Rep. Sue Scherer

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a person age 65 and older may cancel certain contracts within 15, rather than 3, days after the day the contract was signed. Effective January 1, 2020. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 815 ILCS 505/2B Adds reference to: 815 ILCS 513/20 815 ILCS 513/22 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Home Repair and Remodeling Act. Provides that a consumer age 65 and older has 15, rather than 3, business days within which to cancel a contract if the sale is made at the consumer's home. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Limits the 15 day right of cancellation for persons age 65 or older to purchases made from an uninvited solicitor.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that no rail carrier shall operate a train or light engine used in connection with the movement of freight unless it has an operating crew consisting of at least 2 individuals. Provides that the minimum freight train crew size shall remain in effect until a federal law or rule encompassing the subject matter has been adopted. Grants the Illinois Commerce Commission the power to conduct evidentiary hearings, make findings, and issue and enforce orders, including sanctions, with respect to freight train crew member size. Provides that "train or light engine" does not include trains operated by a hostler service or utility employees. Fiscal Note (Illinois Commerce Commission) The Commision does not anticipate needing additional resources to fulfill the requirements of this bill.

Amends the Strengthening the Child Welfare Workforce for Children and Families Act. Increases the membership of the Task Force on Strengthening the Child Welfare Workforce for Children and Families to include 2 persons who each serve as a chief executive officer or chief administrator of a private sector child welfare provider. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services (rather than the Children and Family Research Center of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) to provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Requires the Department to engage the services of the Children and Family Research Center to aid in the collection, cataloguing, and analysis of child welfare data. Extends the deadline date by which the Task Force must submit certain reports to the Governor and the General Assembly concerning the State's child welfare workforce. Changes the date the Task Force is dissolved from January 1, 2021 to January 1, 2022. Changes the date the Act is repealed from January 1, 2021 to January 1, 2022. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the Task Force on Strengthening the Child Welfare Workforce for Children and Families shall include the following members: (i) one person appointed by the Governor who represents a non-profit, statewide organization that represents private sector child welfare providers (rather than a person representing a non-profit, statewide organization that represents private sector child welfare providers); and (ii) 2 persons appointed by the Governor who each serve as a chief executive officer or chief administrator of a private sector child welfare provider (rather than 2 persons who each serve as a chief executive officer or chief administrator of a private sector child welfare provider).

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that a child shall continue to be eligible for an Individual Care Grant if the child is placed in the guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 because the child requires care in a residential treatment facility and an application for the Family Support Program was pending with the Department Healthcare and Family Services or an active application was being reviewed by the Department when the guardianship order was entered. Provides that any minor who is placed in the guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services under the Act while an application for the Family Support Program was pending with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services or an active application was being reviewed by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall continue to be considered eligible for services if all other eligibility criteria are met. Provides that the court shall conduct a hearing within 14 days upon notification to all parties that an application for the Family Support Program services has been approved and services are available. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 1705/7.1 705 ILCS 405/5-711 new Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 505/7.8 new 325 ILCS 5/7.01 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that whenever a child is placed in the custody or guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services or a child is returned to the custody of a parent or guardian and the court retains jurisdiction of the case, the Department must ensure that the child is up to date on his or her well-child visits, including age-appropriate immunizations, or that there is a documented religious or medical reason the child did not receive the immunizations. Provides that whenever a child has been placed in foster or substitute care by court order and the court later determines that the child can return to the custody of his or her parent or guardian, the Department must complete, prior to the child's discharge from foster or substitute care, a home safety checklist to ensure that the conditions of the child's home are sufficient to ensure the child's safety and well-being, as defined in Department rules and procedures. Provides that at a minimum, the home safety checklist shall be completed within 24 hours prior to the child's return home and completed again or recertified in the absence of any environmental barriers or hazards within 5 working days after a child is returned home and every month thereafter until the child's case is closed pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that when a court determines that a child should return to the custody or guardianship of a parent or guardian, any aftercare services provided to the child and the child's family by the Department or a purchase of service agency shall commence on the date upon which the child is returned to the custody or guardianship of his or her parent or guardian. If multiple children are returned at different times to the custody or guardianship of the parent or guardian, requires aftercare services to commence on the date upon which the last child returns home. Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that when a report is made by a mandated reporter to the statewide toll-free telephone number established under the Act and there is a prior indicated report of abuse or neglect and a prior open service case involving any member of the household, the Department must, at a minimum, accept the report as a child welfare services referral. Requires a child protective services investigation if the family refuses to cooperate or refuses access to the home or children and if the facts otherwise meet the criteria to accept a report. Provides that beginning one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Auditor General shall conduct a performance and compliance audit of the Department of Children and Family Services to determine whether the Department is meeting the requirements under the amendatory Act. Provides that upon completion of each audit, the Auditor General shall report its findings to the General Assembly. Requires the Auditor General's report to include any issues or deficiencies and recommendations. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Requires the Auditor General to commence a performance audit (rather than conduct a performance and compliance audit) of the Department of Children and Family Services one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act (rather than one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act and every 2 years thereafter) to determine whether the Department is meeting the requirements set forth in the amendatory Act. Provides that within 2 years after the audit's release, the Auditor General shall commence a follow-up performance audit to determine whether the Department has implemented the recommendations contained in the initial performance audit. Provides that upon completion of each audit, the Auditor General shall report its findings to the General Assembly and the Auditor General's reports shall include any issues or deficiencies and recommendations. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Further amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that if children are returned to the custody of a parent at different times, the Department of Children and Family Services or the purchase of service agency shall provide a minimum of 6 months of aftercare services to each child commencing on the date each individual child is returned home (rather than if multiple children are returned at different times to the custody or guardianship of the parent or guardian, aftercare services shall commence on the date upon which the last child returns home). Further amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that when a report is made by a mandated reporter to the statewide toll-free telephone number established under the Act and there is a prior indicated report of abuse or neglect, or there is a prior open service case involving any member of the household (rather than there is a prior indicated report of abuse or neglect and a prior open service case involving any member of the household), the Department of Children and Family Services must, at a minimum, accept the report as a child welfare services referral.

Amends the Downstate Teachers and State Universities Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Requires an employer to make an additional employer contribution for a participant whose earnings for any academic year used to determine the final rate of earnings exceed the amount of his or her earnings with the same employer for the previous academic year by more than 6% (instead of 3%). Makes conforming changes. Amends the School Code. Allows each school district to provide a salary to a student teacher employed by the district and fix the amount of that salary. Removes the requirement of the passage of a test of basic skills for obtaining certain Professional Educator Licenses and Educator Licenses with Stipulations. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/21B-25 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. With regard to endorsements on licenses, provides that, for a special education endorsement in the area of Early Childhood Special Education, an individual may satisfy the student teaching requirement of his or her early childhood teacher preparation program through placement in a setting with children from birth through grade 2, and the individual may be paid and receive credit while student teaching. Provides that the student teaching experience must meet the requirements of and be approved by the individual's early childhood teacher preparation program. Provides that, subject to appropriation, an individual who holds a Professional Educator License and is employed for a minimum of one school year by a school district designated as Tier 1 under the evidence-based funding formula may, after application to the State Board of Education, receive from the State Board a refund for any costs associated with completing the teacher performance assessment required to obtain his or her license. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that, for an early childhood education endorsement (rather than a special education endorsement in the area of Early Childhood Special Education), an individual may satisfy the student teaching requirement of his or her early childhood teacher preparation program through placement in a setting with children from birth through grade 2, and the individual may be paid and receive credit while student teaching. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 40 ILCS 5/15-155 40 ILCS 5/16-158 Removes provisions amending the Downstate Teachers and State Universities Articles of the Illinois Pension Code.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that minimum in-service training requirements, which a police officer must satisfactorily complete every 3 years, shall include mental health awareness and response as reflected in the Illinois Mental Health First Aid Training Act. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 50 ILCS 705/10.23 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the curriculum for police officer training schools shall include recognizing signs and symptoms of work-related cumulative stress, issues that may lead to suicide, and solutions for intervention with peer support resources. Provides that the minimum in-service training requirements, which a police officer must satisfactorily complete every 3 years, shall include officer wellness. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall create, develop, or approve an in-service course addressing issues of officer wellness and suicide prevention. Provides that the course shall include instruction on job-related stress management techniques, skills for recognizing signs and symptoms of work-related cumulative stress, recognition of other issues that may lead to officer suicide, solutions for intervention, and a presentation on available peer support resources.

