Rep. Travis Weaver

Amends the Notice By Publication Act and the Newspaper Legal Notice Act. Provides, in both of the Acts, that the term "newspaper" also includes any digital publication that: (1) is posted on a public-facing website, web application, or digital application, including, but not limited to, a social network, ad network, or search engine, that has 3,000 or more unique monthly United States visitors or users with at least 50% of those visitors from the geographic area for which the notice is required to be published during the immediately preceding 12 months; (2) regularly gathers, prepares, collects, photographs, records, writes, edits, reports, investigates, or publishes news or information that concerns local, national, or international events or other matter of public interest for dissemination to the public; and (3) is paid for by subscribers to the digital publication.

Creates the Paraprofessional Fast Track to Teaching Degree Pilot Program Act. Makes findings. Provides that the Paraprofessional Fast Track to Teaching Degree Pilot Program is created for a 2-year degree pathway by which paraprofessional educators may enroll to achieve the education requirements to attain a professional educator license in this State, which shall comply with the standards of the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education. Provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year or, if funds are not appropriated for the Program that academic year, beginning with the academic year in which funds are appropriated for the Program, the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education shall coordinate with each other to assign a qualified individual to serve as a Program director to develop the curriculum for the Program. Provides that one public elementary or public secondary school and one public university in this State shall be chosen to develop a program for transitioning paraprofessionals to teachers. Includes the core components of the Program. Provides that the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education must submit a report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Legislative Reference Bureau detailing the impact of the Program and then the Program is dissolved and the Act is repealed. Effective immediately.

Creates the Unlawful Restrictions on the Use and Sale of Motor Vehicles Act. Provides that no State agency or unit of local government shall restrict the use or sale of a motor vehicle based on the energy source used to power the motor vehicle, including an energy source used for propulsion or used for powering other functions of the motor vehicle. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency shall not propose and the Illinois Pollution Control Board shall not adopt motor vehicle emissions standards that are established by California as a result of California having received a waiver pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act.

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. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a commercial driver training school in the State may administer the CDL test to a student who has successfully completed a commercial driver's education course. Provides that any testing administered must satisfy the specified guidelines required under federal and State law. Requires the Secretary of State to adopt rules.

Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall establish and administer pilot programs in the counties of Lee, Whiteside, Ogle, and Tazewell that allow for court-ordered involuntary treatment for persons 18 years of age or older who have a substance use disorder. Requires the pilot programs to be implemented no later than January 1, 2025 with an end date of January 1, 2029. Provides that under the pilot programs, no person shall be ordered to undergo involuntary treatment for a substance use disorder unless that person: (i) suffers from a substance use disorder; (ii) presents an imminent threat of danger to self, family, or others as a result of a substance use disorder, or there exists a substantial likelihood of such a threat in the near future; and (iii) can reasonably benefit from treatment. Contains provisions concerning the rights of persons subject to involuntary treatment; forms; jurisdiction; petition requirements; court and medical examinations; emergency hospitalization; the consequences of failing to attend examinations; summons; hospitals and treatment facilities; and defined terms. Requires the Department to submit a report to the General Assembly, no later than July 1, 2029, on the effectiveness and efficiency of each county's pilot program. Sets out certain data and information that must be included in the report. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for individual taxpayers who participate in an apprenticeship program during the taxable year. Provides that the credit is equal to the unreimbursed expenses incurred by the taxpayer to purchase equipment that is necessary for participation in the apprenticeship program, not to exceed $1,000 per taxpayer. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the registration fee paid by any vehicle owner 65 years of age or older, or a spouse of such person, shall be $10 instead of the fee otherwise provided in the Code for specified vehicles.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Provides that the governing board of each public university shall waive any admissions application fee for a student transferring from a public community college in this State if the transferring student is enrolled in the last semester of a degree program and is on schedule to graduate with a degree. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Restores certain provisions of the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code concerning citizenship of employees of a sheriff's department and police officer applicants to the form in which they existed before their amendment by Public Act 103-357. Effective immediately.