Rep. Sue Scherer

Amends the Credit Card Marketing Act of 2009. Creates the College Student Credit Card Marketing and Debt Task Force. Provides legislative findings. Provides for the membership of the Task Force. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall provide technical and administrative support and any other necessary assistance to the Task Force and shall be responsible for administering its operations and ensuring that the requirements of the provisions are met. Provides that the Task Force shall conduct a study on student credit card debt; specifies study requirements. Provides that the Task Force shall report the findings of the study conducted and any recommendations to the General Assembly on or before December 14, 2019, at which time the Task Force shall be dissolved. Repeals these provisions on November 1, 2020. Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, the Cigarette Tax Act, the Cigarette Use Tax Act, the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act, the Motor Fuel Tax Law, the Telecommunications Excise Tax Act, and the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that the vendor discount amount under those Acts shall be 1.75%. Provides that the vendor discount may not exceed $1,000 per vendor in any calendar year. Effective immediately.

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. Effective immediately.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, an applicant seeking a Professional Educator License or an Educator License with Stipulations who holds a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education is not required to pass a test of basic skills to be issued that license. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Removes language providing that Medicaid rates for supportive living facilities effective on July 1, 2018 must be equal to the rates in effect for supportive living facilities on June 30, 2018. Provides that the Medicaid rates for supportive living services on and after July 1, 2019 must be equal to 60% of the average total nursing facility services per diem for the geographic areas defined by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Provides that for supportive living facilities specializing in dementia care, the rate must be 72% instead of 60%. Requires the Medicaid rates for supportive living services to be updated whenever the total nursing facility service per diems are updated. Requires the Department to delink the per diem rate paid for supportive living facility services from the per diem rate paid for nursing facility services, effective for services provided on or after May 1, 2011 through June 30, 2019 (rather than effective for services provided on or after May 1, 2011). Effective immediately.

Declares April 2019 as Ambucs Appreciation Month in the State of Illinois.

Urges policy decisions enacted by the Illinois State Legislature to acknowledge and take into account the principles of early childhood brain development. Declares May 15, 2019 as Trauma-Informed Awareness Day in Illinois.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that a neglected minor includes any minor under the age of 12 (rather than 14) years whose parent or other person responsible for the minor's welfare leaves the minor without supervision for an unreasonable period of time without regard for the mental or physical health, safety, or welfare of that minor. Provides that neglect does not include permitting a child, whose basic needs are met and who is of sufficient age and maturity to avoid harm or unreasonable risk of harm, to engage in independent activities, including: (1) traveling to and from school, including by walking, running, or bicycling; (2) traveling to and from nearby commercial or recreational activities; (3) engaging in outdoor play; (4) remaining in a vehicle unattended, except as otherwise provided by law; (5) remaining at home unattended; or (6) engaging in a similar independent activity. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits child abandonment when he or she, as a parent, guardian, or other person having physical custody or control of a child, without regard for the mental or physical health, safety, or welfare of that child, knowingly leaves that child who is under the age of 12 (rather than 13) without supervision by a responsible person over the age of 14 for a period of 24 hours or more.

Amends the Professional Limited Liability Company Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Junk Mail Opt-Out List Act. Makes legislative declarations. Defines terms including bulk mailer, junk mail, and postal patron. Provides that by July 1, 2020, the Attorney General shall establish and provide for the operation of the Illinois Junk Mail Opt-Out List, containing the addresses of postal patrons who have given notice that they do not wish to receive junk mail. Provides that no person shall send junk mail to a postal patron who has registered for the Opt-Out List. Provides that any person who wishes to send junk mail shall consult the Opt-Out List each calendar quarter. Provides that mail sent by a small business, a political entity, or a charitable entity exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or by a business to its customers, is not junk mail. Provides that the civil penalties for violations are set on a sliding scale. Provides that the State does not have any liability to a person for any failures in enforcement of the Act. Provides that the Attorney General shall provide by rule for fees on a sliding scale for persons and entities that want to send junk mail, but who will honor the List. Provides for: referral and investigation of complaints; inclusion in the Opt-Out List; violations; remedies; exemptions; and other matters. Creates the Junk Mail Opt-Out List Fund as a special fund, provides that fees and civil penalties shall be deposited into the Fund and that moneys in the Fund shall be used for implementation, administration, and enforcement of the new Act, and amends the State Finance Act to list the new Fund as a special fund. Effective immediately.