Amends the State Treasurer Act. Provides that, subject to the provisions of the Public Contract Fraud Act, the State Treasurer is authorized during fiscal years 2019 and 2020 to purchase real property located in the City of Springfield, Illinois which the State Treasurer deems necessary to properly carry out the powers and duties vested in him or her. Provides that, subject to provisions of the Treasurer's Procurement Rules, the State Treasurer may enter into contracts relating to construction, reconstruction, or renovation projects for any such buildings or lands acquired under this Act, and the State Treasurer may equip, lease, operate, and maintain those grounds, buildings, and facilities as may be appropriate to carry out the State Treasurer's statutory purposes and duties. Provides that the State Treasurer may enter into agreements with any person with respect to the use and occupancy of the grounds, buildings, and facilities of the State Treasurer, including concession, license, and lease agreements on terms and conditions as the State Treasurer determines and in accordance with the procurement processes for the Office of the State Treasurer, which shall be substantially in accordance with the requirements of Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that exercise of the authority vested by this Act is subject to the appropriation of the necessary funds. Amends the State Finance Act. Expands the use of moneys in the State Pension Fund to include the acquisition of land and buildings in State fiscal year 2019 and 2020 for use by the Office of the State Treasurer, as well as construction, reconstruction, improvement, repair, and maintenance, in accordance with the provisions of laws relating thereto, of such lands and buildings beginning in State fiscal year 2019 and thereafter. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the State Treasurer is authorized to acquire (currently, purchase) real property located in Springfield, Illinois. Provides that real property acquired by the State Treasurer under specified provisions may be acquired subject to any third party interests in the property that do not prevent the State Treasurer from exercising the intended beneficial use of such property. Removes provisions concerning the form in which property may be acquired by the State Treasurer. Removes provisions concerning a leaseback of property. Modifies the term "operational expenses of the Office of the State Treasurer". House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 15 ILCS 505/35 new 30 ILCS 105/8.12 Adds reference to: 15 ILCS 505/1 from Ch. 130, par. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Treasurer Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning bond. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 15 ILCS 505/1 from Ch. 130, par. 1 Adds reference to: 35 ILCS 200/24-36 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the Property Tax Relief Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall identify the causes of increasingly burdensome property taxes across Illinois, review best practices in public policy strategies that create short-term and long-term property tax relief for homeowners, and make recommendations to assist in the development of short-term and long-term administrative, electoral, and legislative changes needed to create short-term and long-term property tax relief for homeowners. Provides for the membership of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall submit its initial report to the Governor and the General Assembly within 90 days of the effective date of this amendatory Act, and provides that the Task Force shall submit its final report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2019. Repeals these provisions December 31, 2020. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Deletes reference to: 15 ILCS 505/1 from Ch. 130, par. 1 Adds reference to: 35 ILCS 200/24-36 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the Property Tax Relief Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall identify the causes of increasingly burdensome property taxes across Illinois, review best practices in public policy strategies that create short-term and long-term property tax relief for homeowners, and make recommendations to assist in the development of short-term and long-term administrative, electoral, and legislative changes needed to create short-term and long-term property tax relief for homeowners. Provides for the membership of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall submit its initial report to the Governor and the General Assembly within 90 days of the effective date of this amendatory Act, and provides that the Task Force shall submit its final report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2019. Repeals these provisions December 31, 2020. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 4 Deletes reference to: 15 ILCS 505/1 from Ch. 130, par. 1 Adds reference to: 35 ILCS 200/24-36 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the Property Tax Relief Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall identify the causes of increasingly burdensome property taxes across Illinois, review best practices in public policy strategies that create short-term and long-term property tax relief for homeowners, and make recommendations to assist in the development of short-term and long-term administrative, electoral, and legislative changes needed to create short-term and long-term property tax relief for homeowners. Provides for the membership of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall submit its initial report to the Governor and the General Assembly within 90 days of the effective date of this amendatory Act, and provides that the Task Force shall submit its final report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2019. Repeals these provisions December 31, 2020. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 625 ILCS 5/1-100 Adds reference to: 625 ILCS 5/1-154.7 625 ILCS 5/5-302 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 5-302 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person shall not sell or offer at auction salvage vehicles to a nonresident individual or business in the United States unless the nonresident is licensed in another state or jurisdiction, provides a National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) number, a social security number or federal employment identification number, and resale tax certificate, if applicable. Provides that a person in the State shall not sell or offer at auction salvage vehicles to an out-of-country buyer unless the out-of-country buyer is licensed in its jurisdiction as a recycler or rebuilder and provides a foreign license number, passport, or other form of identification issued by the foreign jurisdiction. Provides that an out-of-country buyer who provides a business address not within the sovereign boundaries of the United States shall receive a title stamped with the designation of "export only" at the point of sale. