Sen. Elgie Sims

Creates the Hotel and Casino Employee Safety Act. Requires hotels and casinos to adopt anti-sexual harassment policies and make panic buttons available to certain employees. Prohibits retaliation against an employee for using a panic button, availing himself or herself of the protections afforded by an anti-sexual harassment policy, or disclosing, reporting, or testifying about violations of the Act. Provides remedies for noncompliance. Limits home rule powers. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with provisions substantially similar to the introduced bill with the following changes: defines the terms "casino employer" and "hotel employer"; provides for the utilization of a safety device rather than a panic button; requires time off to be granted to file criminal complaints rather than sign police complaints; removes requirement that anti-harassment policies be posted in Polish; limits economic damage awards to $350 per incident; deletes the home rule preemption; provides that before a representative of employees may bring a claim on behalf of employees, the employer must be given 15 calendar days within which to correct the violation. Effective July 1, 2020. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds a definition. Defines the term "sexual assault" to mean: (1) an act of sexual conduct, as defined in Section 11-0.1 of the Criminal Code of 2012; or (2) any act of sexual penetration, as defined in Section 11-0.1 of the Criminal Code of 2012 and includes, without limitation, acts prohibited under Sections 11-1.20 through 11-1.60 of the Criminal Code of 2012. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: New Act 5 ILCS 140/7.5 20 ILCS 2105/2105-15 710 ILCS 5/1 from Ch. 10, par. 101 775 ILCS 5/1-103 from Ch. 68, par. 1-103 775 ILCS 5/2-101 from Ch. 68, par. 2-101 775 ILCS 5/2-102 from Ch. 68, par. 2-102 775 ILCS 5/2-108 new 775 ILCS 5/2-109 new 775 ILCS 5/2-110 new 775 ILCS 5/7-109.1 from Ch. 68, par. 7-109.1 775 ILCS 5/7A-102 from Ch. 68, par. 7A-102 775 ILCS 5/8-109 from Ch. 68, par. 8-109 775 ILCS 5/8-109.1 new 820 ILCS 180/5 820 ILCS 180/10 820 ILCS 180/15 820 ILCS 180/20 820 ILCS 180/25 820 ILCS 180/30 820 ILCS 180/45 5 ILCS 420/4A-101 from Ch. 127, par. 604A-101 5 ILCS 420/4A-101.5 new 5 ILCS 420/4A-102 from Ch. 127, par. 604A-102 5 ILCS 420/4A-105 from Ch. 127, par. 604A-105 5 ILCS 420/4A-106 from Ch. 127, par. 604A-106 5 ILCS 420/4A-106.5 new 5 ILCS 420/4A-107 from Ch. 127, par. 604A-107 5 ILCS 420/4A-108 5 ILCS 430/5-10.5 5 ILCS 430/20-5 5 ILCS 430/20-10 5 ILCS 430/20-50 5 ILCS 430/20-63 new 5 ILCS 430/25-5 5 ILCS 430/25-10 5 ILCS 430/25-50 5 ILCS 430/25-63 new 5 ILCS 430/70-5 25 ILCS 170/4.7 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill, and makes the following changes: Creates the Workplace Transparency Act. Limits the terms of employment agreements that restrict specified employee rights with respect to allegations of unlawful conduct. Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Division of Professional Regulation of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation must exchange information with the Department of Human Rights regarding recommendations received regarding a licensee or candidate for licensure who has committed a civil rights violation that may lead to the refusal, suspension, or revocation of a license from the Division of Professional Regulation. Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Requires the Department of Human Rights to adopt a model sexual harassment prevention training program and provides that all employers shall use the model or establish a training program that equals or exceeds the minimum standards provided by the model. Makes other changes concerning: definitions; procedures following an employer's failure to post required notices; employer disclosure requirements, and bar and restaurant sexual harassment policies and prevention training. Makes a corresponding change in the Freedom of Information Act. Creates the Sexual Harassment Victim Representation Act. Provides that in any proceeding in which a victim who is a member of a union has accused a perpetrator who is a member of the same union, the victim and the perpetrator may not be represented in the proceeding by the same union representative. Amends the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act. Defines "gender violence" and makes the Act applicable in instances of gender violence. Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Modifies the disclosure of economic interests Article to provide for separate provisions concerning statements of economic interests to be filed with the Secretary of State and the county clerk respectively. Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act and the Lobbyist Registration Act to require annual participation in harassment and discrimination prevention training. Further amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Makes changes concerning: rights of persons subjected to discrimination, harassment, or sexual harassment; jurisdiction and duties of Executive Inspectors General, the Executive Ethics Commission, the Legislative Inspector General, and the Legislative Ethics Commission; complaint process, reporting, and independent review of allegations of sexual harassment made against an elected official; and other matters. Contains severability language. Effective January 1, 2020, except (i) the Hotel and Casino Employee Safety Act takes effect July 1, 2020; and (ii) the changes to the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act, the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, and the Lobbyist Registration Act take effect immediately.

