Rep. Nicole La Ha

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall approve a course for school safety officers (a retired law enforcement officer who has been hired by a school district to perform security services). Sets forth training and certification requirements. Provides that an applicant for employment as a school safety officer must authorize an investigation to determine if the applicant has been convicted of any criminal offense that disqualifies the person as a school safety officer. Amends the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act. Exempts school safety officers from the Act if a school board does not require officer-worn body cameras. Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, a school may employ a school safety officer. Requires a school safety officer applicant to provide the school district a certificate of completion or approved waiver issued by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board. Provides that a school safety officer shall wear a uniform that clearly identifies the officer as a school safety officer. Provides that a school safety officer may detain a person when the officer has reasonable suspicion to believe that an offense, other than an ordinance violation, is being committed. Provides that a school safety officer may carry a firearm as long as the officer is certified under specified provisions of the Peace Officer and Probation Officer Firearm Training Act. Adds references to school safety officers throughout the Code. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that that the provisions concerning the unlawful use of weapons as those provisions pertain to firearms do not apply to or affect the carrying or possession of firearms by a qualified current or retired law enforcement officer qualified under the laws of the State or under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act in specified properties, including schools. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Creates the Career and Technical Education Task Force to review career and technical education programming and policy and make recommendations to ensure all students have access to high quality, globally competitive career and technical educational programs. Sets forth members, compensation, meetings, and administrative staff. Requires the Task Force to prepare and deliver to the State Board of Education and the General Assembly a report covering the Task Force's findings. Dissolves the Task Force on January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that a school shall provide written notice to the parents or guardian of a child with disabilities that the parents or guardian have the right to have an individualized education program (IEP) advocate present at any meeting regarding the child's current or prospective individualized education program and that the parents or guardian have the right to ask for an IEP facilitator for the child's IEP. Provides that the school may provide the written notification as a part of other provided documentation, including, but not limited to, admission and enrollment documents.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person charged with involuntary sexual servitude of a minor or trafficking in persons if the victim is under 18 years of age shall not be permitted to plead down to lesser offenses. Provides that no person charged with grooming shall be permitted to plead down to lesser offenses. Provides that prosecutors are prohibited from offering plea bargains to lesser offenses to those individuals charged with grooming. Provides that it is a Class 4 felony for a child sex offender to knowingly operate, manage, be employed by, volunteer at, be associated with, or knowingly be present at any facility providing entertainment exclusively directed toward persons under the age of 18.

Creates the Local Government Elected Official Recall Act. Provides that local officeholders who were elected during a general or consolidated election may be recalled under the Act. Establishes petition requirements for recall elections. Limits home rule powers.

Proposes to amend the Suffrage and Elections Article of the Illinois Constitution. Sets out a procedure for the recall of all State Executive Branch officers (rather than only the Governor), legislative leaders, the Auditor General, members of the General Assembly, and local government officials. Makes changes to the procedures for the recall of the Governor. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the month of October of each year is designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month to be observed throughout the State as a month set apart to promote awareness of domestic violence and to support advocacy activities that will reduce its prevalence in the State.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Designates the twenty-seventh day of June of each year as National PTSD Awareness Day to be observed throughout the State as a day of awareness and recognition of how post-traumatic stress disorder affects the lives of those impacted by it.

Amends the Illinois Antitrust Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title of the Act.

Amends Public Act 103-589. Appropriates $25,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department on Aging for the Home Delivered Meals Program. Changes the amount appropriated to the Department of Human Services for Illinois Welcoming Centers to $114,400,000 (rather than $139,400,000). Effective immediately.