Sen. Bill Cunningham

Amends the Circuit Courts Act, the Judicial Vacancies Act, and the Associate Judges Act. Increases the number of resident judges in Cook County from 165 to 270, the new judges to replace vacating judges as vacancies occur in Cook County circuit judgeships and associate judgeships. Reduces the number of circuit judges in Cook County by 94 as vacancies occur on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Reduces the number of associate judges in Cook County by 11 as vacancies occur on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that resident judgeship vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the Supreme Court. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for an employer who hires a qualified employee to work at a location in the State. Sets forth the amount of the credit. Provides that the credit shall be increased if (i) the qualified employee is hired to work at a location in a disproportionately impacted area or (ii) on the date the qualified employee is hired, the qualified employee resides in a disproportionately impacted area. Limits the total amount of income tax credits that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may issue over the duration of the program. Provides that the term "qualified employee" means a resident of the State who is hired by the taxpayer to fill a full-time net new job and was unemployed as a result of COVID-19 prior to the date he or she was hired by the taxpayer. Provides that the term "qualified employee" does not include an individual who was furloughed by the taxpayer. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Provides that the Illinois Racing Board may appoint the Director of Mutuels to serve as the State director for inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering by inter-track wagering licensees and inter-track wagering location licensees. Provides that the pari-mutuel tax imposed at all pari-mutuel wagering facilities and on advance deposit wagering shall be remitted to the Board (rather than the Department of Revenue). Provides that the Board shall distribute contributed funds to a charitable organization on a schedule determined by the Board, based on the charitable organization's estimated expenditures related to the grant (rather than by December 31 of each year). Provides that any funds not expended by the grantee in a grant year shall be distributed to the charitable organization or charitable organizations selected in the next grant year after the funds are recovered. Repeals provisions requiring the Board and the Department of Agriculture to establish a program to conduct drug testing on horses at county fairs. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 230 ILCS 5/25 from Ch. 8, par. 37-25 Provides that the sum of 15 cents for each person entering the grounds or enclosure of each organization licensee and inter-track wagering licensee upon a ticket of admission purchased by that person shall be paid to the Illinois Gaming Board.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Removes provisions requiring payment of reasonable fees for a customer, alternative retail electric supplier, or unit of local government to access specified information from an electric utility. Requires each electric utility serving at least 100,000 customers that procures power and energy in accordance with a specified provision under the Act to file a tariff with the Illinois Commerce Commission that modifies its current tariff to require all retail customer advanced metering infrastructure meter usage data used for electric power and energy supply service. Provides that the tariff shall: (i) provide for the utility to reconcile load serving entity wholesale settlement statements with any necessary regional transmission organization or independent system operator using actual customer meter data; and (ii) require that such customer's validated interval meter usage data be provided the next calendar day for all retail customers enrolled with an alternative retail electric supplier according to the electric utility's records that have contractually authorized release of such data. Provides that an alternative retail electric supplier, and its affiliates and contracted third parties, shall use such interval meter usage data for the development, marketing, and provision of providing current and future products or services related to retail electric supply service. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that an alternative retail electric supplier shall not warrant or otherwise represent to an electric utility that the alternative retail electric supplier is authorized to access the interval data of a current or prospective residential or small commercial retail customer, unless the alternative retail electric supplier has obtained authorization. Effective immediately.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that registered professional nursing practice is a scientific process founded on a professional body of knowledge; it is a learned profession based on the understanding of the human condition across the life span and environment and includes all nursing specialties and means the performance of any nursing act based upon professional knowledge, judgment, and skills acquired by means of completion of an approved professional nursing education program. Provides that registered professional nurses may delegate nursing interventions and tasks (rather than nursing interventions) to other registered professional nurses and licensed practical nurses based on a comprehensive nursing assessment. Provides that registered professional nurses may delegate tasks to unlicensed personnel based on a comprehensive nursing assessment. Provides that a registered professional nurse is prohibited from delegating work requiring nursing knowledge, assessment, judgment, inference, decision making (including medication administration), the development of a plan of care, and the evaluation of a plan of care to unlicensed non-nurse personnel. Removes provisions concerning delegation of nursing interventions and administration of medications in community-based or in-home care settings. Makes other changes. Effective August 1, 2021.

Creates the Right to Counsel in Immigration Proceedings Act. Establishes the Task Force on Counsel in Immigration Proceedings. Provides for members, compensation, and support staff. Provides that the Task Force shall investigate the implementation of universal representation for covered individuals in immigration removal proceedings. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a report of its findings in the investigation and its recommendations for how to fully provide legal representation for covered individuals facing immigration proceedings no later than July 1, 2022. Repeals the Act July 1, 2023. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that a student whose 22nd birthday occurs during the school year is eligible for special education services through the end of the regular school term (rather than being eligible for services only until the day before his or her 22nd birthday). Effective July 1, 2021.

Amends the One Day Rest In Seven Act. Provides that in addition to the rest periods required under a specified provision of the Act, a law enforcement agency shall allow a law enforcement officer at least 24 consecutive hours of rest in either every consecutive 60-hour period or consecutive seven-day period, except while a disaster proclamation by the Governor is in effect.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that of the federal funds received by the State for purposes related to the COVID-19 public health emergency, 25% of any such funds shall be allocated as grants to businesses with less than 50 employees. Provides eligibility requirements for businesses seeking to receive such grants. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall award grants in the amount of $5,000 to eligible businesses. Provides that a business shall only be eligible for one such grant. Requires the Department to publish the names of the businesses that are awarded grants on its Internet website. Provides for the adoption of rules.

Creates the Hotel Jobs Recovery Grant Program Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall establish the Hotel Jobs Recovery Grant Program for the purpose of providing direct relief to hotels impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides that Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall award a one-time grant to the operator of each hotel in the State in an amount equal to $1,500 for each room in the hotel. Sets forth the permitted uses for grant funds awarded under the Act. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Provides for emergency rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2022.