Sen. Rob Martwick

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer who may claim a qualifying student as a dependent is allowed a credit of up to $2,000 for qualified tuition and fee expenses paid by the taxpayer. Provides that the term qualifying student means a person who (i) is a resident of the State, (ii) is under the age of 24 at the close of the school year for which a credit is sought, and (iii) during the school year for which a credit is sought, is a full-time student enrolled in a program at a qualifying college or university.

Creates the Big Empties Site Act. Provides that property located in the State consisting of one or more PINs but under common ownership at the time of the application, that contains at least one vacant and unused building of specified square footage, is qualified to be designated as a Big Empties Site. Provides that a county or municipality that has adopted an ordinance designating a qualified site as a Big Empties Site shall make written application to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to have that site certified by the Department as a Big Empties Site. Contains procedures for certification by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act, the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, and the Public Utilities Act to provide certain tax incentives for Big Empties Sites. Amends the Property Tax Code to provide that a taxing district may issue an abatement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that payment from the Fund shall be made upon checks or through direct deposit transmittals authorized by the executive director (instead of upon warrants signed by the president and the secretary of the Board of Education, the president of the Board, and countersigned by the executive director) or by such person as the Board may designate from time to time by appropriate resolution. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the certified training programs in crisis intervention established by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall include addressing transportation of people with mental illnesses. Provides that the training includes understanding procedures for an involuntary transportation of people with mental illnesses to an evaluation setting.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities. Provides that the boards of trustees shall provide by rule or contract for a procedure to evaluate the performance and qualifications of non-tenured faculty members. Provides that, if the implementation of the procedure results in a decision to dismiss a non-tenured faculty member for the ensuing academic year or term, the Board shall give notice to the faculty member not later than 60 days before the end of the academic year or term. Provides that, if the Board fails to give the notice within the time period, the faculty member shall be deemed reemployed for the ensuing academic year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that if a county clerk determines that any lot, block, tract, or parcel of real property within a redevelopment project area is not taxable or has an initial equalized assessed value of $0, then the fair market value of the lot, block, tract, or parcel shall be instead determined by a written MAI-certified appraisal or by a written certified appraisal of a State-certified or State-licensed real estate appraiser. Provides that this reappraisal shall be the initial equalized assessed value of the lot, block, tract, or parcel and shall be added to the total initial equalized assessed value of the taxable real property within the redevelopment project area. Limits the provisions to tax increment allocation financing ordinances adopted after the effective date of the amendatory Act.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that the examination by a physician, qualified examiner, psychiatrist, advanced practice psychiatric nurse, or clinical psychologist to determine whether the respondent is subject to involuntary admission on an inpatient basis may be performed via telehealth as defined in the Telehealth Act.

Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Provides that no later than January 1, 2021, the Department of Public Health shall adopt rules under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to require remote monitoring and support services at community-integrated living arrangements. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Human Services to jointly submit the necessary application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a waiver or State Plan amendment to allow remote monitoring and support services as a waiver-reimbursable service for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and seniors requiring in-home care. Provides that the application shall be submitted no later than 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Director of Public Health shall establish a standing order complete with the issuance of a prescription for a smoking cessation product. Prescribes minimum requirements for the standing order. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall provide coverage for patient care services provided by a pharmacist for smoking cessation assessments and consultations. Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that the "practice of pharmacy" includes the assessment and consultation of patients and dispensing of tobacco and nicotine cessation drugs and products. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, subject to approval by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the medical assistance program shall cover patient care services provided by a pharmacist for smoking cessation assessments and consultations. Defines terms. Effective January 1, 2020.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the amount of the separation benefit shall include interest credited to the end of the preceding calendar year for contributions made under provisions authorizing employees to make additional contributions for retirement annuity purposes, to the extent permitted by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Provides that employees who first participate in the Fund on or after 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall automatically contribute 3% of each payment of earnings as additional contributions for retirement annuity purposes beginning immediately upon enrollment in the Fund as a participating employee. Provides that employees may change such contributions to an amount not to exceed 10% of each payment of earnings at any time by written notice to the Board. Provides that the Board may limit the number of withdrawals of those additional contributions to an amount not less than once per calendar year and to charge an administrative fee to cover the costs of processing such withdrawals. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective January 1, 2021.