Rep. Norine Hammond

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if a veteran with a surviving spouse was in the process of review to receive the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities, but the veteran died before the exemption was approved, then the application process shall continue and any subsequent approval granted to the veteran shall carry over to the spouse as long as the spouse meets the requirements for carry over.

Amends the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act. Provides that the State Police shall by rule establish a sexual assault evidence tracking system that conforms to the recommendations made by the Sexual Assault Evidence Tracking and Reporting Commission in its report dated June 26, 2018. Provides that the Department of State Police shall design the criteria for the sexual assault evidence tracking system so that, to the extent reasonably possible, the system can use existing technologies and products. Provides that the sexual assault evidence tracking system shall be operational no later than than one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that a treatment hospital, a treatment hospital with approved pediatric transfer, an out-of-state hospital approved by the Department of Public Health to receive transfers of Illinois sexual assault survivors, or an approved pediatric health care facility must comply with rules relating to the collection and tracking of sexual assault evidence adopted by the Department of State Police. Provides for the operations of the sexual assault tracking system to be funded by appropriations from the State Crime Laboratory Fund, together with asset forfeiture and other funds appropriated by the General Assembly. Authorizes emergency rulemaking. Exempts information in the sexual assault evidence tracking system from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act, and the Unified Code of Corrections to make conforming changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill. Adds requirements and recommendations of the report created by the Sexual Assault Evidence Tracking and Reporting Commission issued on June 26, 2018 for implementation of the sexual assault evidence tracking system. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. In provisions concerning winds farms and electric-generating wind devices, makes the provisions applicable even if a county has or has not formed a zoning commission and adopted formal zoning. Clarifies that only a county may establish standards for wind farms, electric-generating wind devices, and commercial wind energy facilities in unincorporated areas of the county outside of the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality and the 1.5 mile radius surrounding the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that only a county may establish standards for wind farms outside the 1.5 mile radius (rather than in the 1.5 mile radius) surrounding the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality.

Amends the School Code. Provides that an approved waiver from or modification to a physical education mandate may remain in effect for a period not to exceed 2 school years (rather than 5 school years like other mandate waivers) and may be renewed no more than 2 times upon application by an eligible applicant. Provides that an approved waiver from or modification to a physical education mandate may be changed within the 2-year period by the school board or regional superintendent of schools, whichever is applicable, following the procedure set forth in the Code for the initial waiver or modification request. Provides that a school board may determine the schedule or frequency of physical education courses, provided that an elementary school pupil engage in a course of physical education for a minimum of 150 minutes per week and a middle school, junior high school, or high school pupil engage in a course of physical education for a minimum of 225 minutes per week (rather than engage in a course of physical education for a minimum of 3 days per 5-day week). Provides that if a student non-attendance day is scheduled for a day that would otherwise include a physical education class or if the school building is not otherwise open to students on a day that would otherwise include a physical education class, a student is not required to make up the minutes from that class; defines "student non-attendance day". Effective July 1, 2019.

Amends the State Treasurer Act and Illinois Prepaid Tuition Act. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2019, for a designated beneficiary or qualified beneficiary who is a State resident, no contributions toward the College Savings Pool or the purchase of an Illinois prepaid tuition contract may be considered in evaluating the financial situation of the beneficiary or be deemed a financial resource or form of financial aid or assistance to the beneficiary for purposes of determining the eligibility of the beneficiary for any scholarship, grant, or monetary assistance awarded by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Provides that contributions toward the College Savings Pool or the purchase of an Illinois prepaid tuition contract may not reduce the amount of any scholarship, grant, or monetary assistance that the beneficiary is eligible to be awarded by the Commission. Effective June 1, 2019.

Congratulates Lisa Guinan on her long service to the Illinois General Assembly.

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning security employees. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 5 ILCS 315/14 Adds reference to: 30 ILCS 708/77 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that Independent Service Coordination agencies shall be exempt from the provisions of the Act with respect to the grant application and notice of opportunity process. Provides that any award granted under the Act by the Division of Developmental Disabilities of the Department of Human Services to an Independent Service Coordination agency prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act is void. Provides that nothing in the provisions shall be construed to prevent the Division from providing grants to Independent Service Coordination agencies. Defines "Independent Service Coordination agency". Effective immediately.

Amends the Flag Display Act. Provides that the Honor and Remember Flag is designated as the symbol of our State's concern and commitment to honoring and remembering all members of the United States Armed Forces who have lost their lives while serving our country in the line of duty and their families. Provides for the location of display, dates of display, and manner of display for the Honor and Remember Flag. Provides that specified provisions shall not be construed so as to require any employee to report to work solely for the purpose of providing for the display of the Honor and Remember Flag. Provides for the procurement of Honor and Remember Flags. Provides for the adoption of rules as necessary to carry-out specified requirements. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the Honor and Remember Flag shall not be flown above or take precedence over the United States national flag, the Illinois State flag, or a POW/MIA flag. Makes conforming changes.

Declares February 2019 as Career and Technical Education Month to celebrate career and technical education across the State of Illinois.

Creates the Taxpayer's Fiscal Charter Act. Provides for a discretionary spending freeze for fiscal years 2020 and 2021. Sets forth requirements to increase discretionary spending beginning in fiscal year 2022. Requires any new spending proposed by the General Assembly in addition to existing obligations shall be accompanied by a proposed source of revenue to pay for the proposed spending or specified cuts necessary to offset the proposed spending. Prohibits unfunded mandates. Requires the publishing of certain information before voting on or enacting an appropriations bill. Effective immediately.