Sen. Omar Aquino

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, requires the governing board of each public university and community college district to designate an employee as a Dream Resource Liaison to be available on campus to provide assistance to students who lack proper authorization to be in the United States in streamlining access to all available financial aid and academic opportunities. Sets forth other provisions concerning the liaison. Encourages each governing board to establish a Dream Resource Center on each of its campuses to offer support services, including, but not limited to, State, federal, and other financial aid assistance, academic counseling, peer support services, psychological counseling, referral services, and legal services. Sets forth other provisions concerning the center. Effective July 1, 2021. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, requires the governing board of each public university and community college district to designate an employee as an Undocumented Student Resource Liaison to be available on campus to provide assistance to undocumented students and mixed status students within the United States in streamlining access to financial aid and academic support to successfully matriculate to degree completion. Sets forth other provisions concerning the liaison. Encourages each governing board to establish an Undocumented Student Resource Center on each of its campuses to offer support services, as well as mental health counseling options. Sets forth other provisions concerning the center. Effective July 1, 2021.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, in counties with a population over 3,000,000, the Public Defender, without fee or appointment and with the approval of the county board, may act as attorney to noncitizens in immigration cases related to or resulting from an underlying court matter in which the Public Defender served as attorney before he or she became the Public Defender. Provides that representation by the Public Defender in immigration cases is limited to those arising in immigration courts located within the geographical boundaries of the county where the Public Defender has been appointed to office unless the board authorizes the Public Defender to provide representation outside the county. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 55 ILCS 5/3-4004.2 55 ILCS 5/3-4004.5 new Adds reference to: 55 ILCS 5/3-4006 from Ch. 34, par. 3-4006 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, in counties with a population over 3,000,000, the public defender, without fee or appointment and with the concurrence of the county board, may act as attorney to noncitizens in immigration cases. Provides that representation by the public defender in immigration cases shall be limited to those arising in immigration courts located within the geographical boundaries of the county where the public defender has been appointed to office unless the board authorizes the public defender to provide representation outside the county.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning reductions to rates and premium charges for automobile liability insurance for any insured over age 55 upon successful completion of the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course or a motor vehicle accident prevention course, provides that the course may be an eLearning course. Provides that any accident prevention course approved by the Secretary of State shall consist of at least 8 hours of classroom or eLearning equivalent instruction (rather than only classroom instruction).

Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State shall not provide facial recognition search services or photographs obtained in the process of issuing an identification card or a driver's license or permit to any federal, State, or local law enforcement agency or other governmental entity for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Specifies that provisions prohibiting the release of facial recognition search services or photographs to law enforcement shall not apply to requests from federal, State, or local law enforcement agencies or other governmental entities for facial recognition search services or photographs when the purpose of the request relates to criminal activity other than violations of immigration laws.

Amends the Right to Privacy in the School Setting Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 75/1 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.25o 105 ILCS 5/10-22.25b from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.25b 105 ILCS 5/27A-5 105 ILCS 5/34-2.3 from Ch. 122, par. 34-2.3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that a non-public elementary or secondary school registering with the State Board of Education must provide assurances that the school will not prohibit hairstyles historically associated with race, ethnicity, or hair texture. Provides that a non-public elementary or secondary school that has obtained or seeks to obtain recognition status from the State Board may not prohibit hairstyles historically associated with race, ethnicity, or hair texture. Provides that a school uniform or dress code policy adopted by a school board or local school council shall not include or apply to hairstyles, including hairstyles historically associated with race, ethnicity, or hair texture. Sets forth a penalty for noncompliance with the school uniform or dress code policy provisions. Requires the State Board to make available, on its Internet website, resource materials developed in consultation with stakeholders regarding hairstyles. Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code to require a charter school to comply with the school uniform or dress code policy provisions. Effective January 1, 2022. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Jett Hawkins Law.

Amends the Public University Uniform Admission Pilot Program Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 110 ILCS 118/1 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/21B-30 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, in order to obtain a license under the Article, a student teacher candidate may not be required to videotape himself or herself or his or her students in a classroom setting. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of School Code. With regard to licensure candidates being required to pass a teacher performance assessment, provides that a candidate may not be required to submit test materials by video submission. Effective immediately.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that the electronic database of certified payrolls must be searchable by the general public no later than January 1, 2022. Requires personal identifying information to be redacted. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Makes changes in the information that must be searchable in the database capable of accepting and retaining certified payrolls. Provides that beginning January 1, 2022, the Department of Labor shall make accessible to the public on its website by the 16th day of each month following the month the work was performed the following information from certified payrolls submitted under this Act: each worker's (i) name, (ii) classification or classifications, (iii) skill level, such as apprentice or journeyman, (iv) gross wages paid in each pay period, (v) number of hours worked each day, (vi) starting and ending times of work each day, (vii) hourly wage rate, (viii) hourly overtime wage rate, and (ix) hourly fringe benefit rate. Provides that the database shall be searchable by contractor name, project name, county in which the work is performed, and contracting public body. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Removes the employee's name from the information the Department of Labor shall make accessible to the public from certified payrolls.

