Creates the Garden Act. Provides for the right to cultivate a vegetable garden and permits State and local regulation. Defines "vegetable garden". Limits home rule powers.
Amends the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act. Provides that the Act applies to employers with at least one employee, rather than fewer than 25 employees. Provides for automatic increases in contributions. Makes changes regarding penalties for employers who fail, without reasonable cause, to enroll an employee in the Program. Provides that, for purposes of the penalties, the Department of Revenue shall determine total employee count for employers using the annual average from employer-reported quarterly data. Provides that the Department may provide notice regarding penalties in an electronic format to be determined by the Department. Removes a provision stating that penalty provisions shall become operative 9 months after the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Board notifies the Director of Revenue that the Program has been implemented. Makes other changes. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the Act applies to employers with at least 5 employees, rather than at least one employee. (Current law applies to employers with fewer than 25 employees.) Provides that a small employer is an employer that employed less than 5 employees during any quarter of the previous calendar year, rather than less than 25 employees at any one time throughout the previous calendar year. Provides enrollment deadlines. Provides that small employers may, but are not required to, establish payroll deduction arrangements for retirement savings arrangements.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the grounds accorded weight in favor of withholding or minimizing a sentence of imprisonment include that the defendant is pregnant or is the parent of a child or infant whose well-being will be negatively affected by the parent's absence. Provides that circumstances to be considered in assessing this factor in mitigation include: (1) the likelihood that the child will be adjudged a dependent minor and declared a ward of the court under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987; and (2) the best interest of the child.
Amends the Energy Assistance Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may not set the annual eligibility level for energy assistance higher than 60% of the State median income as established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Requires the Department to ensure that households with children under the age of 6 years old are offered a priority application period. Provides that the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund is not subject to sweeps, administrative charge-backs, or any other fiscal or budgetary maneuver that would in any way transfer any amounts from the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund into any other fund of the State. Contains provisions concerning certain unspent funds being utilized for weatherization expenses; allowances to Local Administrative Agencies for administrative expenses; incremental changes to the monthly energy assistance charges billed to utility customers; Department reports on monies collected and allocated to utilities for implementation of their Percentage of Income Payment Plans; and other matters. Provides that all energy assistance programs under the Act shall be available to eligible residents regardless of immigration status. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Changes the date upon which each public utility, electric cooperative, and municipal utility shall begin assessing a monthly Energy Assistance Charge on customer accounts from January 1, 2021 to January 1, 2022. Restores a provision providing that the Percentage of Income Payment Plan is created as a mandatory bill payment assistance program for low-income residential customers of utilities serving more than 100,000 retail customers. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Removes language that provides that the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund is not subject to sweeps, administrative charge-backs, or any other fiscal or budgetary maneuver that would in any way transfer any amounts from the Fund into another fund of the State.
Amends the Weights and Measures Act. Provides continuing education requirements for persons registered to install, service, recondition, or repair a weighing or measuring device used in trade or commerce. Provides for a phase-in process to apply continuing education requirements for persons currently registered to install, service, recondition, or repair a weighing or measuring device used in trade or commerce. Provides that applications and reports shall be filed in a manner prescribed by the Director of Agriculture (currently, in writing). Defines "continuing education course". Makes other changes. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 225 ILCS 470/8.1 Adds reference to: 225 ILCS 470/1 from Ch. 147, par. 101 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Weights and Measures Act. Makes a technical change to the Section containing the short title. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Deletes reference to: 225 ILCS 470/1 Adds reference to: New Act 20 ILCS 3805/7.28 20 ILCS 3805/22 from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 322 30 ILCS 500/1-10 35 ILCS 5/214 35 ILCS 200/10-260 35 ILCS 200/15-178 new 310 ILCS 67/15 310 ILCS 67/25 310 ILCS 67/50 310 ILCS 67/70 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the COVID-19 Affordable Housing Grant Program Act. Provides that the Illinois Housing Development Authority shall establish an affordable housing grant program to encourage the construction and rehabilitation of affordable multifamily rental housing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Contains provisions concerning financing. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Code does not apply to certain contracts entered into by the Illinois Housing Development Authority. Amends the Illinois Housing Development Act. Makes changes concerning bonds and notes issued by the Illinois Housing Development Authority. Provides that the Illinois Housing Development Authority shall not have outstanding at any one time bonds and notes for any of its corporate purposes in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $7,200,000,000 (rather than $3,600,000,000), excluding bonds and notes issued to refund outstanding bonds and notes. Provides that of the authorized aggregate principal amount of $7,200,000,000 (rather than $3,600,000,000), the amount of $150,000,000 shall be used for the specified purposes. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Extends the tax credit for affordable housing donations until December 31, 2026. Amends the Illinois Housing Development Act. Provides that the amount of tax credits reserved by the administrative housing agency for an approved project under the affordable housing tax donation credit program is limited to $32,850,352 in State fiscal years 2022 and 2023 and shall be increased by 5% in each fiscal year thereafter. Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes changes concerning the valuation of low-income housing projects that qualify for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit under Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code. Provides for a reduction in assessed value for affordable rental housing construction or rehabilitation. Amends the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act. Provides that, for the purposes of the Act, rent includes any required costs for parking, maintenance, or landlord-imposed fees. Provides that an affordable housing plan, or any revision thereof, shall not be adopted by a nonexempt local government until notice and opportunity for public hearing have first been afforded. Provides that any vacancies in the Housing Appeals Board shall be filled within 90 days of the vacancy. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Makes a technical correction concerning a cross-reference.