Amends the Suicide Prevention, Education, and Treatment Act. Makes changes concerning the findings of the General Assembly. Creates the Office of Suicide Prevention within the Department of Public Health for the purpose of implementing the Act. Requires the Office of Suicide Prevention, in consultation with the Illinois Suicide Prevention Alliance, to submit an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly on the effectiveness of the activities and programs undertaken under the Illinois Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan that includes any recommendations for modification to Illinois law to enhance the effectiveness of the Plan (instead of an annual report by the Illinois Suicide Prevention Alliance). Changes what shall be contained in the Plan. Provides that the Office of Suicide Prevention (in addition to the Department) shall provide technical assistance to the Illinois Suicide Prevention Alliance and implement a general awareness and screening program. Provides that the program shall include an annual statewide suicide prevention conference. Removes provisions requiring the Department to establish 5 suicide prevention pilot programs relating to youth, elderly, special populations, high-risk populations, and professional caregivers. Provides that the Office of Suicide Prevention shall establish programs that are consistent with the Plan. Effective July 1, 2019. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 2310/2310-455 new Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Office of Suicide Prevention within the Department of Public Health. Provides that the duties of the Office of Suicide Prevention shall include, but shall not be limited to: (1) coordinating suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention programs, services, and efforts statewide; (2) developing and submitting proposals for funding from federal agencies or other sources of funding to promote suicide prevention and coordinate activities; (3) with input from the Illinois Suicide Prevention Alliance, preparing the Illinois Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan and coordinating the activities necessary to implement the recommendations in that Plan; (4) with input from the Illinois Suicide Prevention Alliance, providing an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly; and (5) providing technical support for the activities of the Illinois Suicide Prevention Alliance. Corrects a typographical error. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 410 ILCS 53/10 410 ILCS 53/11 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill as amended by Senate Amendment No. 1 with the following changes: Provides that the Department of Public Health shall (rather than may) implement specified activities associated with the Suicide Prevention, Education, and Treatment Act. Removes language creating the Office of Suicide Prevention and instead, where applicable, replaces references to the Office with references to the Department. Makes a technical change to the legislative findings. Provides that the bill is effective immediately (rather than on July 1, 2019).

Creates the Blockchain Business Development Act. Provides for the creation and regulation of personal information protection companies. Provides for the creation and regulation of blockchain-based limited liability companies as businesses that utilize blockchain technology for a material portion of their business activities. Provides for a public record blockchain study and report. Provides for a blockchain insurance and banking study and report. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to incorporate into one or more of its economic development marketing and business support programs, events, and activities topics concerning blockchain technology and financial technology. Defines terms. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Removes provisions concerning the creation and regulation of personal information protection companies. In provisions concerning a public record blockchain study and report, provides that the Secretary of State shall recommend legislation, including uniform laws, necessary to support the possible use of blockchain technology for public records (currently, support the possible use of blockchain technology for the recording of land records and for other public records). Provides for the blockchain banking study (currently, blockchain insurance and banking study). Makes conforming changes. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Modifies the definition of "blockchain" to mean an electronic record created by the use of a decentralized method by multiple parties to verify and store a digital record of transactions which is secured by the use of a cryptographic hash of previous transaction information (as introduced, "blockchain" is defined as a cryptographically secured, chronological, and decentralized consensus ledger or consensus database maintained via Internet, peer-to-peer network, or other interaction). Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill, and makes the following changes: (1) removes a Section concerning blockchain-based limited liability companies; (2) removes a Section concerning a public record blockchain study and report; and (3) removes specified defined terms. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the School Code. With regard to the in-service training program on the warning signs of mental illness and suicidal behavior in youth, provides that the program must utilize evidence-based training that educates the participants on (i) recognizing the signs and symptoms of mental illness and substance use disorders, including common psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major clinical depression, and anxiety disorders and common substance use disorders such as opioids and alcohol, (ii) providing referrals to mental health or substance use disorder services or other support to individuals in the early stages of developing a mental illness or substance use disorder, recommending resources available in the community for individuals with a mental illness or substance use disorder, and recommending any other relevant resources, and (iii) ensuring the safe de-escalation of crisis situations involving individuals with a mental illness. Provides that a school district may utilize the Mental Health First Aid training program to provide the training. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. With regard to the in-service training program on the warning signs of mental illness and suicidal behavior in youth, provides that a school district may utilize the Illinois Mental Health First Aid training program, established under the Illinois Mental Health First Aid Training Act and administered by certified instructors trained by a national association recognized as an authority in behavioral health, to provide the training. Provides that if licensed school personnel or an administrator obtains mental health first aid training outside of an in-service training program, he or she may present a certificate of successful completion of the training to the school district to satisfy the training requirements.

Amends the Cemetery Oversight Act. Provides that no cemetery authority shall charge a consumer an amount exceeding $500 for the placement of a headstone or memorial marker that is provided for a United States Veteran by the United States Government. Defines "placement". Makes related changes to provide that a cemetery authority claiming a partial exemption under the Act shall be required to comply with this requirement. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 225 ILCS 411/5-20 225 ILCS 411/20-13 new Adds reference to: 330 ILCS 110/1.1 from Ch. 21, par. 59a1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Veterans Burial Places Act. Provides that the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall pay an amount not to exceed $125 (rather than $100) to the next of kin or $100 to the cemetery official responsible for the cost of transporting and erecting a headstone or memorial. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that the amount that may be paid to the cemetery official is $125 (rather than $100). House Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that the payment by the Department of Veterans' Affairs to the next of kin or cemetery official is subject to appropriation.

