Sen. Mike Hastings

Amends the Hospice Program Licensing Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health's standards for hospices owning or operating hospice residences shall address the number of persons who may be served in a hospice residence, which shall not exceed 24 (rather than 20) persons per location. Provides that the number of licensed hospice residences shall not exceed 16 (rather than 5) located in counties meeting specified population requirements.

Amends the Illinois Underground Natural Gas Storage Safety Act. Provides that, in the case of a verified facility release, the owner and operator of the underground natural gas storage facility is responsible for specified actions. Defines "verified facility release". Effective immediately.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program, provides that the annual incentive shall be $2,250 (instead of $1,500) and that 45 hours of mentoring shall be required (instead of 30). Provides that funds may also be used for professional development training provided by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or the National Board Resource Center. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the Secretary of State to issue special registration plates designated as United States Submarine Veterans plates to each resident of this State who served in the United States Navy as a submariner.

Amends the Residential Mortgage License Act of 1987. Provides that each full service office (rather than office, place of business, or location) at which a residential mortgage licensee conducts any part of his or her business must be recorded with the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that licensees may allow mortgage loan originators to work from a remote location if specified conditions are met. Provides that "full service office" does not include a remote location. Defines "remote location".

Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Provides that a school building's emergency and crisis response plan, protocol, and procedures shall include a plan for local law enforcement to rapidly enter a school building in the event of an emergency.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program, provides that in addition to other monetary assistance and incentives, if adequate funds are available, retention bonuses of $4,000 per year for 2 consecutive years shall be awarded to National Board certified teachers employed in hard-to-staff schools. This bonus shall be distributed to the respective school district or directly to the qualified educators. Provides that the State Board of Education's annual budget shall set out a separate line item for the appropriation of this bonus.

Creates the Firefighter Training Leave of Absence Act. Defines terms. Provides that a State employee shall be granted leave from his or her State employment for firefighter training as follows: (1) on one occasion, for up to 200 hours, to participate in training necessary to obtain Basic Operations Firefighter certification from the State Fire Marshal while attending a State Fire Marshal-approved fire academy; and (2) special or advanced training annually, not to exceed 80 hours, after obtaining Basic Operations Firefighter certification from the State Fire Marshal for courses that will lead to additional certification by the State Fire Marshal. Provides that, during leaves for basic, special, or advanced training, the State employee shall continue to receive his or her regular compensation as a State employee, but, if the State employee receives compensation for basic, special, or advanced training, the State employee shall receive his or her regular compensation as a State employee minus the amount of his or her compensation for basic, special, or advanced training. Provides that a State employee who wishes to obtain a leave of absence under this Act shall request in advance for the leave of absence and may take the leave of absence only after obtaining approval from the State employee's agency.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that an owner or operator of a community water supply must (rather than may) provide a consumer notice by email (if an email address is available) when replacing a lead service line or repairing or replacing water mains with lead service lines or partial lead service lines attached to them. Requires a municipality with a population in excess of 1,000,000 inhabitants to publicly post, on its website, data related to the progress it has made in installing publicly-funded lead service lines. Amends the Residential Real Property Disclosure Act. Requires the seller to disclose on the real estate disclosure form any discovered concentration of or unsafe conditions relating to lead paint, lead water pipes, lead plumbing pipes or lead in the soil on the premises (rather than unsafe concentrations of or unsafe conditions relating to lead paint, lead water pipes, lead plumbing pipes or lead in the soil on the premises).

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.