Sen. Javier Cervantes

Creates the Workplace Health and Safety Committee Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act. Provides that the State Board of Education shall reimburse not less than the actual cost to school boards for each free lunch or breakfast supplied by them (instead of reimbursing school boards $0.15 or the actual cost, whichever is less, for each free lunch or breakfast), taking into consideration (rather than being in addition to) any federal contributions.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions regarding the types of licenses, provides that applicants for a Substitute Teaching License must hold an associate degree (instead of a bachelor's degree) or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or must be enrolled in an approved educator preparation program in this State and have earned at least 90 credit hours. Effective July 1, 2023.

Creates the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program Act. Requires the Department of Employment Security to establish and administer a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program that provides family and medical leave insurance benefits to eligible employees. Sets forth eligibility requirements for benefits under the Act. Contains provisions concerning disqualification from benefits; premium payments; the amount and duration of benefits; the recovery of erroneous payments; hearings; defaulted premium payments; elective coverage; employment protection; coordination of family and medical leave; defined terms; and other matters. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Account Fund. Provides phase-in periods for the collection of money and making of claims for benefits under the Act. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, moneys in the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Fund may not be appropriated, assigned, or transferred to another State fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that an individual taxpayer who (i) provides behind-the-wheel commercial driving instruction for at least 160 hours during the taxable year to an individual who holds a commercial learner's permit, (ii) accepts no compensation for the instruction, and (iii) holds a valid commercial driver's license in this State during the period of the instruction and has at least 6 months of commercial driving experience as of the first day that the taxpayer provides instruction is entitled to an income tax credit in an amount equal to $11,500 for each person who receives at least 160 hours of instruction from the taxpayer during the taxable year. Provides that the credit may not be carried forward or back, may not be refunded to the taxpayer, and may not reduce the taxpayer's liability to less than zero. Effective immediately.

Amends the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act. In a provision concerning personal care services under the Home Services Program, includes a program recipient's guardian, kin, or siblings to the list of persons the Department of Human Services shall allow to serve as a program recipient's provider of personal care or similar services. In a provision concerning wages to personal assistants, provides that wages and other benefits for personal assistants shall not count against benefits that guardians receive as outlined in the Guardians for Adults with Disabilities Article of the Probate Act of 1975.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning the child care assistance program, requires the Department of Human Services to establish a semimonthly payment schedule for child care providers that have a purchase of service contract with the Department or a subcontractor of the Department. Provides that under the payment schedule, a child care provider shall receive payment on the 1st and 16th of each month for any child care services provided to a family approved for child care assistance. Provides that if payment is not made by the scheduled payment date, a child care provider may submit a written request for payment in a form and manner prescribed by the Department for the amount owed plus the amount of any financial losses or costs the child care provider incurred due to the nonpayment. Provides that a child care provider must submit the request-for-payment form to the Department within 3 months after the date of the nonpayment. Provides that any request-for-payment form submitted after the 3-month period shall not be processed for payment. Requires the Department to oversee the implementation of the semimonthly payment schedule and to receive and process all request-for-payment forms submitted by child care providers. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act shall be construed to apply to monthly co-payments owed by a family under the child care assistance program.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that if the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service creates and makes available to the states a waiver permitting recipients of benefits provided under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to use their SNAP benefits to purchase hot foods at grocery stores, the Department of Human Services shall apply for the waiver. If the U.S. Department of Agriculture approves the Department of Human Services' waiver application, then the Department of Human Services shall adopt rules and make other changes as necessary to implement the approved waiver.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, the State Board of Education shall develop and maintain a program aimed at facilitating education in advanced manufacturing technical skills. Provides that the program shall be implemented in no less than 12 public high schools, over the span of 3 years, where the youth unemployment rate is at least twice the national average. Specifies program requirements. Provides that the State Board shall ensure that each high school participating in the program has adequate funding for at least one industry coordinator, tutoring, pre-employment and on-the-job mentoring, professional and leadership development, and life and financial management instruction. Provides that the State Board shall use a program provider to help design, build, and accredit the training program. Effective immediately.