Sen. Elgie Sims

Amends the School Code. Provides that if an employing board determines to dismiss a teacher during the probationary period (instead of in the last year of a specified probationary period), the employing board must provide a written notice for dismissal with specific reasons for dismissal. Provides that any full-time teacher who does not receive written notice from the employing board at least 45 days before the end of any school term and whose performance does not require dismissal (instead of whose performance does not require dismissal after the fourth probationary year) shall be re-employed for the following school term. Effective immediately.

Amends Public Act 101-637. Appropriates and reappropriates moneys from the Capital Development Fund to the Office of Comptroller for costs related to technology modernization of the Statewide Accounting Management System. Requires the written authorization of the Governor prior to making expenditures from those appropriations. Makes appropriations from the Capital Facility and Technology Modernization Fund for technology modernization and maintenance of information technology systems and infrastructure. Provisions amending Public Act 101-637 take effect immediately. Other prov isions take effect July 1, 2021.

Creates the Vacancy Fraud Act. Allows a taxing body or representative of a taxing body to file a vacancy fraud complaint with the county board of review if property is receiving vacancy relief and the property owner is not actively attempting to lease, sell, or alter the property. Sets forth factors in determining whether or not vacancy fraud has occurred. Sets forth penalties. Effective immediately.

Amends the Messages Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 35 ILCS 610/15 from Ch. 120, par. 467.15 Adds reference to: 35 ILCS 5/225 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the maximum amount of the credit for instructional materials and supplies from $250 for taxable years beginning prior to January 1, 2023 to $300 for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2023. Effective immediately.

Amends the Instructional Materials Article of the School Code. Provides that a Section of the Article may be referred to as the Pierce Twins Law. Provides that a school district (including a charter school) shall require that books that are included as a part of any course, material, instruction, reading assignment, or other school curricula related to literature during the school year or that appear on summer reading lists must include books that are written by diverse authors, including, but not limited to, authors who are African American, women, Native American, LatinX, and Asian. Provides that reading material may not perpetuate bias against persons based on specified categories. Provides that for any school district utilizing federal funds under Title I, Part A of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the selection of each book to be included in a reading assignment, course material and instruction, or other school curricula related to literature must first receive prior approval from the school board before the book may be included. Provides that the criteria for the approval or denial of a book shall be determined by school board policy, but the minimum requirement is that the book may not be approved by the school board if the book contains language or material that is derogatory or racist or incites hate against any persons. Provides for rulemaking and guidelines. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that each qualified teacher is entitled to an income tax credit in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of the minimum federal student loan payments required and made by a qualified teacher in each taxable year. Defines "qualified teacher" as an individual who (i) is employed as a public school teacher on or after December 31, 2022, (ii) is a full-time public school teacher during the taxable year in which he or she claims the credit, and (iii) provides specified documentation. Amends the General Provisions, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), State Universities, and Downstate Teacher Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. With regard to Tier 2 members under the Downstate Teacher or State Universities Article and Tier 2 regular employees who are employees of an educational employer: makes changes to the age and service credit requirements for receiving an annuity; increases the amount of the automatic annual increases to retirement annuities; makes changes to the formula for calculating final average salary; and increases the limitation on the amount of salary that is used to calculate benefits. Provides that a person may receive optional credit for certain periods of service as a student teacher. Amends the School Code. Provides that each school district shall, from funds appropriated by the General Assembly, provide a salary to a student teacher employed by the district for certain school years. Makes other changes. Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Adds student teachers to a provision that excludes certain individuals from the definition of "student". Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $7,647,000 to the Auditor General for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Office of the Auditor General. Appropriates $30,095,422 to the Auditor General from the Audit Expense Fund for administrative and operations expenses and audits, studies, investigations, and expenses related to actuarial services. Effective July 1, 2021.

Amends Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes changes concerning data center investment. Modifies the criteria for determining qualifying Illinois data centers. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and any tenant of a qualifying data center seeking a specified exemption for new or existing facilities must enter into a memorandum of understanding. Defines "tenant". Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with changes. Provides that a "qualifying Illinois data center" means a new or existing data center that, among other criteria, is located in the State of Illinois, is located within a 5-mile geographic radius, and is connected by common infrastructure. Provides that a data center and an associated tenant may enter into an ancillary memorandum of understanding, as prescribed by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, for purposes of receipt of an exemption. Provides that the Department is authorized to conform existing memorandums of understanding with the provisions concerning data center investments. Modifies the definition of "tenant". Makes other changes. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with changes. Provides that a "qualifying Illinois data center" means a new or existing data center that, among other criteria, is located in the State of Illinois, is located within a 5-mile geographic radius, and is connected by common infrastructure. Provides that a data center and an associated tenant may enter into an ancillary memorandum of understanding, as prescribed by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, for purposes of receipt of an exemption. Provides that the Department is authorized to conform existing memorandums of understanding with the provisions concerning data center investments. Provides that within 180 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 120nd General Assembly, all new and existing data centers seeking a certificate of exemption under this Section shall require the contractor to enter into a labor peace agreement with any union representing workers who operate and maintain a critical system or equipment used or maintained by the data center. Modifies the definition of "tenant". Makes other changes. Effective immediately. State Debt Impact Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) SB 2182, as amended by House Amendment 1, would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. State Mandates Fiscal Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate. Fiscal Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) The Department does not anticipate any notable fiscal impact in the implementation of SB 2182 (H-AM 1). House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides for an effective date of January 1, 2022.

Amends the Petroleum Equipment Contractors Licensing Act. Provides that, if a corporation or business entity does not have evidence of current registration, such as a Secretary of State issued Certificate of Good Standing, the Office of the State Fire Marshal has the authority to deny or revoke the license of such a corporation or business entity. Provides that a lapsed license may not be reinstated until an application (rather than a written application) is filed. Removes language providing that, if a license or certificate is lost, a duplicate shall be issued upon payment of the required fee. Removes language providing that licensees shall be subject to disciplinary action for being a habitual drunk or having a habitual addiction to the use of morphine, cocaine, controlled substances, or other habit-forming drugs. Allows the Office of the State Fire Marshal to adopt rules to permit the issuance of citations for certain violations of the Act or the rules adopted under the Act. Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Extends the repeal date of the Petroleum Equipment Contractors Licensing Act from January 1, 2022 to January 1, 2032. Effective January 1, 2022, except provisions amending the Regulatory Sunset Act take effect immediately.

Amends the Department of Innovation and Technology Act. Removes provision requiring the Department of Innovation and Technology to assist client agencies in identifying funding opportunities and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and grant terms. Removes provision requiring the Department to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to coordinate or centralize communications services among State agencies with offices at different locations. Modifies defined terms.