Rep. Dan Caulkins

Amends the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act and the Law Enforcement Camera Grant Act, if and only if House Bill 3653 of the 101st General Assembly becomes law. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall administer grants under the Law Enforcement Camera Grant Act in accordance with rules adopted by the Board that prioritize law enforcement agencies in municipalities and counties under 50,000 that comply with the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Board may adopt rules that prioritize the financial need of these agencies when determining eligibility for these grants under the Law Enforcement Camera Grant Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Biometric Information Privacy Act. Changes the term of "written release" to "written consent". Provides that the written policy that is developed by a private entity in possession of biometric identifiers shall be made available to the person from whom biometric information is to be collected or was collected (rather than to the public). Provides that an action brought under the Act shall be commenced within one year after the cause of action accrued if, prior to initiating any action against a private entity, the aggrieved person provides a private entity 30 days' written notice identifying the specific provisions the aggrieved person alleges have been or are being violated. Provides that if within the 30 days the private entity actually cures the noticed violation and provides the aggrieved person an express written statement that the violation has been cured and that no further violations shall occur, no action for individual statutory damages or class-wide statutory damages may be initiated against the private entity. Provides that if a private entity continues to violate the Act in breach of the express written statement, the aggrieved person may initiate an action against the private entity to enforce the written statement and may pursue statutory damages for each breach of the express written statement and any other violation that postdates the written statement. Provides that a prevailing party may recover: against a private entity that negligently violates the Act, actual damages (rather than liquidated damages of $1,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater); or against a private entity that willfully (rather than intentionally or recklessly) violates the Act, actual damages plus liquidated damages up to the amount of actual damages (rather than liquidated damages of $5,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater). Provides that the Act does not apply to a private entity if the private entity's employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement that provides for different policies regarding the retention, collection, disclosure, and destruction of biometric information. Makes other changes.

States opposition to any additional excise taxes on Illinois businesses that produce beer, wine, or liquor or their related industries.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission, in consultation with the Illinois Power Agency, shall develop standards and guidelines to prohibit any Illinois ratepayer funds from being used by the Agency for the procurement of solar panels that are not manufactured or assembled by a company located in the United States under the Agency's long-term renewable resources procurement plan.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that it is also a hate crime by reason of the actual or perceived employment as a peace officer or status as a retired peace officer, regardless of the existence of any other motivating factor or factors to commit assault, battery, aggravated assault, misdemeanor theft, criminal trespass to residence, misdemeanor criminal damage to property, criminal trespass to vehicle, criminal trespass to real property, mob action, disorderly conduct, harassment by telephone, or harassment through electronic communications.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Requires specified personnel of a child care facility to be present at the open or close of the facility. Provides that early childhood teachers shall meet specified qualifications. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall adopt rules on the qualifications of persons directly responsible for the care and welfare of children served in accordance with the qualifications for early childhood teachers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to $500 for individuals who serve as volunteer emergency workers for or on behalf of a volunteer fire protection association. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with changes. Provides that, to qualify for the credit, the volunteer emergency worker may not receive compensation for his or her services of more than $10,000 for the taxable year. Removes provisions concerning volunteer fire protection associations. Makes changes to the definition of "volunteer emergency worker". Effective immediately.

Amends the House Rules. Makes changes concerning Rule 51.5.

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act to provide that, during the pendency of a disaster proclamation that is a result of a public health emergency or epidemic, provisions concerning ineligibility as a result of unemployment insurance fraud shall not apply to individuals residing in the counties affected by the gubernatorial disaster proclamation who are otherwise entitled to receive unemployment insurance benefits. Effective immediately.