Rep. Lindsay Parkhurst

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that, to ensure that the education of a youth in care is not interrupted after the youth is placed in a residential treatment facility and held in the facility beyond medical necessity, on the date a youth is initially admitted to a residential treatment facility, the Department of Children and Family Services must update its records and list the address of the residential treatment facility as the official address of the youth in care so that the youth is eligible to receive education services from the school district in which the residential treatment facility is located, including services provided under a remote educational program as defined in the School Code.

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Requires an agency that proposes a new rule or an amendment to an existing rule that may have an impact on persons or entities in downstate Illinois to consider specified methods for reducing the impact of that rulemaking and provide an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking process before or during the notice period utilizing specified techniques. Requires each agency to include in its regulatory agenda summary a statement of whether a rule will affect persons or entities in downstate Illinois. Defines "downstate Illinois". Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Changes the definition of "gambling device" to include any vending or other electronic machine or device, including, without limitation, a machine or device that awards credits and contains a circuit, meter, or switch capable of removing and recording the removal of credits that offers a person entry into any contest, competition, sweepstakes, scheme, plan, or other selection process that involves or is dependent upon an element of chance for which the person may receive a gift, award, or other item or service of value if that offer is incidental to or results from: (A) the purchase of an item or service of value; or (B) the purchase or gratuitous receipt of a coupon, voucher, certificate, or other similar credit that can be redeemed for or applied towards an item or service of value from such machine or device or elsewhere. Provides that participants in a game of skill or chance where money or other things of value can be won but no payment or purchase is required to participate shall not be convicted of gambling except where participation in such game of skill or chance is accomplished using a gambling device prohibited by these changes to the definition. Further provides that a gambling offense involving such a gambling device is a Class 4 felony. Amends the Video Gaming Act. Removes a provision allowing for the use of a game device without a license if the game device is used in an activity that is not gambling under the Criminal Code of 2012. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides for dyslexia screening guidelines and rules. Requires the State Board of Education to employ at least 5 dyslexia specialists or dyslexia therapists with a minimum of 5 years of field experience in screening, identifying, and treating dyslexia and related disorders to provide technical assistance and training. Provides that, beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, each school district must screen students in grades kindergarten through second (and in higher grades under certain circumstances) for the risk factors of dyslexia using a universal screener approved by the State Board. Sets forth what the screening must include. Provides for additional screening for a student who is determined to be at risk, or at some risk, for dyslexia to determine if a student has the characteristics of dyslexia. Requires the use of a multi-tiered system of support framework if screening indicates that a student has some risk factors for dyslexia or has the characteristics of dyslexia. Sets forth provisions concerning exceptions to screening, dyslexia intervention services, and reporting. Effective July 1, 2020.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates a first-time homebuyer homestead exemption. Provides that residential property valued at $75,000 or more that is owned and occupied by a first-time homebuyer is entitled to a reduction in the equalized assessed value of the property in the amount of $7,500. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a participating gas utility may elect to recover its natural gas utility service costs through a formula rate approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Provides that the Commission shall have the authority to conduct hearings concerning the prudence and reasonableness of the service costs incurred by the utility to be recovered. Provides that a gas public utility may apply for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to increase its gas service territory and extend its gas distribution system to serve a designated hardship area. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall, after notice and hearing, grant a certificate of public convenience and necessity if, based upon the application filed with the Commission and the evidentiary record, the Commission finds that specified criteria are satisfied. Provides that the Commission shall issue its decision with findings of fact and conclusions of law granting or denying the application no later than 120 days after the application is filed. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Creates the Pembroke Township Natural Gas Investment Pilot Program Act. Directs the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to create a pilot program for the distribution of grants for the construction of new natural gas pipelines and infrastructure in Pembroke Township. Requires applicants for grants to demonstrate that the grants will result in the construction of a new natural gas pipeline to provide natural gas to the residents of the township. Provides that grantees are subject to audit by the State. Provides that the Department may accept private and public funds in furtherance of the purposes of the Pilot Program. Imposes data collection and reporting requirements. Provides that the Department shall report annually to the Governor and General Assembly beginning in 2022 regarding cost estimates for the Pilot Program, recommendations for improvement to the Pilot Program, and a recommendation as to whether the Pilot Program should be continued. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Pembroke Township Natural Gas Investment Pilot Program Fund.

Amends the Toll Highway Act. Provides that the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority may make personally identifiable information of a person available to a law enforcement agency only pursuant to a search warrant. Provides that, absent a search warrant to the contrary, the Authority shall immediately, but in any event within no more than 5 days, notify the person that his or her records have been obtained and shall provide the person with a copy of the search warrant and the identity of the law enforcement agency or peace officer to whom the records were provided. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act and the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that if a Firearm Owner's Identification Card of a licensee under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act expires during the term of a concealed carry license, the Firearm Owner's Identification Card and the license remain valid and the licensee does not have to renew his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall automatically renew the licensee's Firearm Owner's Identification Card and send a renewed Firearm Owner's Identification Card to the licensee unless the Illinois State Police has reason to believe the person is no longer eligible for the Card.

Amends the Truth in Taxation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that the adoption of an aggregate levy that exceeds 102% of the amount of the final aggregate levy for the preceding year shall require a truth in taxation hearing and a record vote of two-thirds of the members of the corporate authorities of the taxing district.