Rep. Avery Bourne

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that no public service announcement or advertisement that is on behalf of any State administered program and contains the proper name, image, or voice of any executive branch constitutional officer or member of the General Assembly shall be posted on any social media platform (in addition to the existing prohibition on such announcements and advertisements in other media). Makes conforming changes.

Directs the Auditor General to conduct a performance audit of the Department of Children and Family Services' response to the tragic deaths of any and all children who have died as a result of the agency's failure to live up to its own mission statement as well as the Department's actions to identify appropriate placement options and avoid further contempt citations.

Amends the School Construction Law. With regard to early childhood construction grants, provides that (i) a public school district assigned to Tier 1 under the evidence-based funding formula under the School Code or any other eligible entity in an area encompassed by that district must provide local matching funds in an amount equal to 3% of the awarded grant, (ii) a public school district assigned to Tier 2 under the evidence-based funding formula or any other eligible entity in an area encompassed by that district must provide local matching funds in an amount equal to 7.5% of the awarded grant, (iii) a public school district assigned to Tier 3 under the evidence-based funding formula or any other eligible entity in an area encompassed by that district must provide local matching funds in an amount equal to 8.75% of the awarded grant, and (iv) a public school district assigned to Tier 4 under the evidence-based funding formula or any other eligible entity in an area encompassed by that district must provide local matching funds in an amount equal to 10% of the awarded grant (rather than providing that a public school district or other eligible entity must provide local matching funds in an amount equal to 10% of the grant). Effective immediately.

Makes application to Congress under the provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States for the calling of a convention of the states limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress.

Declares a commitment to ensuring access to quality health care for patients and healthcare consumers in Illinois, urges the Illinois Congressional delegation to support federal legislation to ensure all copays count, and urges the federal regulators to specifically clarify that all copays count in the 2023 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters and tri-agency guidance.

Amends the School Code to create the Rural Education Advisory Council. Provides that the purpose of the council is to exchange thoughtful dialogue concerning the needs, challenges, and opportunities of rural districts and to provide policy recommendations to the State. Sets forth the functions and membership of the council. Contains provisions concerning expenses, meetings, and administrative support.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the Secretary of State to issue Force Combat Action Medal license plates to residents who have been awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Downstate Impact Note Act. Provides that every bill, the purpose or effect of which is to have an impact upon downstate Illinois, shall have prepared for it prior to second reading in the house of introduction a brief explanatory statement or note on the anticipated impact on downstate Illinois, which shall be known as a Downstate Impact Note. Provides requirements for the preparation and contents of Downstate Impact Notes. Provides that the fact that a Downstate Impact Note is prepared for any bill shall not preclude or restrict the appearance before any committee of the General Assembly of any official or authorized employee of any State board, commission, department, agency, or other entity who desires to be heard in support of or in opposition to the bill. Provides confidentiality requirements concerning the subject matter of bills submitted for Note preparation. Defines "downstate Illinois". Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, in a criminal investigation in counties in excess of 3,000,000 involving a forcible felony where the State's Attorney or an Assistant State's Attorney rejects the filing of a felony charge or charges or the case is designated by the State's Attorney or Assistant State's Attorney as a continuing investigation: (1) a law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the alleged crime occurred may override the State's Attorney or Assistant State's Attorney's rejection of the felony charge or charges or the case is designated by the State's Attorney or Assistant State's Attorney as a continuing investigation if the evidence supporting the charge is clear and convincing and the override is filed with the clerk of the circuit court and the State's Attorney; and (2) the State's Attorney or Assistant State's Attorney may rescind the override within 7 days after the override by petitioning the Chief Judge of the Criminal Division of the circuit court. Provides for petition requirements. Provides that, if the court determines that law enforcement agency's decision to override was based on clear and convincing evidence, the State's Attorney must proceed with a preliminary examination or seek an indictment by grand jury within 30 days from the date he or she was taken into custody or, if he or she is not in custody, 60 days from the date he or she was arrested. Provides that the decision of the court on the law enforcement agency's override is not appealable. Requires all State's Attorney Offices to collect and maintain data in a public database on all felony cases called in for review by law enforcement and specifies how the data shall be collected and disclosed. Requires notification of a victim or victim's family of rejection of a felony case.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the offense of organized retail theft. Provides that a person commits the offense when he or she does any of the following: (1) acts in concert with one or more persons to steal merchandise from one or more merchant's premises with the intent to deprive the merchant permanently of the possession, use or benefit of the merchandise without paying the full retail value of the merchandise or to sell, exchange, or return the merchandise for value; (2) acts in concert with 2 or more persons to receive, purchase, or possess merchandise described in item (1), knowing or believing it to have been stolen; (3) acts as an agent of another individual or group of individuals to steal merchandise from one or more merchant's premises as part of an organized plan to commit theft; or (4) recruits, coordinates, organizes, supervises, directs, manages, or finances another to undertake any of the acts described in item (1) or (2) or any other statute defining theft of merchandise. Provides penalties and establishes venue for organized retail theft.