Creates the Water and Sewer Financial Assistance Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is authorized to institute the water and sewer assistance program. Provides that any person who is a resident of the State of Illinois and whose household income is not greater than an amount determined annually by the Department may apply for assistance. Provides that in determining the amounts of assistance to be provided to or on behalf of a qualified applicant, the Department shall ensure that the highest amounts of assistance go to households with the greatest need for financial assistance in relation to household income by considering specified factors. Provides that each water or sewer provider shall assess each of its customer accounts a monthly Water and Sewer Assistance Charge to be deposited into the Water and Sewer Low-Income Assistance Fund. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Water and Sewer Low-Income Assistance Fund. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that specified water or sewer utilities shall be allowed to offer a financial assistance program designed for bill payment assistance for low-income customers in accordance with the Water and Sewer Financial Assistance Act. Provides that the costs of a financial assistance program offered by a water or sewer utility shall be reimbursed from the Water and Sewer Low-Income Assistance Fund. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that, in its use of federal funds under the Act, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may not cause a disproportionate share of those federal funds to benefit customers of water or sewer providers that do not assess the Water and Sewer Assistance Charge. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: In provisions creating the Water and Sewer Financial Assistance Act, provides that in setting the annual eligibility level to receive financial assistance under the Act, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may not set a limit higher than the eligibility limit for assistance under the Energy Assistance Act (rather than 150% of the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Provides that the process to allow a water or sewer provider to discontinue imposing assessments shall include review by the Illinois Commerce Commission of any water or sewer provider subject to the Public Utilities Act. Removes provisions concerning program eligibility for residents of rental properties. In provisions amending the Public Utilities Act, provides that the Commission shall render its decision within 90 days (rather than 60 days) after receiving a petition from a water or sewer utility to offer a financial assistance program. Removes language requiring the Commission to annually review and reconcile any amounts collected through tariffs to recover the costs of the financial assistance program. Makes corresponding changes.

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that if the number of members serving on a local school council falls below 7 members due to vacancies, then 4 serving members of the local school council shall constitute a quorum for the sole purpose of convening a meeting to fill vacancies through appointments. Provides that, for such purposes, the affirmative vote of a majority of those present shall be required to fill a vacancy through appointment by the council. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 With respect to the 4 serving members of a local school council constituting a quorum, requires at least 2 of the 4 serving members to be elected members.

Amends the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Adds student loan borrowers to the definition of "consumer". Adds to the definition of "debt settlement provider" any person or entity engaging in, or holding itself out as engaging in, or any person who solicits for or acts on behalf of such person or entity engaging in or holding itself out as engaging in, the business of student loan debt relief services in exchange for any fee or compensation assessed against or charged to a consumer. Excludes institutions of higher education from the definition of "debt settlement provider". Defines other terms. Requires a specified notice and disclosure to student loan borrowers to be included in advertising and marketing communications concerning student loan debt relief services. Requires providers of student loan debt relief services to provide a specified notice and disclosure before a student loan borrower signs a contract. Provides that any fees charged to a student loan borrower in exchange for student loan debt relief shall comply with a provision concerning fees. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 225 ILCS 429/145 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Provides that "debt settlement service" does not include the services of any other originator, guarantor, or servicer of federal education loans or private education loans (rather than federal education loans). Provides that "student loan borrower" includes a parent, grandparent, or other family member who has received or agreed to pay a student loan for a family member receiving the education or any co-signer who has agreed to share responsibility for repaying a student loan with the person receiving the education. Further amends the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Provides that a debt settlement provider shall not advise or represent, expressly or by implication, that consumers should stop communicating with their creditors, lenders, loan servicers, loan guarantors, or attorneys or government entities (rather than creditors). Provides that a debt settlement provider shall not advise or represent, expressly or by implication, that consumers should stop making payments to their creditors, lenders, loan servicers, loan guarantors, or attorneys or government entities (rather than creditors). Provides that a debt settlement provider shall not access or obtain a consumer's or student loan borrower's federal student aid information in violation of federal law. Effective immediately.