Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins

Amends the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Minors and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Persons under 21 Years of Age and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act. Raises the age for whom tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, and alternative nicotine products may be sold to and possessed by from at least 18 years of age to at least 21 years of age. Defines "electronic cigarette". Repeals the Smokeless Tobacco Limitation Act. Amends various other Acts to make conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2019.

Amends the Local Solid Waste Disposal Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Act's short title.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title of the Telecommunications Article.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall implement a project to be called the Renewable Energy Pay As You Save Program. Provides for the purpose and requirements of the Program. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall convene a workshop process during which interested participants may discuss issues related to the Program. Provides that each applicable electric utility shall submit an informational filing to the Commission that describes its plan for implementing provisions regarding the Program. Provides that electric utilities shall work with lenders selected pursuant to a request for proposals process and with vendors to establish the terms and processes under which a participant can purchase eligible renewable energy generation and energy storage systems using the financing obtained from a lender through a financing program designed to fit the Pay As You Save model. Provides further requirements concerning the establishment of financing programs based upon the Pay As You Save model. Provides that the Commission shall adopt all rules necessary for administration. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 3855/1-59 new Adds reference to: New Act Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Equitable Energy Financing Act. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to establish the Equitable Energy Financing Program for all electric utilities in this State to permit customers to finance the construction of energy projects through an optional tariff payable directly through their utility bill. Provides that the Program shall offer to make investments in energy projects to customer properties with low-cost capital and use an opt-in tariff to recover the costs. Provides that the Program will allow residential electric utility customers that own the property, or renters that have a long-term lease on the property, for which they subscribe to utility service, to purchase an energy project. Provides further requirements for the Program and requirements for the Commission concerning the Program. Provides for customer protections and cost-effectiveness requirements under the Program. Provides Program participation requirements for electric utilities in this State. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, beginning with the 2019-2020 academic year, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission must implement and administer a program to award Early Childhood Workforce Free College grants to all eligible child care workers seeking an associate or bachelor's degree from a public institution or a regionally accredited, online-only early childhood education degree program; defines terms. Specifies grant eligibility and renewal requirements. Creates the Early Childhood Workforce Advisory Committee to advise the Commission on all matters relating to the Early Childhood Workforce Free College grant program and on the ways to improve and expand the early childhood workforce in this State. Provides for the membership and support of the Committee and requires the Committee to (i) study and make recommendations to the Commission that are related to the implementation of the Early Childhood Workforce Free College grant program, (ii) conduct an analysis from data received by the Commission to ensure the program is at full utilization, (iii) address access issues to the program, including, but not limited to, geographic, financial, cultural, and workplace settings, and (iv) address ways to expand the early childhood workforce in this State. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Early Childhood Workforce Free College Fund. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Expands the definition of "child care worker". Changes the definition of "early childhood degree program" to a regionally accredited degree program (rather than online degree program) administered solely through an Illinois-based, not-for-profit organization or through a public institution through which a child care worker may attain a degree or credential or maintain a classroom role in any child care or early childhood education setting, including a Child Development Associate Credential program or an Early Childhood Education (ECE) degree program. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to implement and administer the Early Childhood Workforce Free College grant program beginning with the 2020-2021 (rather than 2019-2020) academic year and subject to appropriation. Provides that, if other eligibility requirements are met, an eligible child care worker seeking to enroll in an alternative educator licensure program under the School Code is eligible for a grant under the program. Removes a provision allowing for exceptions to a student's initial enrollment in a public institution or an early childhood degree program for extenuating circumstances as provided in rules by the Commission. Provides that, in awarding grants under the program, if, in any fiscal year, the amount appropriated for the grants is less than the amount determined necessary to cover the cost of attendance for all eligible applicants, then the Commission must proportionately reduce the grants accordingly (rather than must develop the selection and renewal criteria for students). Requires the Illinois Early Learning Council (rather than the Commission) to provide the Early Childhood Workforce Advisory Committee with administrative and other support. Makes other changes. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill as amended by Senate Amendment No. 1 with the following changes. Changes the definition of "early childhood degree program". Provides that if a student chooses to enroll in a private institution, the grant awarded to the student under the program shall be no more than 150% of the highest rate paid on behalf of students in a similar program at a public institution to cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees, less all other student aid. Provides that after completion of or disenrolling from his or her program of study, a student must reside and work within this State in a child care or early childhood education setting for a minimum of one year. Provides that if the student does not reside and work within this State for a minimum of one year, the student must repay the total grant amount awarded to him or her through installments in accordance with rules adopted by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Creates the Early Childhood Workforce Free College Advisory Committee (rather than the Early Childhood Workforce Committee), established by the Illinois Early Learning Council; changes the membership of the Committee and the Committee's duties. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Act. Provides that the purpose of the Council is to facilitate communication between the youth of the State of Illinois and the elected branches of State government regarding the issues, interests, and needs important to youth in the State of Illinois. Creates an Advisory Board, consisting of 2 members of the House of Representatives, one each appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and 2 members of the Senate, one each appointed by the President of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the Senate, to facilitate the functions of the Council. Provides for the application and nomination process for prospective members of the Council. Sets forth membership and meeting requirements and the powers of the Council. Provides that members of the Council shall serve one-year terms, but may be re-elected if they continue to be nominated and qualified to serve as members. Provides for the election of a President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Clerk at the first Council meeting of the year. Requires the Council to submit an annual report to the General Assembly and the Governor. Creates the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that all moneys in the Fund shall be used to reimburse Council members for actual expenses incurred in traveling to Council meetings, including travel, food, and lodging, and printing the annual report. Amends the State Finance Act. Adds the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides for the appointment of specified persons to the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council by the Governor. Modifies provisions concerning Council member qualifications. Removes provisions concerning the nomination and appointment of members to the Council by State Senators. Defines terms. Makes conforming changes.

Rescinds Illinois' ratification of the Corwin Amendment to the United States Constitution. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Rescinds Illinois' ratification of the Corwin Amendment to the United States Constitution. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Rescinds Illinois' ratification of the Corwin Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Amends the Employment Contract Act. Provides that an employer may not require as a condition or precondition of employment that an employee or person seeking employment waive, arbitrate, or otherwise diminish any future claim, right, or benefit to which the person would otherwise be entitled under State or federal law. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 820 ILCS 15/5 new Adds reference to: 710 ILCS 5/1.5 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Uniform Arbitration Act. Inserts the provisions contained in the engrossed bill and makes the following changes: (1) excludes from the definition of "employee" persons employed as a managerial, professional, or confidential employee, (2) includes the State of Illinois and other governmental bodies within the scope of the term "employer", and (3) provides that labor unions and employers may agree to arbitration clauses in grievance resolution procedures, but that the existence of an arbitration clause does not waive an employee's individual right to file an action with an administrative agency or court. Effective Immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds a requirement that an arbitration agreement presented to an employee or prospective employee must contain a statement across the top of the document stating that the arbitration agreement is not a precondition of employment.

Amends the Credit Card Marketing Act of 2009. Creates the College Student Credit Card Marketing and Debt Task Force. Provides legislative findings. Provides for the membership of the Task Force. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall provide technical and administrative support and any other necessary assistance to the Task Force and shall be responsible for administering its operations and ensuring that the requirements of the provisions are met. Provides that the Task Force shall conduct a study on student credit card debt; specifies study requirements. Provides that the Task Force shall report the findings of the study conducted and any recommendations to the General Assembly on or before December 14, 2019, at which time the Task Force shall be dissolved. Repeals these provisions on November 1, 2020. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Police Act. Provides that the Department of State Police shall pay directly or reimburse, up to a maximum of $20,000 (rather than $10,000) the burial expenses of each State police officer who is killed in the line of duty. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 820 ILCS 315/3.5 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Police Act. Provides that the Department of State Police shall pay directly or reimburse, up to a maximum of $20,000 (rather than $10,000) the burial expenses of each State police officer who is killed in the line of duty after June 30, 2018. Amends the Line of Duty Compensation Act. Provides that a burial benefit of up to a maximum of $20,000 (rather than $10,000) shall be payable to the surviving spouse or estate of a law enforcement officer or fireman who is killed in the line of duty after June 30, 2018.