Rep. Dee Avelar

Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Provides that the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall establish a field office in each legislative district (rather than such field offices as it shall find necessary to enable it to perform its duties). House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 2805/3 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 2805/3.01 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Provides that, subject to sufficient appropriations, the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall contract for a market research analysis of field services in this State. Provides that the analysis shall include the availability of veterans assistance commissions, veterans service organizations, and Department staff to assist veterans as well as the availability of nontraditional methods to deliver services through technology-based approaches. Provides that the analysis may use census data, as well as questionnaires, surveys, and town hall meetings to solicit input from veterans, their families, and other stakeholders. Provides that, within 18 months after sufficient appropriations, the Department shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a recommended plan for the future delivery of services by the Department's Field Division, including the estimated cost of implementing the plan. Repeals the new provisions on December 31, 2023.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the registration fee for cars and small trucks shall be reduced by $25 if the vehicle is manufactured in this State and the application for registration is made no more than one year after the month in which the vehicle was manufactured. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Adds reference to: 625 ILCS 5/3-113 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-113 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of Senate Amendment No. 1, and makes the following changes: (1) removes language excluding motorcycles from the class of vehicles entitled to a rebate; and (2) further amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to provide that, beginning 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Secretary of State is authorized to impose a delinquent vehicle dealer transfer fee of $10 if the certificate of title is received by the Secretary from the dealer more than 45 days but less than 60 days after the date of sale; however, if the certificate of title is received by the Secretary from the dealer 60 or more days but less than 90 days after the date of sale, the delinquent dealer transfer fee shall be $20.

Amends the Election Code. Makes a technical change in a Section of the campaign finance Article concerning definitions. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 10 ILCS 5/9-1 Adds reference to: 10 ILCS 5/19-2.6 new 10 ILCS 5/19-3 from Ch. 46, par. 19-3 10 ILCS 5/19-4 from Ch. 46, par. 19-4 10 ILCS 5/19-5 from Ch. 46, par. 19-5 10 ILCS 5/24A-10 from Ch. 46, par. 24A-10 10 ILCS 5/24A-10.1 from Ch. 46, par. 24A-10.1 10 ILCS 5/24A-14 from Ch. 46, par. 24A-14 10 ILCS 5/24B-10 10 ILCS 5/24B-10.1 10 ILCS 5/24B-14 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections shall provide a certified remote accessible vote by mail system for the General Election of November 8, 2022 and all subsequent elections, through which a vote by mail ballot can be delivered by electronic transmission to voters with print disabilities and through which voters with print disabilities are able to mark and verify their ballots using assistive technology. Provides that election authorities shall permit voters with a print disability to receive and mark their vote by mail ballots (i) through that certified remote accessible vote by mail system or (ii) through a certified remote accessible vote by mail system provided by the election authority. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires the school board of each school district to grant full-time employees of the district 5 mental health days each school year at full pay. Provides that the employee is not required to provide a medical note or other documentation to use the mental health day. Provides that used and uncompensated mental health days are not eligible for pensionable service credit under the Illinois Pension Code. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/24-6.5 new Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/24-6 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning sick leave for full-time teachers and eligible employees, adds mental or behavioral health complications to the enumerated interpretations of sick leave. Adds that the school board may require a certificate from a mental health professional licensed in Illinois providing ongoing care or treatment to the teacher or employee. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/34-18.78 new Adds provisions to the bill as amended by Senate Amendment No. 1. Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that, in addition to any interpretation or definition included in a collective bargaining agreement or board of education or district policy, sick leave, or its equivalent, to which a teacher or other eligible employee is entitled shall be interpreted to include mental or behavioral health complications. Provides that, unless contrary to a collective bargaining agreement or board of education or district policy, the board may require a certificate from a mental health professional licensed in Illinois providing ongoing care or treatment to the teacher or employee as a basis for pay during leave after an absence of 3 days for mental or behavioral health complications. Effective immediately.

