60 years if a crime of violence that is a Class X felony is committed against a victim described in (2). Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a person who commits any of these offenses is ineligible for a period of probation, a term of periodic imprisonment or conditional discharge. Provides that a prisoner serving sentence for the offenses described in (2) or (3) shall receive no more than 4.5 days of sentence credit for each month of his or her sentence of imprisonment. Provides if the underlying offense was first degree murder committed against a person by reason of the actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, citizenship, immigration status, or national origin of the victim or victims, the court may impose a term of natural life imprisonment upon the offender.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that each board of trustees of a community college district shall provide a small business leadership fast-track program to help women who wish to become small business owners as contractors in trade fields.

Creates the Maternal Health and Well-being Workgroup Act. Sets forth the purpose, findings, and definitions. Requires the Department of Public Health's Office of Women's Health and Family Services' Division of Maternal, Child and Family Health Services to create the Maternal Health and Well-being Workgroup to research and highlight the disparities between maternal health care throughout various geographic areas in the State, as well as work on making recommendations on connecting pregnant women and new mothers, particularly in rural and underserved areas, with resources for the health and well-being of the mother and child. Establishes members, appointments, quorum, meeting frequency, compensation, and administrative support. Requires the Workgroup to submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly by July 1, 2025. Dissolves the Workgroup and repeals the Act on January 1, 2027.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall report any notice of violation it receives to the relevant law enforcement agency within 7 days (rather than 30 days) after receiving notice unless reporting the notice would jeopardize any subsequent investigation. Removes an exception to notification of the relevant law enforcement agency when the notice of violation received was reported by a law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer.

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if an ordinance is adopted after the effective date of the amendatory Act creating a redevelopment project area, the redevelopment project area will expire the 23rd year after the year in which the first project started using the moneys from the special tax allocation fund (rather than expire the 23rd year after the year in which the ordinance approving the redevelopment project area was adopted if the ordinance). Provides that the start of the 23 years for ordinances adopted after the effective date of the amendatory Act commences no later than 10 years after the year in which the ordinance approving the redevelopment project area was adopted even if no projects have been started using the moneys from the special tax allocation fund. Makes a conforming change in provisions extending the expiration of a redevelopment project area to the 35th calendar year. Provides that no more extensions of redevelopment project areas to the 47th calendar year may occur after January 8, 2025 unless added by a Public Act of the 103rd General Assembly. Effective immediately.

Creates the Paraprofessional Fast Track to Teaching Degree Pilot Program Act. Makes findings. Provides that the Paraprofessional Fast Track to Teaching Degree Pilot Program is created for a 2-year degree pathway by which paraprofessional educators may enroll to achieve the education requirements to attain a professional educator license in this State, which shall comply with the standards of the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education. Provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year or, if funds are not appropriated for the Program that academic year, beginning with the academic year in which funds are appropriated for the Program, the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education shall coordinate with each other to assign a qualified individual to serve as a Program director to develop the curriculum for the Program. Provides that one public elementary or public secondary school and one public university in this State shall be chosen to develop a program for transitioning paraprofessionals to teachers. Includes the core components of the Program. Provides that the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education must submit a report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Legislative Reference Bureau detailing the impact of the Program and then the Program is dissolved and the Act is repealed. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission, in consultation with the Illinois Power Agency, shall develop standards and guidelines to prohibit any Illinois ratepayer funds from being used by the Agency for the procurement of solar panels that are not manufactured or assembled by a company located in North America under the Agency's long-term renewable resources procurement plan.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Increases the penalties for aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer from a Class 4 felony for a first violation to a Class 2 felony and from a Class 3 violation for a second or subsequent offense to a Class 1 felony. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Defines "forcible felony" for the purposes of detainable offenses to include aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer.

Creates the County Co-Responder Pilot Program Division in the Counties Code. Provides that each county sheriff's office may establish, subject to appropriation, a co-responder unit by no later than 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that, in addition to other responsibilities, the unit's social workers are responsible for conducting follow-up visits for victims who may benefit from mental or behavioral health services. Provides that the unit's primary area of focus shall be victim assistance. Includes other provisions relating to establishment of the units, duties of the unit, unit training, and privileged or confidential communications. Repeals the Division on January 1, 2029.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that, if a person is determined to pose a clear and present danger to himself, herself, or to others by a physician, clinical psychologist, or qualified examiner, whether employed by the State, by any public or private mental health facility or part thereof, or by a law enforcement official or a school administrator, then the physician, clinical psychologist, or qualified examiner shall notify the Department of Human Services and a law enforcement official or school administrator shall notify the Illinois State Police and the appropriate local law enforcement agency (rather than shall notify the Illinois State Police), within 24 hours of making the determination that the person poses a clear and present danger.