Rep. Norine Hammond

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Deletes language that provides that no construction shall commence on any new nuclear power plant to be located within the State, and no certificate of public convenience and necessity or other authorization shall be issued therefor by the Illinois Commerce Commission, until the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency finds that the United States Government, through its authorized agency, has identified and approved a demonstrable technology or means for the disposal of high level nuclear waste, or until such construction has been specifically approved by a statute enacted by the General Assembly. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.

Amends the Illinois Pull Tabs and Jar Games Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the School Code. Provides that school districts shall teach students how to read using phonics.

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to create an Equity for Autistic Students Commission to research, recommend, and review policies that affect autistic students to ensure fair access to resources, therapies, education, and equity with a focused lens on historically marginalized groups. Provides that the Commission shall review different therapies and practices used or recommended for autistic students and, with the help of experts appointed to the Commission, decide if those therapies and practices are still the best therapies and practices. Provides that the Commission shall consist of members appointed by the State Board of Education and shall include experts in the field of autism in children and students. Provides that at least one member appointed to the Commission by the State Board of Education shall have autism. Provides that the State Board of Education shall provide administrative assistance and necessary staff support services. Provides for meetings and reporting.

Amends the State Finance Act, the Bond Authorization Act, and the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy Law. Sets forth certain types of revenue the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy may retain in its own treasury. Provides that the Board of Trustees of the Academy is authorized to borrow money and issue and sell bonds for the purpose of acquiring, purchasing, completing, building, constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, improving, extending, or equipping buildings, structures, and facilities that are required by or are necessary for the use or benefit of the Academy. Provides that such bonds shall be payable only from tuition, fee, and room and board revenue and from other funds authorized by law to be used for such purpose and applied as a supplement to such revenue. Sets forth other provisions concerning the issuance of bonds by the Academy, including the execution and delivery of trust agreements to a bank or trust company and the adoption of a resolution or resolutions describing in a general way the contemplated facility or facilities designated as the project or projects and the estimated cost. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Increases penalties for unlawful use or possession of weapons by felons or persons in the custody of the Department of Corrections facilities. Provides that a person commits unlawful sale or delivery of firearms when he or she knowingly: (1) sells or gives a firearm to a person who has been convicted of a felony or who is a streetgang member or (2) sells or gives a firearm that has been purchased or acquired out of state to a person who has been convicted of a felony or is a streetgang member. Provides that a violation is a Class 1 felony. Provides that a second or subsequent violation is non-probationable. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Deletes a provision that the first offense had to be committed when the person was 21 years of age or older to be adjudged a habitual criminal. Provides that a person who attained the age of 18 at the time of the third offense may be adjudged a habitual criminal. In the Class X sentencing provision for a defendant over 21 years of age who is convicted of a Class 1 or Class 2 felony after twice being convicted of a Class 1 or Class 2 felony, deletes a provision that the first offense had to be committed when the person was 21 years of age or older and deletes a provision that the offenses had to be forcible felonies. Exempts theft from this calculation.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the Governor shall annually designate, by official proclamation, the third Friday in March as Robotics Day to encourage students and school districts to engage in robotics-based activities and to engage students with the study of mathematics and science.

Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Prohibits persons who fail to report to the Department of Public Health individuals who commit certain violations from being involved in direct care for clients, patients, or residents, or access to the living quarters or the financial, medical, or personal records of clients, patients, or residents unless they have been issued a waiver under the Act. Provides that reports of violations shall be made no later than 5 days after the incident constituting the violation. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits aggravated battery when the person battered, other than by the discharge of a firearm, is known to be a patient at a Department of Human Services facility and the person who commits the battery is an employee of the Department of Human Services; and a recipient at a community-integrated living arrangement, as defined in the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act, who is battered by an employee of the community-integrated living arrangement. Provides that the offense is a Class 2 felony.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Adds to the definition of "brownfield site photovoltaic project", photovoltaics that meet the criteria that the project is interconnected to an electric utility, a municipal utility, a public utility as defined in the Public Utilities Act, or an electric cooperative as defined in the Public Utilities Act and is located on any part of the site, and within the property boundaries, of a coal-fueled electric generating plant in this State that was retired as of January 1, 2023, or that the generating plant owner commits to retire prior to the commercial operation date of the project. In provisions concerning renewable energy credits from new projects in the long-term renewable resources procurement plan, the Agency shall procure 55% from photovoltaic projects where at least 44% (rather than 47%) are from utility-scale solar projects and at least 3% are from projects that meet specified criteria. Effective immediately.