Rep. Jim Durkin

Amends the Redistricting Transparency and Public Participation Act. Creates the Independent Redistricting Commission to adopt and file with the Secretary of State a redistricting plan for Legislative and Representative Districts (rather than requiring the Senate and House of Representatives to each establish a committee, or the Senate and House of Representatives may create by joint resolution a joint committee of both chambers, to consider proposals to redistrict the Legislative Districts or Representative Districts). Provides the commissioner selection process and meeting and voting requirements to adopt a plan. Makes conforming changes in the Act. Effective immediately.

Congratulates Orland Park Police Chief Timothy J. "Tim" McCarthy on his retirement.

Urges that the Governor's Restore Illinois plan be re-drafted as legislative language and submitted to the Illinois General Assembly for discussion, debate, and legal enactment as statutory law.

Urges the State to redouble its efforts to work with the federal government, local governments, the private sector, civil society, schools, students, farmers, ranchers, fishing communities, and sportsmen to conserve the land, rivers, and lakes of Illinois for present and future generations to enjoy, taking into account a wide range of flexible and enduring conservation solutions that will improve access to nature for all people within Illinois, especially for communities that have historically lacked access to natural spaces. Further urges the State to pursue this goal in a way that protects private property rights and traditional land uses and enables landowners to pass down the working land of those landowners to the next generation.

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish and maintain a homeless student pilot program during the 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024 school years at Ryan Banks Academy ("the School") for at-risk homeless students or housing-unstable students who are exposed to trauma or violence. Provides requirements for the School and the program. Contains provisions regarding the pilot program's goals. Requires the State Board of Education to report its recommendation for expansion, revision, or discontinuation of the pilot program to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before June 1, 2023. Repeals the provisions on June 1, 2024. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Reduces the trailer flat weight tax for maximum loads of 3,000 lbs. and less from $118 to $18, if and only if Senate Bill 1939 of the 101st General Assembly becomes law. Effective immediately.

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that any child advocacy center, accredited by the National Children's Alliance, or any employee thereof acting in good faith and exercising due care shall have immunity from any civil liability that may be incurred or imposed through participation in any investigation process required under the Act or any judicial proceeding resulting from the investigation process.

Creates the Domestic Violence Task Force Act. Creates the Domestic Violence Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall: (1) conduct a comprehensive review of the process, operation, and enforcement of current domestic violence laws across the State; (2) identify gaps in the process, operation, and enforcement of those laws; (3) develop recommendations to address those gaps; (4) establish a framework for specialized protective networks for victims, treatment options for victims and offenders, and specialty courts for the accumulation of specialized domestic violence skills for courts; and (5) review the need for special consideration for conditions of bail in cases involving domestic violence within the ongoing changes brought on bail reform. Establishes membership and appointment of the Task Force. Provides that the Attorney General shall provide administrative support to the Task Force. Provides that the Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee, shall be the chair of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall review available research, best practices, and effective interventions to formulate recommendations. Provides that the Task Force shall produce a report detailing the Task Force's findings and recommendations. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor on or before September 1, 2022. Repeals the Act on September 1, 2027. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that in a prosecution of any violent crime as defined in the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act, the court may set any conditions it finds just and appropriate on the taking of testimony of a victim who is a child under the age of 18 years or a moderately, severely, or profoundly intellectually disabled person or a person affected by a developmental disability, involving the use of a facility dog in any proceeding involving that offense.

Amends the General Assembly Organization Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the deposit of books, bills, documents, and papers with the Secretary of State.