Rep. Sue Scherer

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Provides for registration under the Act of a person convicted of a battery if: (1) the State's Attorney filed a notice contemporaneous with or included in the summons, complaint, or other document charging the battery to seek sex offender registration under the provision as a sexually motivated battery; (2) the complaining witness is under 17 years of age; (3) the offender is 21 years of age or older; and (4) the court finds that the battery was "sexually motivated" as defined in the Sex Offender Management Board Act.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2020, the tax on gun safes and locks designed to secure firearms is imposed at the rate of 1%. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section granting a homestead exemption to veterans with disabilities, provides that property that is used as a qualified residence by a veteran who was a member of the United States Armed Forces during World War II is exempt from taxation regardless of the veteran's level of disability. Provides that a veteran who qualifies as a result of his or her service in World War II need not reapply for the exemption. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Defines "qualifying change in status" for the purpose of clarifying those persons who may be eligible for health coverage under the Act as an employee, spouse, or dependent due to such change in status. Makes a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Repeals a provision requiring the System to offer an optional defined contribution benefit to active members of the System. Effective immediately.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation must issue or deny a license no later than 30 days after completion of the application for practical nurse and registered professional nurse licensure. Provides that the Department must issue or deny a license no later than 30 days after receiving the required documentation for advanced practice registered nurse licensure. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Removes provisions allowing a health care facility or health care practitioner to charge a patient or a patient's representatives fees for photocopies of patient records. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, the Illinois Parentage Act of 2015, and the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that a State's Attorney, within 5 days of the filing of a charge that a person has committed an illegal act perpetrated upon a victim less than 18 years of age, including, but not limited to, certain violations the Articles of the Criminal Code of 2012 concerning sex offenses and bodily harm, shall determine whether the person or his or her minor child is a party or subject to a proceeding under the applicable Act. Provides that if the person or his or her minor child is a party or subject to such a proceeding, the State's Attorney shall notify the court having jurisdiction over the matter. Provides that the notification shall be in a form and manner as determined by the clerk of the court, and shall include the case number and caption, if known. Provides that if a notification expressly indicates that it includes facts that constitute confidential personnel matters, the clerk of the court shall place the notification under seal. Provides that upon the receipt of a notification, the clerk of the court shall schedule the matter related to the notification for a hearing no later than 30 days after the receipt of the notification, and shall send no less than 10 days' notice of the hearing to each party to the proceeding. Provides that after the hearing, the court shall make a written finding whether modification or restriction of the person's access to the child is appropriate. Provides that the court may enter any order that it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, a requirement that visitation be conducted under the supervision of an employee of the Department of Children and Family Services. Makes a corresponding change in the Counties Code.

Declares April 2020 as Ambucs Appreciation Month in the State of Illinois.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section concerning the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities, provides that: (1) for taxable years prior to 2015, "surviving spouse" means the surviving spouse of a veteran who obtained the exemption prior to his or her death; (2) for taxable years 2015 through 2018, "surviving spouse" means (A) the surviving spouse of a veteran who obtained the exemption prior to his or her death and (B) the surviving spouse of a veteran who was killed in the line of duty in the current taxable year or any preceding taxable year; and (3) for taxable year 2019 and thereafter, "surviving spouse" means (A) the surviving spouse of a veteran who qualified for the exemption prior to his or her death, (B) the surviving spouse of a veteran who was killed in the line of duty in the current taxable year or any preceding taxable year, (C) the surviving spouse of a veteran who did not obtain the exemption before death, but who would have qualified for the exemption if he or she had survived, and (D) the surviving spouse of a veteran whose death was determined to be service-connected who is a current recipient of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. Effective immediately.