Rep. Tony McCombie

Creates the Department of Children and Family Services Independent Ombudsperson Act. Establishes the Department of Children and Family Services Ombudsperson Bureau as a separate bureau within the Department of Children and Family Services (Department). Requires the Governor to appoint a Bureau Director within 30 days after the effective date of the Act. Provides that the Governor shall appoint a successor Bureau Director within 30 days after a vacancy occurs in the position of the Bureau Director. Provides that the Bureau Director may employ technical experts and other employees to carry out the purposes of the Act, but shall not hire a person to serve as an Ombudsperson who has been employed by the Department during the preceding year. Provides that the Ombudsperson may receive, investigate, and attempt to resolve complaints that the Department or a foster parent: (1) violated a specific law, rule, or Department written policy; or (2) endangered the health or safety of any person. Provides that at the conclusion of an investigation of a complaint, the Ombudsperson shall report the Ombudsperson's findings to the complainant. Requires the Ombudsperson to create a monthly report that includes a summary of the findings of all substantiated complaints. Contains provisions authorizing the Ombudsperson to conduct investigations of alleged violations of Department policy and rules at any Department facility; to make recommendations for changes to Department policies or practices; to report evidence of a crime to law enforcement; and other powers and duties of the Ombudsperson. Requires the Department to provide the Ombudsperson with timely access to Department records and facilities relevant to a complaint or investigation. Grants the Bureau rulemaking authority. Requires the Director of the Bureau to prepare annual reports on its operations. Makes it a Class A misdemeanor to obstruct an Ombudsperson in the performance of the Ombudsperson's duties.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the offense of domestic assault. Provides that a person commits the offense when, without lawful authority, he or she knowingly engages in conduct that places any family or household member in reasonable apprehension of great bodily harm, or permanent disability or disfigurement. Provides that if the defendant is arrested for domestic assault, upon release of the defendant from custody pending trial, the court, at the preliminary examination, shall order that the defendant refrain from contact or communication with the victim of the domestic assault and refrain from entering or remaining at the victim's residence for a minimum of 72 consecutive hours. Provides that domestic assault is a Class A misdemeanor. Defines "family or household member".

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish a School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program to award grants to schools for the purpose of providing supplemental mental health services to students, in addition to services provided by the employees of a school. Sets forth provisions concerning Program requirements, grant applications, awards, requirements, funding, and reporting. Provides for guidelines and rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Precludes the court from ordering the automatic expungement of the juvenile court and law enforcement records of a delinquent minor based on an attempt to commit a disqualified offense.

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. In a provision requiring the Department of Children and Family Services to allow law enforcement personnel to concurrently investigate with the Department reports of suspected child abuse or neglect, provides that the Department's completed investigative report shall be shared with the office of the State's Attorney of the involved county, if requested, to the extent such disclosure is permitted by current law and regulation, and subject to any and all existing and applicable requirements to maintain the information shared as confidential. Provides that nothing prohibits the office of the State's Attorney of the involved county from concurrently conducting an additional, independent investigation of the same incidents and allegations investigated by the Department. Provides that at the commencement of the State's Attorney's independent investigation, the State's Attorney, in his or her official capacity as a mandated reporter, shall notify the Department of the independent investigation by making a report by telephone to the Department's central register on the single, State-wide, toll-free telephone number established under the Act. Provides that upon completion of the independent investigation, the State's Attorney shall share his or her findings and determinations with the Department.

Amends the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act. Provides that the Act does not apply to school resource officers, undercover or covert officers, or officers that are employed in an administrative capacity, except when undercover or covert officers are conducting interviews. Provides that a law enforcement officer is "in uniform" only when primarily assigned to respond to law enforcement-related encounters or activities. Adds a definition for "no expectation of privacy". Provides that, on and after January 1, 2026, an officer no longer needs to provide notice of recording to a person that has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Removes provisions prohibiting officers from viewing recordings prior to completing a report. Modifies exceptions to destruction of camera recordings if a recording has been flagged and when recordings may be used to discipline law enforcement officers. Provides that recordings are only subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act when a recording is flagged due to the filing of a complaint, discharge of a firearm, use of force, arrest or detention, or resulting death or bodily harm and the subject of the encounter has a reasonable expectation of privacy at the time of the recording (removing other exceptions). Provides that only the subject of the recording or the subject's legal representative may obtain the portion of the recording containing the subject if the subject or legal representative provides written authorization to release the video. Makes other changes. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 and Freedom of Information Act making conforming changes. Amends the Law Enforcement Camera Grant Act. Removes a requirement to include criminal and other violations and civil proceedings in which the cameras were used in reports that must be provided by a law enforcement agency receiving a grant for in-car video cameras or for officer-worn body cameras. Further amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person also obstructs justice when, with intent to prevent the apprehension or obstruct the prosecution or defense of any person, he or she knowingly takes a body camera or any part of a body camera from a person known to be a peace officer. Provides that a violation is either a Class 1 felony or Class 2 felony.

Amends the School Code. By December 31, 2023, requires the State Board of Education to create a Parent Advisory Committee for the purpose of reviewing and making recommendations to the State Board with respect to the State Board's process of adopting new teaching or learning standards. Requires the State Board to review and consider the recommendations made by the committee prior to adopting a proposed teaching or learning standard, but does not require the State Board to accept any of the recommendations. Sets forth the membership of the committee; requires all committee members to be the parent of a student enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school in this State. Provides that members shall serve without compensation. Sets forth provisions concerning vacancies on the committee and committee meetings. Requires the State Board to provide administrative support to the committee. In provisions concerning school boards, requires a school board to adopt a policy to ensure that the parent or guardian of a student is provided with an opportunity to review the curricula and learning material used in the student's classroom at any point during the school year if the parent or guardian requests to review the curricula and learning material. Requires the policy to be published in the student handbook and on the school district's Internet website if one is maintained. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, in consultation with education stakeholders, the State Board of Education shall develop a comprehensive literacy plan for the State that, at a minimum, addresses specified areas. Provides that the State Board shall develop and adopt a comprehensive literacy plan for the State on or before January 31, 2024. Provides that the State Board shall adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall establish and maintain a Temporary Teacher Apprenticeship Program to assist qualified participants in acquiring a Professional Educator License. Provides that the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may establish and adopt any rules necessary to implement this program, including the standards that a qualified participant must meet to receive a Professional Educator License. Sets forth the requirements to complete the program. Provides that upon completing the requirements of the program, a qualified participant is eligible for a Professional Educator License. Makes related changes. Provides that a foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets specified requirements. Provides that the foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed. Provides that an individual who holds a valid foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may teach a course on the foreign language for which the foreign language endorsement is issued. Provides that an individual who holds a valid foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations but does not hold a bachelor's degree may substitute teach in foreign language classrooms. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that through June 30, 2026 (instead of June 30, 2023), an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status if that employment is not within the school year during which service was terminated and does not exceed 120 paid days or 600 paid hours in each school year. Deletes language concerning an additional 20 days or 100 paid hours that an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status for the period between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. Effective immediately.