Rep. La Shawn Ford

Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections relating to certificates of expungement for Class 3 and 4 felonies. Eliminates the requirement that a certificate of expungement may only be issued to a person who has served in the United States Armed Forces or National Guard of this or any other state and had received an honorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces or National Guard or who at the time of filing the petition is enlisted in the United States Armed Forces or National Guard of this or any other state and served one tour of duty and who meets the requirements of this provision. Expands the offenses ineligible for a certificate of expungement to include offenses involving domestic violence as defined in the Protective Orders Article of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, including aggravated assault, aggravated battery, violation of an order of protection, domestic battery, or aggravated domestic battery. Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that notwithstanding the eligibility requirements of the expungement provisions, upon the issuance of a certificate of expungement by the Prisoner Review Board under the Unified Code of Corrections, the circuit court shall automatically expunge all records of arrests or charges not initiated by arrest and all court records that resulted in the conviction for the Class 3 or Class 4 felony listed in the certificate of expungement. Fiscal Note (Prisoner Review Board) HB 2743 will have an increased cost to the Prisoner Review Board of over $1.5 Million in first 10 years of program.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021, as follows: General Funds $87,804,400; Other State Funds $ 22,000; Total $87,826,400.

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 School Code. Makes changes concerning the Chicago Board of Education's requirements and criteria for the position of principal of an attendance center. Provides that if the requirements and criteria result or may result in the exclusion of otherwise qualified and licensed candidates from being eligible for selection to serve as a principal, then the Board shall maintain a public database that includes the names of all of the candidates who are eligible to be selected as a principal. Requires the Board to establish due process protections for candidates for the position of principal and establish a grievance procedure for those candidates the Board has deemed ineligible to serve as a principal. Makes changes concerning the use of performance evaluations in determining that a principal is no longer eligible to serve as principal of an attendance center. Effective January 1, 2023.

Appropriates $500,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Higher Education for grants to Watch Guard Chicago, a volunteer citizen patrol group, for purposes related to ensuring community and neighborhood safety. Effective July 1, 2022.

Amends the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act. Provides that before the court orders an assessment, the court shall make a determination of the defendant's ability to pay the assessment. Provides that if the court determines that the defendant is unable to pay the assessment, the court may reduce the assessment or waive the assessment in the court's discretion.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022: General Funds $662,403,800; Other State Funds $15,680,000; Federal Funds $289,170,200; Total $967,254,000.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Establishes the Critical Race Theory Academy, which shall be operated by a board of 5 members appointed by the Governor. Provides that the board shall appoint members to the Academy Curriculum Committee and the members shall include critical race scholars, critical sociologists, critical educational leaders, critical community organizers, members of the General Assembly, law enforcement officer policy makers, and invested community members. Requires the Committee to create curricula for the Academy for both police academy candidates and police officers. Provides that all candidates that begin courses at a certified school on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act are required to complete the Academy before graduation from the certified school and current police officers must complete Academy continuing education yearly. Provides that the Academy may collaborate with colleges and universities to establish earned college credit for successful completion of the Academy. Provides that, until that time the General Assembly appropriates funds for the operation of the Academy, the Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall provide administrative and other support to the Critical Race Theory Academy, including providing sufficient funds to enable the Academy to fully operate. Provides that, if the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board would approve any licensure scheme for police officers, no police officer may be licensed until he or she has successfully completed at least one year's worth of continuing education requirements at the Academy. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, if an owner or other person in lawful possession or control of private property has contracted with a third-party vendor to issue permission to park on the private property through an online service vendor, and a vehicle has been removed from the property associated with the address prior to the time allocated according to the receipt provided to the vehicle owner or authorized user of the vehicle from the online service vendor, then the online service vendor, within 10 business days after presentation of the towing invoice and receipt from the vehicle owner or authorized user, shall remit to the vehicle owner or authorized user of the vehicle all costs charged to the vehicle owner or authorized user of a vehicle for towing costs, invoice fees, and fees for 24 hours of storage, plus $25 for reimbursement to travel to the vehicle location held by the towing company. Provides that if the online service vendor fails to comply, the online service vendor commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Makes a corresponding change in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.