Rep. La Shawn Ford

Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that a local government may submit a request to the Grant Accountability and Transparency Unit to be exempt from certain audit requirements if the local government is unable to meet the audit requirements due to circumstances beyond the local government's control, including, but not limited to, a natural disaster in which financial records of the local government are destroyed or alleged employee misconduct involving the destruction or withholding of financial records. Effective immediately.

Declares the week of September 18 to September 24, 2023 as "Diaper Need Awareness Week".

Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Provides that entities awarded a cannabis transporting license may defer paying the associated license fee for a period of no more than 2 years. Provides that from January 1, 2024 through January 1, 2026, the Department of Agriculture shall not issue any new transporting licenses.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section granting a homestead exemption to veterans with disabilities, provides that property that is used as a qualified residence by a veteran who was a member of the United States Armed Forces during World War II is exempt from taxation regardless of the veteran's level of disability. Provides that a veteran who qualifies as a result of his or her service in World War II need not reapply for the exemption. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Subject to appropriation, requires the State Board of Education to establish and implement a statewide, online curricula program that allows public schools the option to access school curricula, coursework, course material, modules, textbooks, streaming videos, tests, software, and any other tools or materials required for the successful completion of a course of study through an online portal. Provides that the program may be used to support in-person instruction and remote and blended remote learning and to supplement course curricula or may be used as a stand-alone resource available to educators and students. Provides that the program shall be made accessible to schools and students through a platform available through the State Board. Allows a school board to adopt a policy for the use and implementation of this program. Provides for funding and rulemaking.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that, on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, when a person commits an offense and the person is under 21 years of age at the time of the commission of the offense, the court, at the sentencing hearing, shall consider certain additional factors in mitigation in determining the appropriate sentence. Provides, that notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the defendant is under 18 at the time of the commission of the offense and convicted of first degree murder and would otherwise be subject to sentencing under certain provisions, the court shall impose a sentence of not less than 40 years of imprisonment. Provides that, in addition, the court may, in its discretion, decline to impose the sentencing enhancements based upon the possession or use of a firearm during the commission of the offense.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Deletes provisions that a person convicted or found guilty under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 for, or who received a disposition of court supervision for, a qualifying offense or attempt of a qualifying offense or convicted or found guilty of, under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, any offense requiring registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act is required to submit specimens of blood, saliva, or tissue to the Illinois State Police for analysis and categorizing into genetic marker groupings.

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Provides that school personnel may not refer a student to any other local public entity, school public resource officer, or peace officer for the purpose of a local public entity issuing the child a fine or a fee for an incident or behavior that has been or can be pursued through the school district's available disciplinary interventions and consequences. Amends the School Board and Compulsory Attendance Articles of the School Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Second Chance Public Health and Safety Act and amends the Freedom of Information Act, the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, and the Unified Code of Corrections. Contains declarations and findings. Creates the Department of Returning Resident Affairs and sets forth its powers in relation to returning residents (residents who have been detained, are defendants in criminal prosecutions, are incarcerated, or have been incarcerated) and other matters. Provides that the Department shall develop and administer the Second Chance State Program for returning residents and provides for the establishment of hub sites to provide specified services to eligible individuals and other elements of the Program. Provides for the appointment of a Director of Returning Resident Affairs who has experience working with or for a community-based organization and was incarcerated in an Illinois Department of Corrections facility for not less than one year, as well as an Assistant Director and a General Counsel. Contains provisions regarding other matters. Provides that the provisions of the Act are severable. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Specifies that among the conditions of employment that may be included in arbitration decisions involving peace officers are residency requirements for municipalities with a population under 1,000,000 (now, for municipalities with a population under 100,000). Specifies that residency requirements for municipalities with a population under 1,000,000 (now, for municipalities with a population under 100,000) are not a condition of employment that may be included in an arbitration decision for a peace officer. Effective immediately.