Rep. Harry Benton

Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that the Illinois Community College Board shall, in cooperation with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, develop an academic program to (i) grant students a certification to become a law enforcement officer or firefighter and (ii) grant those students an associate degree. Provides that in order to be admitted into the academic program, a student shall have completed a public safety or fire safety career and technical education course in high school.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for businesses with an average of 100 or fewer full-time employees during the taxable year in an amount equal to 50% of the costs incurred by the business in offering a paid family leave program to all of its full-time employees.

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, 2024, the exemption for farm machinery and equipment also includes electrical power generation equipment used primarily for production agriculture. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the maximum income limitation under the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption is (i) $65,000 for all qualified property containing an individual household and (ii) $80,000 for all qualified property containing a shared household (currently, $65,000 for all property). Effective immediately.

Creates the Suicide Prevention Signage Act. Provides that a building, bridge, ferry, or park constructed or replaced after July 1, 2025 as a public works project must have in appropriate locations signs displaying the 9-8-8 national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to administer a suicide prevention community-based services grant program to provide suicide prevention, peer support, and other assistance to at-risk and transitioning veterans and military members and their families. Requires the Department, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, to establish a process to receive, review, process, and award grants to organizations that address veterans, military members, and their families who may be at risk of suicide and other mental health crises. Creates the Veterans and Military Members Suicide Prevention Fund and sets forth the purpose of the Fund. Contains provisions on the creation of a database of information on State, federal, and community resources that address the mental health, well-being, and suicide prevention of veterans, military members, and their families; internet-accessible suicide education training and information for veterans, military members, and their families; a Suicide-Safer Homes Task Force; a State Global War on Terror Memorial; and other matters. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to inquire about the military service of all public aid applicants at the point of application. Amends the Firearm Dealer License Certification Act. Provides that an expansion of safe storage of firearms and reduced access to lethal means in the community is encouraged to better prevent suicide by veterans, military members, and their families. Provides that a licensed firearms dealer who allows a person to temporarily store a firearm on the dealer's premises in a storage locker, box, or container does not thereby create a special relationship, for civil liability purposes. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State may issue Prevent Veteran Suicide universal special license plates. Effective July 1, 2023, with some parts taking effect on October 1, 2023 and some parts taking effect July 1, 2025.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may enter into credit agreements with eligible manufacturing employers for the purpose of creating manufacturing jobs in the State. Effective immediately.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that a qualified child care director must be present at the open or close of the facility. Provides that a qualified early childhood teacher who has been employed by the facility continuously for at least 24 months may otherwise be present for the first or last hour of the workday. Provides that a child care facility licensed under the Act may allow programs to staff classrooms with early childhood assistant qualified staff for up to 3 hours of the program day if it is documented in the facility's written staffing plan. Provides that an early childhood teacher must meet one of the following qualifications: (1) complete 60 semester hours from an accredited college or university with either 6 semester hours in early childhood education or complete the Gateways Early Childhood Education Credential Level 1 training; (2) complete 1,560 clock hours of child development experience and 30 semester hours from an accredited college or university with either 6 semester hours in early childhood education or Gateways Early Childhood Education Credential Level 1 training; (3) complete 2,080 clock hours of child development experience as a teacher assistant in a day care center, complete the Gateways Early Childhood Education Credential Level 1 training, and provide proof of enrollment from an accredited college or university until 30 semester hours are attained or proof of enrollment in an early childhood teacher credentialing program, either of which must be completed in no more than 5 years from the date of initial enrollment; or (4) complete a credentialing program approved by the Department of Children and Family Services in accordance with administrative rule. Makes a corresponding change.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that school boards shall ensure that the Individualized Education Program process is transparent for all students and the families of students. Provides that school boards shall adopt a policy to ensure equitable and clear access to the Individualized Education Program process.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a driver shall be permanently banned from holding a commercial driver's license if the driver uses a commercial motor vehicle in the commission of any felony involving the trafficking in persons. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children With Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that in the development of the individualized education program for a student, if during the initial development of the individualized education program is recognized that the student's needs are unlikely to change, the individualized education program shall continue without the need for the student's IEP team to meet until either the student or the parent requests a change in the student's individualized education program.