Rep. Stephanie Kifowit

Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to place in each Veterans Home and Veterans Service Office a locked suggestion box into which people may place comments and concerns to be addressed by the Department. Provides that only the Inspector General, or his or her designee, shall have access to the contents of the locked suggestion boxes, which must be checked once per week. Requires the Inspector General, or his or her designee, to review the contents of the locked suggestion box, find concerning items, and submit a report to the General Assembly each year outlining the issues and concerns found and the solution to each issue and concern.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that photovoltaic electricity generation systems subject to power purchase agreements or leases for solar energy between a third-party owner, an operator, or both, and an end user of electricity are considered solar energy systems. Effective immediately.

Amends the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act. Provides that a public entity or a public employee is not liable for injury caused by any unauthorized access to government records, data, or electronic information systems by any person or entity.

Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that the requirements established under the Act do not apply to State shared revenues distributed by formula to units of local government from the Local Government Distributive Fund, the Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund, the Motor Fuel Tax Fund, or the Transportation Renewal Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Provides for the right to organize and bargain collectively for legislative assistants of the General Assembly as public employees under the Act. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Ratifies and approves the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows for the issuance of multistate licenses that allow nurses to practice in their home state and other compact states. Provides that the Compact does not supersede existing State labor laws. Provides that the State may not share with or disclose to the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators or any other state any of the contents of a nationwide criminal history records check conducted for the purpose of multistate licensure under the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Reduces the trailer flat weight tax for maximum loads of 3,000 pounds and less from $118 to $18. Effective immediately.

Creates the Family and Medical Leave Act. Provides that employees are entitled to 12 weeks of leave during a calendar year. Provides that leave may be used for absence from work due to (1) personal illness, injury, or medical appointment of the employee, (2) illness, injury, or medical appointment of a member of the employee's family, or (3) the birth of a child or the adoption of a child under one year of age. Requires the employer to pay the cost of health insurance applicable to the employee during the period of leave. Requires that the employee be returned to his or her position or an equivalent position upon completion of the family and medical leave period.

Amends the Pawnbroker Regulation Act. Clarifies that it shall be unlawful for any pawnbroker to charge or collect a greater benefit or percentage upon money advanced, and for the use and forbearance thereof, than permitted under the Predatory Loan Prevention Act. Amends the Predatory Loan Prevention Act. Provides that the definition of "loan" includes transactions subject to the Pawnbroker Regulation Act. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for any person or entity to solicit, broker, or otherwise engage in any other activity intended to facilitate or result in, or that in fact facilitates or results in, the origination of a loan that violates the Act. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for any person or entity to advertise or cause to be advertised a loan that violates the Act. Provides that a violation of the Act by a person or entity licensed under the Pawnbroker Regulation Act shall subject the person or entity to discipline in accordance with that Act. Makes other changes. Effective June 1, 2023.

Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Requires the commander, quartermaster, or commandant of any veteran service organization or the superintendent of any county Veterans Assistance Commission to annually report to the president or chairperson of the county board certain transactions of the veteran service organization or Veterans Assistance Commission. Provides that delegates and alternates selected and duly appointed to sit on a county's Veterans Assistance Commission shall begin their term of office with full voting rights. Provides that all undertakings of, or actions taken by, the Veterans Assistance Commission shall require a vote from a majority of the full commission membership. Provides that any delegate or alternate selected, appointed, or hired to serve as the superintendent or as any other officer or employee of the Veterans Assistance Commission must immediately give up the position of delegate or alternate. Provides that the superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission is an at-will employee. Contains provisions concerning the annual evaluations of the superintendent; voting requirements to remove a superintendent; and other matters. Requires each Veterans Assistance Commission to establish and maintain bylaws, perform an annual audit, and other matters. Permits the Attorney General to conduct investigations and commence civil actions to enforce the Act. Sets forth provisions concerning recovery amounts and civil penalties. Contains provisions concerning superintendent vacancies; and county benefits and services for Veterans Assistance Commission employees. Limits home rule powers. Makes other changes. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a portion of the proceeds of any property tax levied by a county shall be used for the authorized reimbursement of any officer or employee of the Veterans Assistance Commission. Effective January 1, 2023.