Sen. Mike Hastings

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that it is an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act for a consumer reporting agency: (1) to make, create, or furnish any consumer report or credit report containing, incorporating, or reflecting any adverse information that the consumer reporting agency knows or should know relates to medical debt incurred by the consumer or a collection action against the consumer to collect medical debt; and (2) to maintain in the file on a consumer any information relating to medical debt incurred by a consumer or a collection action against the consumer to collect medical debt.

Amends the Campground Licensing and Recreational Area Act. Provides that a licensed campground that installs or permits the installation of one or more hot tubs on a deck on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall ensure that (i) the deck is made of acceptable material, (ii) an architect licensed under the Illinois Architecture Practice Act of 1989 or a structural engineer licensed under the Structural Engineering Practice Act of 1989 was responsible for coordinating the design, planning, and creation of specifications for the deck and for applying for a permit for the construction or major alteration, and (iii) the deck was constructed in accordance with the designs, plans, and specifications created by the architect or structural engineer. Provides that "acceptable material" includes wood, composite materials made to resemble wood, or any other material providing similar structural integrity and weight-bearing capabilities. Defines "hot tub".

Amends the Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act. Removes provisions about the State Police Asset Forfeiture Section. Amends the State Finance Act. Changes the name of the State Police Revocation Enforcement Fund to the State Police Firearm Enforcement Fund (and makes conforming changes within the Act, the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, and the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act). Provides that the balance remaining in the State Police Training and Academy Fund shall be transferred to the State Police Law Enforcement Administration Fund, and dissolves the State Police Training and Academy Fund (amends the Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Act and the Illinois Insurance Code to make conforming changes). Makes changes concerning the uses of the State Police Law Enforcement Administration Fund. Amends the School Code. Includes provisions relating to reporting of verified incidents involving a firearm or drugs to the State Board of Education, the State Board of Education reporting data by school district on its website, and local law enforcement reporting specified data from the previous year to the Illinois State Police's Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Makes changes regarding applying for licensure and Fingerprinting. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 and the Drug Asset Forfeiture Procedure Act. In provisions concerning non-judicial forfeiture, provides that the director or the director's designee (instead of just the director) shall dispose of property forfeited in accordance with law. Amends the Arsonist Registration Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Arsonist Registry Act. Eliminates registration of arsonists (makes conforming changes in the Criminal Identification Act, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the Code of Civil Procedure). Provides that the Illinois State Police shall establish and maintain a Statewide Arsonist Database for the purpose of identifying arsonists and making that information available to law enforcement and the general public. Contains requirements for operation of the Database. Effective July 1, 2024.

Amends the Counties Code, Township Code, and Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a veteran with a disability or the veteran's caregiver shall not be charged any building permit fee for improvements to the residence of the veteran with a disability if the improvements are required to accommodate a disability of the veteran. Provides that the applications, forms, and other paperwork required to obtain a building permit must still be submitted. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Act. Requires the competitive solicitation issued by the Environmental Protection Agency for the statewide needs assessment, as well as the contract executed for that purpose by the Agency and the consultant, to specify that the data or information received by the consultant and Agency are to be used exclusively for purposes of the assessment. Provides that persons with data or information required to complete the statewide needs assessment shall provide an independent accounting firm selected by the Agency (rather than the Agency) with firm data or information to assist in completing the assessment. Requires the independent accounting firm to enter into a nondisclosure agreement with each person who provides data or information that is required to complete the assessment. Provides that any person aggrieved by a violation of the terms and conditions of a nondisclosure agreement may institute a civil action to recover damages. Defines "nondisclosure agreement". Makes a conforming change in the Freedom of Information Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, on or before July 1, 2025, the Department of Transportation shall create and implement a Type II Noise Suppression Program to provide noise abatement on existing highways in the State. Provides that, on or before July 1, 2025, the Department shall provide notice to the General Assembly that the Noise Suppression system has been activated. Effective July 1, 2024.

Amends the Illinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act. Removes references to the State-Wide One-Call Notice System and replaces it with JULIE, Inc. Sets forth additional definitions. Provides that owners or operators of underground utility facilities are required to be members of JULIE. Sets forth requirements for excavators engaging in nonemergency excavation or demolition. Sets forth notice requirements prior to engaging in the excavation or demolition. Provides that underground utility facility owners or operators may request to be present when excavation occurs when there is a critical facility within a proposed excavation area and excavators shall comply with a request to be present during excavation. Creates the positive response system to be implemented by January 1, 2026. Provides that excavators and facility owners or operators shall use the positive response system to send and respond to required notices. Sets forth required response times in various circumstances. Provides that facility owners or operators shall respond to a valid planning design request and the requirements for the response. Provides for joint meet notifications and sets forth responsibilities of excavators and facility owners or operators for a joint meet. Provides that any county or the State that has shared geographic information system data with any other not-for-profit or agency shall share the information with JULIE. Sets forth requirements for emergency excavation or demolition circumstances. Sets forth liability for damage or dislocation of a facility. Makes other changes. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Treasurer Act. In provisions concerning the College Savings Pool, provides that an account may be rolled over into a Roth IRA account, to the extent permitted by Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. In provisions concerning the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program, provides that the definition of "eligible child" includes a child born or adopted after December 31, 2022, to a parent who is a resident of Illinois at the time of the birth or adoption, as evidenced by documentation received by the Treasurer from a parent or legal guardian of the child. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the certification of service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and veteran-owned small businesses is an exclusive power and function of the State. Denies home rule powers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Family Military Leave Act. Changes the name of the Act to the "Military Leave Act". Provides that an employee may use up to 8 hours per calendar month to participate in a funeral honors detail, up to a total of 40 hours per calendar year, or more if authorized by the employer or if provided for in a collective bargaining agreement. Provides for requirements to take leave for funeral honors details. Provides that an employee that takes leave may do so in lieu of, and without having exhausted, his or her vacation leave, personal leave, compensatory leave, or any other leave that may be granted to the employee, including sick leave and disability leave. Defines terms. Provides that the employer of an employee that takes leave must pay the employee his or her regular rate of pay for the leave taken to participate in a funeral honors detail. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.