Sen. Emil Jones

Amends State Appellate Defender Act. Deletes the discretionary duty of the State Appellate Defender to provide assistance to trial counsel in capital cases. Adds the discretionary duty to provide training, assistance of expert witnesses, and investigators to public defenders from funds appropriated for those purposes. Prohibits the State Appellate Defender from being appointed as trial counsel. Deletes authority of investigators for the Capital Trial Assistance Unit and Capital Post Conviction Unit to access the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS) for witness background checks. Deletes the authority for the State Appellate Defender to request appropriations from the Capital Litigation Trust Fund for capital case expenses in assisting trial counsel, representing petitioners in post-conviction proceedings, and in defending cases in counties other than Cook County. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. In the statute exempting from an unlawful use of weapons violation or an aggravated unlawful use of a weapon violation, persons licensed as private security contractors, private detectives, or private alarm contractors, or employed by an agency certified by the Department of Professional Regulation, if their duties include the carrying of a weapon, deletes provision that the Department of Professional Regulation shall provide suitable documentation demonstrating the successful completion of the prescribed firearms training and that the documentation shall be carried at all times when those persons are in possession of a concealable weapon. Provides that the licensed person shall be considered eligible for the exemption if he or she has completed the required 20 hours of training under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004 and 20 hours of required firearm training, and has been issued a firearm control card by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that conditions for the renewal of firearm control cards issued under these provisions shall be the same as for those cards issued under the provisions of the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. Provides that the firearm control card shall be carried by the licensed person at all times when he or she is in possession of a concealable weapon.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. In a Section concerning death and homicide investigation, provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board shall conduct or approve a training program for the training of coroners. Provides that only coroners who successfully complete the program may be assigned as a lead investigator in coroner's investigations of a death or homicide, and the completion of the program must be evidenced by a certificate. Further provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board shall develop a process for waiver applications sent by a local law enforcement agency administrator (now, an agency administrator) or from a coroner's office for certain officers or coroners that qualify for a waiver. Provides that provisions concerning training in death and homicide investigations do not affect or impede the powers of the office of the coroner to investigate all deaths.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a Section concerning accident counseling shall apply to Class I and Class II (instead of only Class I) rail carriers. Provides that each Class I and Class II rail carrier must review and update its accident counseling or trauma program filing on an annual basis. Provides that programs may be filed either by mail or electronically via an email address designated by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Establishes NPDES permit fees for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Sexually Transmissible Disease Control Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health, in consultation with the Department of Corrections and local health departments, shall develop and implement written procedures that establish a process for confidentially notifying and recommending sexually transmissible disease testing of (1) contacts in the community of a prisoner diagnosed with a sexually transmissible disease and (2) prisoners whose contacts in the community or in the prison have been diagnosed with a sexually transmissible disease. Sets forth requirements concerning the process. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Creates the offense of failure to report the disappearance of a child to a law enforcement agency. Provides that a person commits the offense when he or she, as a parent, guardian, or other person having physical custody or control of a child under 13 years of age, knowingly or recklessly fails to immediately report the child as missing to a law enforcement agency after a 24-hour period expires in which he or she failed to make contact with or otherwise verify the whereabouts and safety of that child. Provides that a person does not commit the offense of failure to report the disappearance of a child to a law enforcement agency when the failure to report is due to an act of God, act of war, or inability of a law enforcement agency to receive a report of the disappearance of a child. Provides that a violation is a Class 4 felony. Provides that a parent, guardian, or other person having physical custody or control of a child under 18 years of age must report: (1) the child's death to a law enforcement agency within one hour after learning about the child's death or (2) the location of the child's corpse to a law enforcement agency within one hour after learning the location of the corpse. Provides that a person does not violate this provision when he or she fails to report due to an act of God, act of war, or inability of a law enforcement agency to receive a report of a child's death or the location of a child's corpse. Provides that a violation is a Class 4 felony.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning establishment of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that the statute of limitations for a prosecution for involuntary servitude, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, or trafficking in persons for forced labor or services may be commenced within one year of the victim attaining the age of 18 years. Provides that in no case shall the time period for prosecution of those offenses expire sooner than 3 years after the commission of the offense. Includes in the offense of involuntary servitude using a scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause the person to believe that, if the person did not perform that labor or services, that person or another person would suffer serious harm or physical restraint. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that in prosecutions for involuntary servitude, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, and trafficking in persons, when the offense involves sexual activity, the prior sexual activity or the reputation of the alleged victim or corroborating witness is inadmissible except under certain circumstances. Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Includes in the definition of "sex offense" trafficking in persons, involuntary servitude, and related offenses, provided the offense involved commercial sexual activity, a sexually-explicit performance, or the production of pornography. Also includes in the definition of "sex offense", involuntary sexual servitude of a minor.

Amends the State Employment Records Act. Provides that each State agency shall include in its annual report a description of the agency's activities in implementing the State Asian Employment Plan. Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law. Provides that in consultation with knowledgeable persons and organizations, the Department shall each year prepare an Asian Employment Plan and report to the General Assembly each State agency's activities that implement the plan. Provides that each State agency shall implement strategies and programs in accord with the State Asian Employment Plan to increase the number of Asian State employees in supervisory, technical, professional, and managerial positions. Requires each agency to report annually to the Department and the Department of Human Rights concerning the agency's activities in implementing the plan. Specifies information to be included in each agency's annual report. Effective immediately.