Rep. Natalie Manley

Calls upon elected officials at local, state, and federal levels to stand with the UPS Teamsters in their efforts to collectively bargain for fair wages, safe working conditions, affordable healthcare, and the dignified retirement that they rightfully have earned while working for UPS. Calls on the federal government to respect the UPS Teamsters rights to collectively bargain, including the right to withhold their labor. Calls on elected officials at local, state, and federal levels to demonstrate their support by signing on to an open letter to rank-and-file Teamsters at UPS expressing that government has no role to play in collective bargaining between workers and their employer and therefore no elected individual or government entity should attempt to insert themselves into the collective bargaining process or participate in any attempted resolution of a new contract that is not first voted upon and ratified by rank-and-file UPS Teamsters prior to such government-related intervention.

Urges Portillo's to honor the wishes of its food distribution workers who have voted to join a union and bargain collectively for the betterment of themselves and their families. Urges all State elected officials to stand with Portillo's food distribution workers that voted to unionize for better working conditions, livable wages, and access to basic sick time benefits. Urges Portillo's to respect the constitutional rights of its workers in Illinois to bargain collectively. Commends and acknowledges the decision made by Portillo's food distribution workers in Addison to unionize and join the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, AFL-CIO.

Declares March 2024 as Red Cross Month. Urges everyone to join in this commitment to give to others and encourages all citizens of Illinois to support the noble efforts of the Red Cross.

Recognizes Joliet Junior College on the successful implementation of its 12x12x12 dual credit program. Commends the community college for continuing to inspire learning, transform lives, and strengthen communities. Encourages community colleges to pursue and implement similar dual credit programs of their own.

Creates the Endow Illinois Tax Credit Act. Provides that the Department of Revenue shall award income tax credits to taxpayers who provide an endowment gift to a permanent endowment fund during the taxable year and receive a certificate of receipt for that gift. Provides that the credit is equal to 25% of the endowment gift. Contains provisions setting forth maximum credit amounts. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to require an addition modification equal to the amount of any federal deduction claimed for an endowment gift for which a taxpayer receives a credit under the Endow Illinois Tax Credit Act. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Declares December 26, 2023 and December 26, 2024 as Cold War Veterans Recognition Day in honor of the contributions and sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces during the Cold War.

Declares the week of January 21 through January 27, 2024 as Medicolegal Death Investigation Professionals Week in the State of Illinois in honor of the coroners, deputy coroners, medical examiners, support and ancillary staff, forensic pathologists, and medicolegal death investigators for their ongoing commitment of service to the citizens of Illinois and their communities.

Declares March 12, 2024 as "Equal Pay Day". Encourages the citizens of this State to learn about the pay gap that women experience in society and to learn about these various dates that bring attention to the pay gap that specific groups experience.

Amends the Illinois Public Demonstrations Law. Replaces all references to the principal law enforcement officer for the area with references to the sheriff of the county where the march, assembly, meeting, parade, or gathering on roadways originates. Provides that a person who blocks an exceptionally busy public right-of-way for any period of not less than 5 minutes in a manner that prevents, or would prevent, the free passage of a peace officer, a firefighter, or an emergency medical services personnel responder, irrespective of the time of day or notice provided, commits a Class 4 felony. Provides that no act of notification to law enforcement is a defense to the Class 4 felony. Provides that no act or circumstance of scheduling or time is a defense to the Class 4 felony. Provides that if permission is requested from the sheriff of the county where the march, assembly, meeting, parade, or gathering on roadways originates under, it is the responsibility of the sheriff, not the requester, to coordinate with other law enforcement agencies in other jurisdictions as necessary. Preempts the concurrent exercise of home rule. Defines "exceptionally busy public right of way". Makes findings. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Rust Belt to Green Belt Pilot Program Act. Creates the Illinois Rust Belt to Green Belt Fund as a special fund in the State treasury and makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act. Provides that the Fund shall be used by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to encourage and facilitate the employment of construction workforces located in underrepresented populations. Provides that applicants that are applying for a new utility-scale offshore wind project with the Illinois Power Agency shall file with the Department, as part of the applicant's application, an equity and inclusion plan. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. In provisions concerning the procurement of renewable energy credits, provides that in addition to the amount of renewable energy credits to be procured from wind projects, the Illinois Power Agency shall procure at least 700,000 renewable energy credits, delivered annually for at least 20 years, from one new utility-scale offshore wind project. In provisions concerning the development of a long-term renewable resources procurement plan, provides that the total of renewable energy resources procured under the procurement plan shall be reduced for all retail customers based on the amount necessary to limit the annual estimated average net increase due to the costs of these resources included in the amounts paid by eligible retail customers in connection with electric service to no more than 4.25% of the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the year ending May 31, 2009, and to no more than 4.5% of that amount as of the billing month following the expected date that a new utility-scale offshore wind project commences commercial operations and is expected to begin delivering power to the PJM Interconnection, LLC transmission grid. Provides that the Agency shall conduct at least one new utility-scale offshore wind procurement within 360 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Defines terms. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.