Sen. Robert Peters

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that rates for homemaker services shall be increased to $29.64 beginning July 1, 2023 to sustain a minimum wage of $18 per hour for direct service workers. Requires rates in subsequent State fiscal years to be no lower than the rates in effect on July 1, 2023. Requires providers of in-home services to be required to certify to the Department on Aging that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Provides that fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, paid time off and payment for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation, shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases described in the amendatory Act. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Cook County Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a contributing employee may elect to purchase creditable service for up to 48 months of active-duty military service, whether or not that service followed service as a county employee. Provides that to establish this creditable service, the contributing employee must pay to the Fund an amount determined by the Fund to represent the employee contributions for the creditable service based on his or her rate of compensation after the military service, plus interest at the effective rate from the date of discharge to the date of payment. Removes an existing provision concerning the purchase of service credit for military service. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires health care professionals who have continuing education requirements to complete cultural competency training, which shall include information on sensitivity relating to and best practices for providing affirming care to people in the person's preferred language, people with disabilities, documented or undocumented immigrants, people who are intersex, people living with HIV, and people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Provides that for every license or registration renewal occurring on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a health care professional who has continuing education requirements must complete at least 5 hours in cultural competency training. Provides that for every license or registration renewal occurring on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a person licensed or registered by the Department under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 and who has continuing education requirements must complete at least 10 hours in cultural competency training. Provides that these continuing education hours may count toward meeting the minimum credit hours required for continuing education. Provides for rulemaking. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that a petitioner may file a petition to vacate and expunge certain felony possession violations under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act or the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that the States Attorney's office of each county shall report annually to the Sentencing Policy Advisory Council certain information regarding each person whose case was disposed under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, the Cannabis Control Act, and the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act. Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that notwithstanding any provision of the statute prohibiting the knowing manufacture, delivery, or intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance to the contrary, this provision does not apply to possession with intent to deliver an amount of a controlled or counterfeit substances or controlled substance analogs for which possession is classified as a Class A misdemeanor. Reduces the penalties for the knowing manufacture or delivery, possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, or possession of certain specified controlled substances. Reduces the penalties for the knowing possession of certain specified controlled substances. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections and the Code of Civil Procedure to make conforming changes.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in the short title Section.

Amends the Early Childhood Workforce Act. Creates the Early Childhood Workforce Standards Board (Board). Provides that Board members must be appointed within 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Sets forth the Board's membership. Provides that for State Fiscal Year 2025, and for each state fiscal year thereafter, the Board shall: (1) determine an hourly wage floor, and salaried equivalent, for workers in State-funded early childhood programs which the Board believes will serve to recruit and retain early childhood workers; and (2) determine minimum increments above the wage floor as may be necessary to retain workers in State-funded early childhood programs such as for years of experience or job title. Provides that subject to appropriation, beginning in State Fiscal Year 2025 the Department of Human Services shall implement and administer a program making grants to early childhood worker training programs that value experience, inclusion, equity, and racial justice; and center worker voices and needs such as mentorship, apprenticeships, and peer-led learning. Amends the School Code. Provides that in order to ensure the quality and continuity of services, within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, all grant agreements shall require each child care center to (i) comply with the wage floor and compensation policies set forth in the Early Childhood Workforce Act, (ii) report quarterly up-to-date contact information for staff to the Department to allow the State Board of Education to communicate with the workers about their rights and supports available to them, (iii) supply the State Board of Education with current copies of its wage scales for classroom and support staff and other matters, and (iv) reconcile expenses quarterly and annually submit a year-end comprehensive financial report in a form prescribed by the State Board of Education. Imposes similar requirements on child care centers in a purchase of service contract with the Department of Human Services under its Child Care Assistance Program.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that beginning July 1, 2023, and each State fiscal year thereafter, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall increase the Prospective Payment System rates for federally qualified health centers by $100,000,000 using an alternative payment method acceptable to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and a trade association representing a majority of federally qualified health centers operating in Illinois, including a rate increase that is an equal percentage increase to the rates paid to each federally qualified health center. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Public Construction Bond Act. Provides that public construction bonds are required only for those public work construction contracts that are valued over $5,000,000. Authorizes any official, board, commission, agent of the State, or any political subdivision of the State to create a self-insured risk pool for contracts of $5,000,000 or less. Defines "self insured risk pool".

Amends the Solicitation for Charity Act. Defines "reviewed financial statements". Provides that every charitable organization that receives in any 12-month period ending upon its established fiscal or calendar year contributions in excess of $500,000 (rather than $300,000) shall file a written report meeting specified criteria with the Attorney General. Provides that a charitable organization that receives in excess of $300,000, but not in excess of $500,000, shall file a written report meeting other specified criteria with the Attorney General upon forms prescribed by the Attorney General. Provides that the Attorney General, within a binding nonjudicial settlement agreement, may accept a written assurance of discontinuance of any method, act, or practice alleged to be a violation of the reporting requirements from the person who has engaged in the method, act, or practice. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act are inoperative on and after January 1, 2029. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the Illinois Lottery Law. Provides that the Department of the Lottery shall offer a special instant scratch-off game titled "Epilepsy Quality of Life". Provides that the game commences on January 1, 2024 and shall be discontinued on December 31, 2029. Provides that the operation of the game is governed by the Act and by any rules adopted by the Department. Creates the Epilepsy Quality of Life Fund. Provides that the Department shall award grants to qualified recipients in amounts that are proportionate to the annual budget of each recipient in relation to every other recipient. Provides that during the time that tickets are sold for the Epilepsy Quality of Life game, the Department shall not unreasonably diminish the efforts devoted to marketing any other instant scratch-off lottery game. Provides that the Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement the scratch-off game. Makes a corresponding change in the State Finance Act.