Amends the School Code. Provides that priority in the distribution of funds appropriated for the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program must be given to a qualified educator employed by an Organizational Unit assigned to Tier 1 under the evidence-based funding formula of the Code. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. With regard to the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program, provides that if adequate funds are available, incentives under the Program must include (i) a one-time incentive of $3,000 payable to National Board certified teachers teaching in Tier 1 rural or remote school districts, (ii) an annual incentive of $3,200 for National Board certified teacher rural or remote candidate cohort facilitators, and (iii) an annual incentive of $2,500 for National Board certified teacher rural or remote liaisons; defines terms. Makes the program applicable to qualified educators who are employed by or retired from schools districts (rather than just employed by school districts) and who are in the process of obtaining licensure through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Changes references of poverty or low-performing schools to Tier 1 school districts. Makes other changes.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that when the victim is under 18 years of age at the time of the offense, a prosecution for female genital mutilation may be commenced at any time. Provides that a parent, guardian, or other person having physical custody or control of a child who knowingly facilitates or permits the circumcision, excision, or infibulation, in whole or in part, of the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris of the child commits female genital mutilation. Provides that a violation is a Class X felony. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that when a parent, guardian, or other person having physical custody or control of a child who knowingly facilitates or permits the circumcision, excision, or infibulation, in whole or in part, of the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris of the child commits a Class 1 felony (rather than a Class X felony).

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that every insurer that amends, delivers, issues, or renews a group or individual policy or certificate of disability insurance or disability income insurance shall ensure parity for the payment of mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions. Changes the definition of "treatment limitation" to include benefit payments under disability insurance or disability income insurance. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 215 ILCS 5/370c.1 Adds reference to: 215 ILCS 5/370c.2 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall form a task force to review the plans and policies for individual and group short-term and long-term disability income insurance issued and offered to individuals and employers in this State to examine the use of such insurance for behavioral health conditions. Provides that the task force shall be comprised of experts in the disability income insurance industry, experts in the behavioral health conditions and treatment industry, members of the general public, and members of the General Assembly. Provides that the task force shall submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2020. Dissolves the task force on December 31, 2021. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the bill as amended by Senate Amendment 1 with the following changes: Makes changes to the membership of the task force. Provides that the task force shall elect a chairperson from its membership and shall have the authority to determine its meeting schedule, hearing schedule, and agendas. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 In provisions concerning the membership of the task force, provides that it shall be comprised of 2 representatives of (rather than experts in) the disability income insurance industry. Makes changes to the responsibilities of the task force.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 5 ILCS 140/1.1 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 2805/38 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Creates the Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall review and make recommendations regarding veterans' service-related ailments that are not recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including exploring why certain service-related ailments are not recognized and determining what may be done to have them recognized. Provides who shall serve on the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall meet at least once every 2 months beginning July 1, 2019. Provides that the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study and shall submit the report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2019. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved on December 31, 2020. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 5 ILCS 140/1.1 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 2805/38 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes: Requires the Task Force to assess ways the State can improve the rate at which disability compensation claims are approved by the federal government and correct the disparity between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' approval of disability compensation for Illinois veterans and that which is approved for veterans in other states. Provides that 4 members of different Illinois counties' Veterans Assistance Commissions, Veteran Service Officers, and VITAS officials shall be appointed to serve on the Task Force by the chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives and the chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee in the Senate. Requires the report to be submitted by December 31, 2020 (rather than 2019) and the Task Force to dissolve and the amendatory Act's provisions to be repealed on December 31, 2021 (rather than 2020). Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 In provisions establishing the membership of the Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force, provides that a total of 4 members shall be appointed, one each by the chair and the minority spokesperson of the Veterans' Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives (instead of the chair) and one each by the chair and the minority spokesperson of the Veterans Affairs Committee of the Senate (instead of the chair).

Amends the Capital Development Board Act. Removes specific references to the Illinois Building Authority and school districts in the definition of State agency. Removes specific references to research on solar energy systems. Provides that members of the Capital Development Board may give bond by inclusion in the blanket bond or bonds or the self-insurance program provided for in the Official Bond Act. Provides that the time for Capital Development Board meetings shall be as prescribed by Capital Development Board rules. Provides that purchases under the Act are subject to the Illinois Procurement Code. Effective January 1, 2020. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 30 ILCS 500/1-15.93 30 ILCS 500/30-30 Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Strikes a provision requiring the Capital Development Board to submit a quarterly report to the Procurement Policy Board with information on the general scope, project budget, and established Business Enterprise Program goals for any single prime procurement bid in the previous 3 months with a total construction cost valued at $10,000,000 or less. Strikes an inoperative provision specifying requirements for the Capital Development Board and the Procurement Policy Board concerning single prime projects. Modifies repeal and inoperative dates. Changes the effective date from January 1, 2020 to December 15, 2019. Makes conforming changes.