Amends the Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act. Changes the definition of "solar storage mechanism" to include batteries. Provides that the entity may determine the specific configuration of the elements of a solar energy system on a given roof face, provided that it may not prohibit elements of the system from being installed on any roof face and that any such determination may not reduce the production of the solar energy system by more than 10% (rather than specific location where a solar energy system may be installed on the roof within an orientation to the south or within 45 degrees east or west of due south provided that the determination does not impair the effective operation of the solar energy system). Provides that within 60 (rather than 120) days after a homeowners' association, common interest community association, or condominium unit owners' association receives a request for a policy statement or an application from an association member, the association shall adopt an energy policy statement. Provides that whenever approval is required for the installation or use of a solar energy system, the application for approval shall be processed by the appropriate approving entity of the association within 60 (rather than 90) days of (rather than after) the submission of the application. Provides that the Act shall not apply to any building that is greater than 60 (rather than 30) feet high. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill, and makes the following changes: Provides that within 90 (rather than 60) days after a homeowners' association, common interest community association, or condominium unit owners' association receives a request for a policy statement or an application from an association member, the association shall adopt an energy policy statement. Provides that whenever approval is required for the installation or use of a solar energy system, the application for approval shall be processed by the appropriate approving entity of the association within 75 (rather than 60) days of the submission of the application. Provides that the Act shall not apply to any building that has a shared roof and is subject to a homeowners' association, common interest community association, or condominium unit owners' association. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds an immediate effective date.
Amends the School Code. Requires school districts to provide contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and for the Crisis Text Line on the back of each student identification card issued by the school district. Provides that if the school district does not issue student identification cards to its students or to all of its students, the school district must publish this information on its website. Effective July 1, 2021.
Amends the School Code to create the Mental Health Task Force for Communication, Intelligence, Empathy, Emotion, and Empowerment. Provides that the purpose of the task force is to explore and determine a method and program for all students in primary and secondary school to receive mandated mental health care. Sets forth the membership of the task force. Contains provisions concerning the intent of the program, the goals of mandated health care, and task force meetings, duties, and reporting. Repeals these provisions on January 1, 2023. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/22-90 new Adds reference to: 405 ILCS 49/5 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Children's Mental Health Act of 2003. Provides that the Children's Mental Health Plan shall include recommendations for ensuring all Illinois youth receive mental health education and have access to mental health care in the school setting. Provides that in developing these recommendations, the Children's Mental Health Partnership shall consult with the State Board of Education, education practitioners, health care professionals, disability advocates, and other representatives as necessary to ensure the interests of all students are represented. Effective July 1, 2021.
Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that each State building constructed, acquired, or of which more than 50% of the façade is substantially altered shall meet specified standards concerning bird safety. Provides requirements for the Director of Central Management Services in implementing the standards. Specifies that the provisions shall not apply to any acquisition or substantial alteration if the Director, after consideration of multiple options, determines that the use of the required building materials and design features would result in a significant additional cost for the project. Exempts specified buildings from the requirements. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill. Provides that any construction which may be required as a result of the bird-safe buildings requirements shall be under the authority of the Capital Development Board in consultation with the Department of Central Management Services. Provides that the requirements shall only apply to State buildings under the management or control of the Department, but does not include buildings leased by the Department. Provides that the requirements shall not apply to any project in the design or construction phase as of the effective date of the provisions. Removes the Lincoln Home in Springfield, Illinois, and its related buildings and grounds from the list of entities for which the bird-safe building requirements do not apply. Makes conforming changes.
Amends the Human Trafficking Resource Center Notice Act. Provides that certain businesses and establishments shall post the notice required by the Act in all restrooms open to the public. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that certain businesses and establishments may (rather than shall) post the notice required by the Act in all restrooms open to the public.
