Sen. Celina Villanueva

Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Defines "administrative separation". Provides that a court lacks jurisdiction to proceed on a petition for the appointment of a guardian or standby guardian of a minor if it finds that the minor has a living parent whose parental rights have not been terminated, unless, among other things, the parent or parents, in the event of an administrative separation, are not presently located in the United States and are unable to consent as evidenced by a sworn affidavit. Provides that a parent or guardian shall not appoint a short-term guardian of a minor if the minor has another living parent whose parental rights have not been terminated, unless, among other things, the parent or parents, in the event of an administrative separation, are not presently located in the United States and are unable to consent as evidenced by a sworn affidavit. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 755 ILCS 5/11-10.1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: (1) changes the definition of "administrative separation"; (2) provides that the court lacks jurisdiction to proceed on a petition for the appointment of a guardian or standby guardian of a minor if the minor has a living parent, adoptive parent, or adjudicated parent, whose whereabouts are known, and who is willing and able to make and carry out day-to-day child care decisions, unless the parent or parents, due to an administrative separation, are unable to give consent to the appointment in person or by a notarized, written document as evidenced by a sworn affidavit describing the parent's or parents' inability to receive notice or give consent (rather than the parent or parents, in the event of an administrative separation, are not presently located in the United States and are unable to consent as evidenced by a sworn affidavit describing the present location of the parent out of the country and the attempts made to contact the parent); (3) deletes language providing that a parent or guardian shall not appoint a short-term guardian of a minor if the minor has another living parent, adoptive parent, or adjudicated parent whose whereabouts are known, and who is willing to carry out day-to-day child care decisions unless the parent or parents in the event of an administrative separation, are not presently located in the United States and are unable to consent as evidenced by a sworn affidavit describing the present location of the parent out of the country and the attempts made to contact the parent; (4) provides that a short-term guardian who was appointed as the result of an administrative separation may renew a short-term guardianship for an additional 365 days from the date the initial appointment expires if the administrative separation is still in effect, unless the written instrument provides for the appointment to terminate upon a different date or event; (5) deletes language providing that the petition for guardian or standby guardian of a minor must state the facts concerning any administrative separation proceeding; (6) provides specific facts that the petition for guardian or standby guardian of a minor must include and that documentation related to an administrative separation shall be attached to the petition as an exhibit; and (7) deletes language providing that failure to give notice to any relative or parent out of the country is not jurisdictional if the petitioner can attest to specific factors. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act and Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that each hospital shall post, in each facility that has an emergency room, a notice in a conspicuous location in the emergency room with information about how to enroll in health insurance through the Illinois health insurance marketplace.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Restaurant Meals Program to permit individuals who are elderly, persons with a disability, and homeless individuals to redeem their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits at private establishments that contract with the Department to offer meals for eligible SNAP recipients at concessional prices. Requires the Restaurant Meals Program to be operational no later than January 1, 2020. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Effective immediately.

Amends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Removes a provision requiring the Department of Human Services to increase TANF grant amounts in effect on June 30, 2008 by 15%. Provides that TANF grant amounts shall be apportioned as follows: 75% shall be designated for the child or children of the assistance unit; and 25% shall be designated for the adult member or members of the assistance unit. Removes a provision that permits the discontinuance of all or a part of a TANF recipient's grant amount as a penalty for noncompliance with TANF education, training, and employment programs. Requires the Department to, by rule, impose a 30% reduction of the portion of the grant amount designated for the adult member or members of an assistance unit when a member is found to be in noncompliance with program requirements without good cause. Provides that no sanction shall reduce the portion of the grant amount that is designated for any child of the assistance unit. Requires the full grant amount to be restored when an adult member or members are determined to be in compliance with program requirements. Provides that homelessness, receipt of an eviction notice, discontinued utilities, and other specified circumstances shall constitute good cause for failure to participate in required TANF education, training, and employment programs. Provides that beginning October 1, 2019, and each October 1 thereafter, the maximum TANF benefit levels shall be annually adjusted to remain equal to at least 30% of the most recent poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for each family size. Effective immediately.

