Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the following ground shall be accorded weight in favor of withholding or minimizing a sentence of imprisonment that at the time of the offense, the defendant was suffering from a serious mental illness which, though insufficient to establish the defense of insanity, substantially affected his or her ability to understand the nature of his or her acts or to conform his or her conduct to the requirements of the law. Effective immediately.

Creates the Human Trafficking Task Force Act. Provides requirements regarding the composition and duties of the task force. Provides that the task force shall provide a report containing specified information to the General Assembly and Governor no later than June 30, 2016. Abolishes the task force and repeals the Act on July 1, 2016. Effective immediately.

Amends the Park District Code. Requires park districts to determine if an applicant for employment has been convicted of (rather than convicted of or adjudicated a delinquent minor for) specified criminal or drug offenses listed in the Section within 5 years of the application for employment, or convicted of a felony within 2 years (rather than 7 years) of the application for employment. Removes several offenses from the specified criminal or drug offenses listed in the Section. Amends the Chicago Park District Act making the same changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Includes persons who are foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes in the categories of non-citizens who are eligible for cash or medical assistance under the Code. Defines "foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes". Provides that beginning January 1, 2017, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide medical assistance coverage to foreign-born victims of human trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes and to their derivative family members who: reside in Illinois; are not otherwise eligible under the Code; meet certain income guidelines; and have filed or are preparing to file a formal application for status pursuant to specified provisions of the United States Code. Provides that such a person is ineligible for continued medical assistance coverage if he or she has not filed a formal application for status within one year after the date of his or her application for cash assistance or SNAP benefits; and that if there is a final denial of the person's visa or asylum application, any medical assistance coverage provided to that person and his or her derivative family members shall be terminated. Adds the Survivor Support and Trafficking Prevention Article to the Code with provisions concerning: cash assistance and SNAP benefits for persons who are foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes and their derivative family members; eligibility determinations; work requirements and exemptions; and termination of benefits. Grants the Department rulemaking authority to implement these provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Deposit of State Moneys Act. Allows the State Treasurer to satisfy the requirement to make a monthly report to the Governor with a copy for public inspection by posting the monthly report on the Treasurer's official Internet website. Allows the Treasurer to, with the approval of the Governor, invest or reinvest (regardless of whether it is at a price exceeding par) any State money in the treasury that is not needed for current expenditures due or about to become due, or any money in the State Treasury that has been set aside. Provides that the Treasurer may, with the approval of the Governor, invest or reinvest any State money in the treasury that is not needed for current expenditures due or about to become due, or any money in the State Treasury that has been set aside, in obligations (currently, short-term obligations) of either corporations or limited liability companies organized in the United States, that have significant presence in this State, with assets exceeding $500,000,000 if, among other requirements, the obligations are rated at the time of purchase at one of the 3 highest classifications established by at least 2 standard rating services and mature not later than 5 years (currently, 270 days) from the date of purchase. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Establishes the State Global Scholar Certification Program to recognize public high school graduates who have attained global competence, sufficient for meaningful use in college and a career. Provides that school district participation in this certification is voluntary. Sets forth the purposes of certification. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt such rules as may be necessary to establish the criteria that students must achieve to earn certification, which shall minimally include attainment of units of credit in globally focused courses, service learning experiences, global collaboration and dialogue, and passage of a capstone project demonstrating global competency, as approved by the participating school district for this purpose. Sets forth the duties of the State Board and of participating school districts. Provides that no fee may be charged to a student. Effective immediately.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning State policy.

Amends the Illinois Lottery Law. Provides that the Quality of Life scratch-off game shall be discontinued on December 31, 2025 (rather than December 31, 2017). Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the condition of parole, aftercare release, or mandatory supervised release that the subject not knowingly associate with other persons on parole, aftercare release, or mandatory supervised release without prior written permission of his or her parole agent or aftercare specialist does not apply when the association involves activities concerning community activism or organizing with a not-for-profit organization, or both, which may include, but is not limited to, unscheduled meetings or demonstrations, or both. Effective immediately.

Calls upon all elected leaders in state legislatures, the United States Congress, and the President to make it a top priority to end hunger by 2030. Calls upon Congress and the President to provide adequate and consistent funding for the Women, Infant and Children Program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.