Rep. Nicole La Ha

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Provides that the Illinois State Police may (rather than shall) mail verification letters to registered sex offenders. Provides that the Illinois State Police may adopt rules to allow for the use of an electronic registration portal to comply with the verification letters. Provides that the Illinois State Police may (rather than shall) mail an annual nonforwardable verification letter, beginning one year from the date of his or her last registration. Requires that registration of a sex offender shall (rather than may) include a submission of the sex offender's fingerprints and may, subject to appropriation, include the palm prints, and a current photograph of the person which shall be updated at each registration (rather than annually). Deletes a provision that the registration information must include whether the person is a sex offender as defined in the Sex Offender Community Notification Law. Provides that the registering agency shall enter the information into the Illinois State Police Sex Offender database (rather than the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS)). Provides that the Illinois State Police may, subject to appropriation for this purpose, establish an electronic registration portal to be used by sex offenders and law enforcement to comply with the Act. Provides that the Illinois State Police may, subject to appropriation for this purpose, establish an electronic registration portal to be utilized by sex offenders and law enforcement to comply with the Act. Deletes a provision that the Illinois State Police shall establish and promulgate rules and procedures regarding the administration of this Fund. Deletes a provision that 50% of the moneys in the Fund shall be allocated for sheriffs' offices and police departments and that the remaining moneys in the Fund received shall be allocated to the Illinois State Police for education and administration of the Act. Provides that moneys in the Offender Registration Fund shall be allocated pursuant to the registration and penalty provisions of the Act, respectively

Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision concerning suspensions of retirement annuities during employment with a participating employer, provides that an annuitant receiving a sheriff's law enforcement employee annuity shall be considered a participating employee if the annuitant returns to work as a school security guard employed by a participating employer and works more than 999 hours annually. Effective immediately.

Creates the Home Modification Program Act. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to establish a home modification funding system that is streamlined, effective, and administered by experts within the disability community. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall establish a Home Modification Program to provide financial assistance to persons with disabilities for home modification projects. Requires the Department to designate a statewide association that represents centers for independent living to serve as the lead agency to administer the Program. Requires the Department to provide funding for the Program. Requires the lead agency to distribute any moneys it receives from the Department to the State's 22 centers for independent living, covering all 102 counties. Provides that the lead agency shall ensure that each center for independent living has access to at least $105,000 to use for home modification projects, with the excess funds subject to reallocation during the 4th fiscal quarter of each year. Contains provisions concerning eligibility requirements for applicants under the Program; standards and qualifications for home modification projects; the lead agency's establishment of a Home Modification Subcommittee to provide additional oversight of the home modification projects; and an administrative fee to the lead agency.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the offense of fentanyl-related child endangerment. Provides that a person commits the offense when the person knowingly or recklessly endangers the life or health of a child under 18 years of age by exposing or allowing exposure of the child to fentanyl, including consumption of fentanyl. Provides that a violation is a Class 2 felony. Creates the offense of aggravated fentanyl-related child endangerment. Provides that a person commits the offense when the person knowingly or recklessly endangers the life or health of a child under 18 years of age by exposing or allowing exposure of the child to fentanyl, including consumption of fentanyl and the child experiences death, great bodily harm, disability, or disfigurement as a result of the fentanyl-related child endangerment. Provides that exposure to fentanyl as prescribed or administered by a health care professional in the course of medical treatment does not constitute endangerment. Provides that a violation is a Class X felony for which the offender shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 6 years and not more than 30 years and fined not to exceed $100,000. Defines terms.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption, provides that the term "household" does not include an exempt family member who uses the residence as his or her principal place of residence for less than 12 months during the taxable year. Provides that the term "exempt family member" means the applicant's son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter and the spouse of the applicant's son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter. Provides that the maximum income limitation amount is $80,000 (rather than $65,000).

Creates the Parental Digital Choice Act. Provides that the Act may be referred to as Sammy's Law. Provides that, before August 1, 2025, or within 30 days after a service becomes a large social media platform after August 1, 2025, a large social media platform provider shall create, maintain, and make available to any third-party safety software provider a set of third-party-accessible real-time application programming interfaces, including any information necessary to use the interfaces, by which a child, if the child is 13 years of age or older, or a parent or legal guardian of a child, may delegate permission to the third-party safety software provider to: (1) manage the child's online interactions, content, and account settings on the large social media platform on the same terms as the child; and (2) initiate secure transfers of user data from the large social media platform in a commonly used and machine-readable format to the third-party safety software provider. Sets forth disclosure requirements to the child and the parents or guardians of a child; requirements of third-party safety software providers; and liability of third-party safety software providers. 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. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make a conforming change. Effective June 1, 2025.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits involuntary sexual servitude of a minor when he or she knowingly patronizes another person under 18 years of age, knowing that the minor will engage in commercial sexual activity, a sexually-explicit performance, or the production of pornography, or causes or attempts to cause a minor to engage in one or more of those activities.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to apply for a Home and Community-Based Services State Plan amendment and any federal waiver necessary to reimburse legally responsible family caregivers as providers of personal care or home health aide services under the Illinois Title XIX State Plan Home and Community-Based Services benefit and the home and community-based services waiver program authorized under the Social Security Act for persons who are medically fragile and technology dependent. Provides that to be eligible for reimbursement, a legally responsible family caregiver must be a certified nursing assistant or certified nurse aide and must provide services to a medically fragile relative who is receiving in-home shift nursing services coordinated by the University of Illinois at Chicago, Division of Specialized Care for Children. Provides that upon federal approval of the State Plan amendment and waiver, the Department shall adopt rules that define who qualifies for reimbursement as a legally responsible family caregiver, specify which personal care and home health aide services are eligible for reimbursement if the provider is a legally responsible family caregiver, establish oversight policies to ensure legally responsible family caregivers meet and comply with licensing and program requirements, and adopt any other policies or procedures necessary to implement the amendatory Act.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a veteran may submit an application for the homestead exemptions for veterans with disabilities to the chief county assessment officer with respect to a specific property before the veteran purchases the property. Effective immediately.