Rep. Nicole La Ha

Amends the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall prioritize projects that incorporate construction, materials, designs, products, or technologies that increase accessibility and usability beyond the highest standards established under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or federal regulations promulgated under that Act. Requires the Department to adopt rules to establish this priority within its grant application review process under the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Effective immediately.

Recognizes the flag of the former Republic of Vietnam as the official symbol of the Vietnamese American community in the State of Illinois and the United States. Recognizes the flag of the former Republic of Vietnam as a symbol of hope, love, and freedom for the Vietnamese American community in Illinois. Honors the contributions of Vietnamese Americans to the State over the last 50 years. Honors and recognizes the contributions of the veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who served in Vietnam. Encourages all citizens of Illinois to call for freedom, human rights, and democracy in Vietnam.

Amends the Children's Advocacy Center Act. Provides that a person charged with a criminal offense involving abuse or neglect of a child does not have standing to object to the failure to comply with the electronic recording requirement of a forensic interview. Provides that it is not a violation of the Act if a forensic interview is not recorded because: (1) the recording equipment malfunctions and the malfunction is not the result of a failure to maintain the equipment or provide adequate supplies for the equipment; or (2) due to circumstances that could not have been reasonably foreseen by the interviewer, the interviewer does not have the necessary recording equipment.

Amends the Downstate Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, at any time during the 6 months following the effective date of the amendatory Act, an active member of a downstate firefighters' pension fund may apply for transfer to that fund of up to 8 years of his or her creditable service accumulated in a police pension fund under the Downstate Police Article that is administered by a unit of local government if that active member was not subject to disciplinary action when he or she terminated employment with that police department. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.

Creates the Complex Wheelchair Right to Repair Act. Provides that, for complex wheelchairs and parts for complex wheelchairs sold or used in the State, an original equipment manufacturer shall make available to an independent repair provider, solely for the purpose of repairing complex wheelchairs, on fair and reasonable terms, any documentation, parts, service access methods, and tools, including, but not limited to, any updates to information, firmware, or embedded software that is needed for purposes of repair of complex wheelchairs and training courses and materials on the operation, inspection, diagnosis, maintenance, and repair of complex wheelchairs. Provides that a violation of any of the provisions of the Act is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides for penalties. Provides that nothing in the Act shall require an original equipment manufacturer to divulge a trade secret to an independent repair provider. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make a conforming change. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act. Defines "acute sexual assault" as a sexual assault that has recently occurred within a specified time. Replaces various references to "sexual assault" with "acute sexual assault". Deletes the definition of "prepubescent sexual assault survivor". Changes provisions regarding hospitals located in counties with a population of less than 1,000,000 and within a 20-mile radius of a 4-year public university with respect to a sexual assault treatment plan approved by the Department of Public Health. Makes changes in various provisions concerning plans of correction and penalties for hospitals that commit specified violations of the Act. In provisions regarding requirements for medical forensic services, provides that the provisions of the Act are not intended to prohibit a qualified medical provider from offering an Illinois Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit to a sexual assault survivor who presents at a treatment hospital or approved pediatric health care facility with a nonacute complaint of sexual assault if there is a compelling reason for evidence collection, or upon the request of the survivor. In provisions regarding the prohibition on billing sexual assault survivors directly for certain services, changes references to the Office of the Attorney General to references to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Designates the month of March of each year as French Heritage Month to be observed throughout the State as a month set apart to promote the study of French language and the culture of French-speaking people.

Creates the Reducing Barriers to Start Act. Beginning January 1, 2026, this State shall encourage the elimination of all first-year business fees relating to any license or registration for any new business or person establishing a new business, including home-based businesses, whose principal place of business is in this State.

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Adds infection preventionists, minimum data set assessment nurses, other social workers, certified nursing assistant interns, and medication aides to the list of direct care staff used to compute staff to resident ratios. Provides that, except as otherwise provided by law, 100% of the hours worked by the specified staff shall be counted toward the staff to resident ratio. Provides that no monetary penalties shall be imposed unless the variance between a facility's minimum staffing ratios and the Department of Public Health's computations exceeds 20%. Removes a provision prohibiting waiver of a monetary penalty for non-compliance. In provisions concerning reporting requirements for facilities that violate the minimum staffing requirements, provides that the facility must have a variance that exceeds 20% of the requirements. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that any vessel or watercraft, vehicle, or aircraft is subject to forfeiture if the vessel or watercraft, vehicle, or aircraft is used with the knowledge and consent of the owner in the commission of or in the attempt to commit the offense of fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer.