Sen. Willie Preston

Creates the Graduate and Retain Our Workforce Act. Establishes the GROW Illinois Program, in which public institutions of higher education award incentive loans to applicants. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission may, each year, administer applications for assistance under the GROW Illinois Program. Sets forth qualifications for recipients, degrees, and jobs. Provides for loan repayment and rulemaking. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (GROW) Illinois Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $10,000,000, or so much of that amount as may be necessary, from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to deposit into the Workforce, Technology, and Economic Development Fund for the purpose of making a grant to the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association for all costs and expenses associated with the Employer Training Investment Program. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that if a merchant closes a customer's credit account because the merchant's business is closing or being liquidated, or due to inactivity on the credit account by its owner, the merchant shall report to the credit reporting agencies and to the owner of the account information explaining that the account was closed due to issues related to the merchant or inactivity and not the customer's failure to pay the balance of the credit account. Provides that any person who violates the provisions commits an unlawful practice.

Amends the School Code. Provides that all school districts shall provide instruction on relaxation activities such as yoga or meditation for at least one half-period of the school day to enhance both mental and physical health of students.

Creates the Redefining Science in Elementary Schools Task Force Act. Sets forth the members of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall identify age-appropriate education for anatomy, physiology, and nutrition for each grade K-8. Provides that the Task Force shall use this knowledge to craft anatomy, physiology, and nutrition curriculum that allows students to learn about the human body. Provides that the curriculum shall be primarily focused on empowering students with the knowledge to adequately understand their own body and care for their own health and well-being throughout their lives. Provides that members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation. Provides that the Task Force shall meet a minimum of 6 times, starting on August 1, 2023. Provides that by December 15, 2024, the Task Force shall produce a report for recommendations on grade K-8 anatomy, physiology, and nutrition and submit the report to the Governor, State Board of Education, and the General Assembly. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2025. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Library System Act. Provides that it is the policy of the State to encourage the improvement of free public libraries and to encourage cooperation among all types of libraries in promoting the sharing of library resources, including digital resources, and to encourage and protect the freedom of public libraries and library systems to acquire materials without external limitation and to be protected against attempts to ban, remove, or otherwise restrict access to books or other materials. Provides that the State Librarian shall prescribe rules concerning the development of a written policy declaring the inherent authority of the public library or library system to prohibit the practice of banning specific books or resources. Provides that, in order to be eligible for State grants, a public library or library system shall develop a written policy prohibiting the practice of banning books within the public library or library system. Makes other changes.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the master record file of the Department of Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice of each person committed to the respective Department shall contain ethnic and racial background data and the person's last known complete street address prior to incarceration or legal residence collected in accordance with the No Representation Without Population Act. Provides that the clerk of the court shall transmit to the department, agency, or institution to which the defendant is committed the last known complete street address prior to incarceration or legal residence, the person's race, whether the person is of Hispanic or Latino origin, and whether the person is 18 years of age or older. Amends the No Representation Without Population Act. Provides that on or before May 1 of each year in which the federal decennial census is taken but in which the United States Bureau of the Census allocates incarcerated persons as residents of correctional facilities, the Department of Corrections shall deliver to the State Board of Elections the last known address of the person prior to incarceration or other legal residence, if known. Provides that if the address or residence is unknown, the Department shall use, if available, addresses collected for purposes of parole, mandatory supervised release, or aftercare release programs.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that no motor vehicle, or driver or passenger of a motor vehicle, shall be stopped or searched by any law enforcement officer solely on the basis of a violation or suspected violation of driving a motor vehicle with any objects placed or suspended between the driver and the front windshield, rear windshield, side wings, or side windows immediately adjacent to each side of the driver which materially obstructs the driver's view.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes technical changes in the first degree murder statute. Eliminates references to imposition of the death penalty for first degree murder. Repeals provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 that refer to the execution of a death sentence and the type of drugs that can be administered to cause death. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Lists the aggravating factors for first degree murder in which the defendant may be sentenced to natural life imprisonment. Amends various statutes to remove, other than historic references, references to "capital offense", "death penalty", "sentenced to death", and "sentence of death".

Amends the Guardianship and Advocacy Act. Provides that the guardianship training program shall include content regarding Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Requires a public guardian to complete a one-hour course on Alzheimer's disease and dementia within 6 months of appointment and annually thereafter.