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that no person in the State shall sell at auction a salvage vehicle to a nonresident individual or business licensed in the United States unless the nonresident, in addition to being licensed in another state or jurisdiction, provides a resale tax certificate, if applicable, and one of the following: a National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) number, federal employer identification number, or government-issued driver's license or passport. Provides that a person in the State shall not sell at auction a salvage vehicle to an out-of-country buyer, unless if the nonresident is licensed in a jurisdiction that is not a state, then the nonresident shall provide to the seller the number of the nonresident's license issued by that jurisdiction and a copy of the nonresident's passport or the passport of an owner or officer of the nonresident entity or a copy of another form of government-issued identification from the nonresident or an owner or officer of the nonresident entity. Provides that an out-of-state salvage vehicle buyer who provides an address outside of the United States shall receive a salvage certificate stamped by the seller with the designation of "For Export Only" at the point of sale for each salvage vehicle purchased and the NMVTIS record shall be designated "EXPORT". House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 625 ILCS 5/1-154.7 625 ILCS 5/5-302 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 5-302 Adds reference to: 30 ILCS 105/5.891 new 625 ILCS 5/11-709 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-709 625 ILCS 5/11-907 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-907 625 ILCS 5/11-907.5 705 ILCS 135/15-70 720 ILCS 5/9-3 from Ch. 38, par. 9-3 730 ILCS 5/5-6-1 from Ch. 38, par. 1005-6-1 730 ILCS 5/5-3-2 from Ch. 38, par. 1005-3-2 730 ILCS 5/5-5-3.2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Dedicates the Act to the memory of Lieutenant Scott Gillen, Trooper Brooke Jones-Story, and Trooper Christopher Lambert. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Scott's Law Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, when approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle, if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe, a person shall proceed with due caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle maintaining a safe speed for road conditions and leaving a safe distance until safely past the stationary vehicles. Provides that, when approaching a disabled vehicle with lighted hazard lights on a highway having at least 4 lanes, of which at least 2 are proceeding in the same direction, a driver of a vehicle shall, proceeding with due caution, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that of the disabled vehicle, if possible with due regard to safety and traffic conditions, or, if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe proceeding with due caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions and leaving a safe distance until safely past the stationary vehicles. Provides that a person who violates provisions prescribing how to safely approach an authorized emergency vehicle commits a business offense punishable by a minimum fine of $250 and not more than $10,000 for the first violation and a fine of not less than $750 or more than $10,000 for the second or subsequent violation (instead of a fine of not less than $100 or more than $10,000), and (i) if the violation results in damage to another vehicle, the person commits a Class A misdemeanor; and (ii) if the violation results in the injury or death of another person, the person commits a Class 4 felony. Provides that commission of the offense of reckless homicide while committing a violation of the Section concerning proper approach of a stationary authorized emergency vehicle shall be afforded as a factor in aggravation and extended-term sentencing. Provides that the Director of the State Police shall use all moneys in the Scott's Law Fund in the Department's discretion to fund the production of materials to educate drivers on approaching stationary authorized emergency vehicles, to hire off-duty Department of State Police for enforcement of the Section concerning proper approach of a stationary authorized emergency vehicle, and for other law enforcement purposes the Director deems necessary for such efforts. Provides that, for violations issued by a county or municipal police officer, the assessment shall be deposited into the county or municipality's Transportation Safety Highway Hire-back Fund to hire off-duty county police officers to monitor construction or maintenance zones in that county on highways other than interstate highways. Provides that the county, in its discretion, may also use a portion of the moneys in its Transportation Safety Highway Hire-back Fund to purchase equipment for county law enforcement and fund the production of materials to educate drivers on construction zone safe driving habits and approaching stationary authorized emergency vehicles. Amends the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act. Imposes a conditional assessment of $250 for a violation of provisions prescribing how to safely approach an authorized emergency vehicle. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person who commits reckless homicide while violating provisions prescribing how to safely approach an authorized emergency vehicle shall be sentenced to a term of not less than 3 years and not more than 14 years, or, if the person caused the deaths of 2 or more persons, not less than 6 years and not more than 28 years. Makes other changes. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a person charged with violating provisions prescribing how to safely approach an authorized emergency vehicle is not eligible for supervision.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State shall include, in the Illinois Rules of the Road publication, information advising drivers to use the zipper merge method when merging into a reduced number of lanes (drivers in merging lanes are expected to use both lanes to advance to the lane reduction point and merge at that location, alternating turns). House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 625 ILCS 5/6-109 625 ILCS 5/11-907.1 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill, and further amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State shall include, in the question pool used for the written portion of the driver's license examination, at least one test question concerning driver responsibilities when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle. Creates the Move Over Task Force to study the issue of violations of the provisions of the Code prescribing how to safely enter a highway construction zone, approach a disabled vehicle, and approach an authorized emergency vehicle. Prescribes membership for the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall meet no fewer than 3 times and shall present its report and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2020. Repeals the Task Force on January 1, 2021. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Adds to the Move Over Task Force one representative, appointed by the Governor, from a bona fide labor organization representing certified road flaggers and other road construction workers.

Amends the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that at the time of applying for or renewing his or her license, an applicant for a license or license renewal under the Act may submit an email address to the Department of Public Health. Provides that the Department shall keep the email address on file as a form of contact for the individual. Provides that, within 60 days before the expiration of the license, the Department shall send license renewal notices electronically and by mail to all licensees who provide the Department with his or her email address.