Creates the Task Force on Internationally-Licensed Health Care Professionals Act. Creates the Task Force on Internationally-Licensed Health Care Professionals within the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that the Task Force shall have the following members: 2 members appointed by the President of the Senate; 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 2 members appointed by the Governor; the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation; the Director of the Division of Professional Regulation; and 2 members appointed from the nonprofit organization Upwardly Global. Provides that the Task Force shall meet at least once a month until the Task Force votes to dissolve itself. Provides that the Department shall provide administrative support. Provides that the subject matter of the Task Force is intended to address health care professionals but also other professionals as needed, to be focused on professionals already licensed and practicing in another country and seeking licensure in the State, and to not include students. Provides that the Task Force shall prepare an annual report to address barriers to licensure and practice for health care professionals in the State and address strategies for reducing the barriers. Provides that the report shall be submitted to the Governor and General Assembly, and the first report shall be submitted one year after the effective date of the Act. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill and makes the following changes: Changes the members of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall meet once every two months (instead of at least once a month). Provides that the Task Force shall only meet once a majority of members are appointed. Designates the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation as the chair of the Task Force. Requires the Task Force to submit the report one year after the first meeting of the Task Force (rather than after the effective date of the Act).

Amends the School Code. Defines "school fees" or "fees" to mean any monetary charge collected by a public school, public school district, or charter school from a student or the parents or guardian of a student as a prerequisite for the student's participation in any curricular or extracurricular program of the school or school district. Provides that homeless children and youth as defined in Section 11434A of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act also qualify for a waiver for fees and fines for the loss or destruction of school property (currently, fees). Provides that the school board may provide for waiver verification no more often than once every academic year (currently, once every 60 days). Provides that no discrimination or punishment of any kind, including, but not limited to, the lowering of grades, exclusion from classes, or withholding of student records, transcripts or diplomas, (currently, lowering of grades or exclusion from classes) may be exercised against a student whose because the student's parents or guardians are unable to purchase required textbooks or instructional materials. House Committee Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill but removes the applicability of the fine waiver for the destruction of school property, removes the applicability for children living in households eligible for reduced lunch, and makes technical corrections.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the application fee for a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License shall be waived when the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency. Effective immediately.

Amends the Missing Persons Identification Act. Provides that a coroner or medical examiner with custody of human remains that are not identified within 72 hours of discovery shall promptly notify the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the location of those remains and the failure to identify the remains.

Creates the Apprentice Assistance and Support Services Pilot Program Act. Provides that the Department of Labor shall develop a 5 year Apprentice Assistance and Support Services Pilot Program. Specifies that the Pilot Program shall provide transportation assistance and a child care subsidy to eligible individuals participating in a qualified apprenticeship. Provides that no later than January 1, 2028, the Department shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a report that evaluates the results of the Pilot Program and its effectiveness in assisting Program participants in entering the workforce or in obtaining better employment. Provides for the adoption of rules. Repeals Act on January 1, 2029. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Changes the name to the Act to the Job Training Assistance and Support Services Pilot Program Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (rather than the Department of Labor) shall develop the Pilot Program. Provides that the Department shall award grants to organizations to distribute subsidies to qualifying individuals. Provides that to be eligible for assistance under the Pilot Program, an individual is required to participate in a registered apprenticeship program, pre-apprenticeship program as defined by the United States Department of Labor, or work-based learning programs, such as an internship, paid work experience, transitional jobs training, on-the-job training, or incumbent worker programs administered by the Department. Provides that the assistance provided by the Pilot Program may include funds for transportation, child care, housing-related expenses, including, but not limited to, rent and utilities, transportation, child care, digital technology needs, education needs, mental health services, substance abuse services, income support, and work-related supplies that are not typically covered by programmatic supportive services.

Amends the Guardians For Adults With Disabilities Article of the Probate Act of 1975. Removes a provision that exempts a guardian of the person appointed in a county with a population of more than 3,000,000 from completing a training program created under the Guardianship and Advocacy Act.