Creates the Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee Act. Requires the Governor's Cabinet on Children and Youth to create the Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee to drive the State's strategic vision for preventing homelessness among youth leaving State systems of care. Sets forth the Subcommittee's duties including: (1) reviewing the discharge planning, services plans, and discharge procedures for youth leaving the custody or guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Human Services' Division of Mental Health, and the Department of Corrections to determine whether such discharge planning and procedures ensure housing stability for youth leaving State systems of care; and (2) collecting data on the housing stability of youth for one year after they are released from State custody or guardianship. Provides that the Subcommittee shall include specified members, including: (i) one representative from the Governor's office; (ii) 4 representatives from agencies serving homeless youth; and (iii) 4 youth who have a lived experience with homelessness. Contains provisions concerning a quorum, administrative support, subcommittee meetings, and reporting requirements.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. In provisions requiring the Illinois Power Agency to solicit 15-year contracts for delivery of renewable energy credits from new utility-scale wind projects, new utility-scale solar projects, and brownfield site photovoltaic projects to begin delivery on June 1, 2019, if available, but not later than June 1, 2021, specifies that, if the project has delays in the establishment of an operating interconnection with the applicable transmission or distribution system as a result of the actions or inactions of the transmission or distribution provider, or other causes for force majeure as outlined in the procurement contract, delivery shall begin not later than June 1, 2022.

Amends the School Code and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Provides that, on and after September 1, 2019, all teacher evaluation ratings on record as "excellent", "proficient", or "needs improvement" are considered "effective" and all teacher evaluation ratings on record as "unsatisfactory" are considered "ineffective" for the purposes of the Employment of Teachers Article. Makes other changes concerning the waiver or modification of mandates; school report cards; license suspension or revocation; contractual continued service; removal or dismissal of teachers; an optional alternative evaluative dismissal process; evaluation plans; a local appeal process for ineffective ratings; rules; the appointment and promotion of teachers in Chicago; alternative procedures for teacher evaluation, remediation, and removal in Chicago; and the Open Meetings Act. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25g 105 ILCS 5/10-17a from Ch. 122, par. 10-17a 105 ILCS 5/21B-75 105 ILCS 5/24-9.5 new 105 ILCS 5/24-11 from Ch. 122, par. 24-11 105 ILCS 5/24-12 from Ch. 122, par. 24-12 105 ILCS 5/24-16.5 105 ILCS 5/24A-4 from Ch. 122, par. 24A-4 105 ILCS 5/24A-5 from Ch. 122, par. 24A-5 105 ILCS 5/24A-5.5 new 105 ILCS 5/24A-7 from Ch. 122, par. 24A-7 105 ILCS 5/34-84 from Ch. 122, par. 34-84 105 ILCS 5/34-85c 115 ILCS 5/18 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/34-18 from Ch. 122, par. 34-18 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code to provide that the governing bodies of contract schools are subject to the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act.

Creates the Task Force on Infant and Maternal Mortality Among African Americans Act. Creates the Task Force on Infant and Maternal Mortality Among African Americans. Provides for the membership of the Task Force. Provides for the election of a chairperson of the Task Force. Requires the Department of Public Health to provide technical support and assistance to the Task Force and to be responsible for administering its operations and ensuring that the requirements of the Act are met. Provides that members of the Task Force shall receive no compensation for their services as members of the Task Force. Provides for the meetings and duties of the Task Force. Provides that beginning December 1, 2020, and for each year thereafter, the Task Force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly. Provides findings. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds: (1) one physician representing the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians; and (2) one physician representing the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics as members of the Task Force on Infant and Maternal Mortality Among African Americans.

Urges an investment of $1 billion by the State for affordable housing to be included in the next capital budget.

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Agriculture for its FY20 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2019.