Rep. Larry Walsh

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Makes changes to the "brownfield site photovoltaic project" definition. Deletes provisions that require the Agency to develop a method to optimize procurement of the renewable energy credits from proposed utility-scale projects that are located in communities eligible to receive grants pursuant to the Energy Community Reinvestment Act. Provides criteria for the Agency to use to rank the bids for evaluation and selection for the project. Provides that, if a project meets one or more of the criteria, the Agency shall apply the bid price adjustment 2 times in ranking and evaluating the bid submitted for the project. Outlines the intent of the General Assembly in enacting the provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Provides that each Climate Bank-funded project must include a fully executed project labor agreement for any construction project, pay the prevailing wage to construction workers in accordance with the Prevailing Wage Act and the federal Davis-Bacon Act, and include participation benchmarks during construction for apprentices from a U.S. Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship program. In its role as the Climate Bank for the State, provides that the Authority shall consider creating clean energy jobs, promoting high-road labor standards in renewable energy and energy efficiency, and developing a pipeline for highly skilled workers to enter the clean energy job market.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Makes legislative declarations and findings concerning the deployment of energy storage systems. Provides that the Illinois Power Agency has the power to conduct competitive solicitations to procure energy storage resources and conduct procurement events by which electric utilities execute contracts to purchase energy storage resources. Provides that the Agency shall develop a storage procurement plan that results in the electric utilities contracting for energy storage capacity from contracted energy storage systems. Provides that the Agency shall develop a storage procurement plan that results in the electric utilities contracting for energy storage resources from contracted energy storage systems in specified amounts. Provides that within 180 days of the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Agency shall develop an energy storage procurement plan. Provides that for all procurements of energy storage resources, the Agency shall direct respondents to offer a strike price. Authorizes the Agency to develop and implement a firm energy resource procurement plan. Provides that no later than December 31, 2026 and every 2 years thereafter, the Agency shall conduct an analysis to determine whether the contracted quantity of energy storage in energy storage capacity and energy storage duration is sufficient to support the State's renewable energy standards and carbon emission standards. Defines terms. Makes corresponding changes in the Public Utilities Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that Will County may adopt an ordinance regulating and imposing a civil penalty on an owner of a vehicle for failure of an operator to comply with gross vehicle weight or axle weight restrictions and that the County may enforce its regulations using an automated vehicle weigh-in-motion enforcement system. Allows a municipality wholly or partially within the County to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the County to provide automated vehicle weigh-in-motion enforcement systems in the municipal jurisdiction. Includes requirements for automated vehicle weigh-in-motion enforcement systems. Provides requirements for violation notices and for civil penalties for violations.

Appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Transportation for the Statewide Railway Program for salaries and other expenses related to adding the professional staff in the rail division of the Office of Intermodal Project Implementation. Effective July 1, 2024.

Congratulates Joseph L. "Joe" Belman on his 100th birthday. Thanks him for his military service to the United States of America. Recognizes his century-long journey and his enduring impact on workers' rights advocacy and mentorship in youth development.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that certain reports concerning data centers are due no later than June 15 (currently, May 31) of each year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State may issue special registration plates designated as Defense Superior Service license plates to Illinois residents who have been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal. Provides that no registration fee shall be charged for the issuance or renewal of a Defense Superior Service plate. Adds vehicle owners who qualify for a Defense Superior Service plate to the list of vehicle owners who may reclass their registration upon acquiring a special license plate without a replacement plate fee or registration sticker cost.

Creates the Care for Retired Police Dogs Program Act. Creates the Care for Retired Police Dogs Program within the Illinois State Police to provide a stable funding source for the veterinary care for retired police dogs. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall contract with a not-for-profit corporation organized under Article 2 of the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986 to administer and manage the Care for Retired Police Dogs Program. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall select the not-for-profit corporation through a competitive grant award process. Establishes criteria for the selection of the not-for-profit corporation. Provides that from appropriations made by the General Assembly to the Illinois State Police for implementation of the Act, the Illinois State Police shall make grants to the not-for-profit corporation contracted by the Illinois State Police to be the disbursing authority for the Care for Retired Police Dogs Program. Provides that these funds must be disbursed to the former handler or the adopter of a retired police dog that served for 5 years or more as a police dog upon receipt specified verification. Provides that annual disbursements to a former handler or an adopter to reimburse him or her for the cost of the retired police dog's veterinary care may not exceed $1,500 per dog. Provides that a former handler or an adopter of a retired police dog may not accumulate unused funds from a current year for use in a future year. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall pay to the not-for-profit corporation, and the not-for-profit corporation may use, up to 10% of appropriated funds for its administrative expenses, including salaries and benefits. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall adopt rules to implement the Act.

Amends the Court of Claims Act. Provides that for the purpose of making up any deficiency in the appropriation for the payment of claims directed pursuant to the Line of Duty Compensation Act, there is appropriated, on a continuing annual basis in each fiscal year, from the General Revenue Fund to the Court of Claims, the amount, if any, by which the total appropriation for the payment of claims directed pursuant to the Line of Duty Compensation Act for the fiscal year is less than the amount required for the payment of claims pursuant to the Line of Duty Compensation Act for that fiscal year. Provides that the amount of any continuing appropriation used by the Court of Claims under the amendatory Act for a given fiscal year shall be charged against the unexpended amount of any appropriation for line of duty awards to the Court of Claims for that fiscal year that subsequently becomes available. Requires the Court of Claims to report to the President and Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and the Governor's Office of Management and Budget any continuing appropriation that is used at the conclusion of a fiscal year. Effective immediately.