Sen. Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that rates for homemaker services shall be increased to $29.64 beginning July 1, 2023 to sustain a minimum wage of $18 per hour for direct service workers. Requires rates in subsequent State fiscal years to be no lower than the rates in effect on July 1, 2023. Requires providers of in-home services to be required to certify to the Department on Aging that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Provides that fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, paid time off and payment for training, health insurance, travel, or transportation, shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases described in the amendatory Act. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2023, each individual who serves as a volunteer emergency worker for at least 9 months during the taxable year and does not receive compensation for his or her services as a volunteer emergency worker of more than $10,000 for the taxable year is entitled to a credit against specified taxes in an amount equal to $500. Defines "volunteer emergency worker". Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Provides for emergency rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Act. Provides that the purpose of the Council is to facilitate communication between the youth of the State of Illinois and the elected branches of State government regarding the issues, interests, and needs important to youth in the State of Illinois. Creates an Advisory Board, consisting of 2 members of the House of Representatives, one each appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and 2 members of the Senate, one each appointed by the President of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the Senate, to facilitate the functions of the Council. Creates the Transition Oversight Committee for the initial outreach of the Council. Provides for the application and nomination process for prospective members of the Council. Sets forth membership and meeting requirements and the powers of the Council. Provides that members of the Council shall serve 2-year terms, but may be re-elected if they continue to be nominated and qualified to serve as members. Provides for the election of a Chair at the first Council meeting of the year. Provides for administrative support of the Council. Requires the Council to submit an annual report to the General Assembly and the Governor. Creates the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that all moneys in the Fund shall be used to reimburse Council members for actual expenses incurred in traveling to Council meetings, including travel, food, and lodging, and printing the annual report. Amends the State Finance Act. Adds the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires health care professionals who have continuing education requirements to complete cultural competency training, which shall include information on sensitivity relating to and best practices for providing affirming care to people in the person's preferred language, people with disabilities, documented or undocumented immigrants, people who are intersex, people living with HIV, and people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Provides that for every license or registration renewal occurring on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a health care professional who has continuing education requirements must complete at least 5 hours in cultural competency training. Provides that for every license or registration renewal occurring on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a person licensed or registered by the Department under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 and who has continuing education requirements must complete at least 10 hours in cultural competency training. Provides that these continuing education hours may count toward meeting the minimum credit hours required for continuing education. Provides for rulemaking. Effective January 1, 2024.

Appropriates $5,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for a grant to the YouthBuild Illinois Coalition. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Healthy Illinois for All Law. Provides that by July 1, 2023, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may provide medical services to noncitizens 19 years of age through 41 years of age who (i) are not eligible for medical assistance due to their not meeting the otherwise applicable provisions under the Code concerning citizenship requirements and (ii) have income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level plus 5% for the applicable family size as determined under applicable federal law and regulations. Provide that persons eligible for medical services under the amendatory Act shall receive benefits identical to the benefits provided under the Health Benefits Service Package as that term is defined in the Code. Requires the Department to establish by rule the medical services available, the standards for eligibility, and other conditions of participation for persons eligible to receive medical services under the amendatory Act. Requires any such rules to be at least as restrictive as the rules for medical assistance. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Grants the Department emergency rulemaking authority to implement the amendatory Act. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that a petitioner may file a petition to vacate and expunge certain felony possession violations under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act or the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that the States Attorney's office of each county shall report annually to the Sentencing Policy Advisory Council certain information regarding each person whose case was disposed under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, the Cannabis Control Act, and the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act. Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that notwithstanding any provision of the statute prohibiting the knowing manufacture, delivery, or intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance to the contrary, this provision does not apply to possession with intent to deliver an amount of a controlled or counterfeit substances or controlled substance analogs for which possession is classified as a Class A misdemeanor. Reduces the penalties for the knowing manufacture or delivery, possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, or possession of certain specified controlled substances. Reduces the penalties for the knowing possession of certain specified controlled substances. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections and the Code of Civil Procedure to make conforming changes.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in the short title Section.

Amends the Early Childhood Workforce Act. Creates the Early Childhood Workforce Standards Board (Board). Provides that Board members must be appointed within 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Sets forth the Board's membership. Provides that for State Fiscal Year 2025, and for each state fiscal year thereafter, the Board shall: (1) determine an hourly wage floor, and salaried equivalent, for workers in State-funded early childhood programs which the Board believes will serve to recruit and retain early childhood workers; and (2) determine minimum increments above the wage floor as may be necessary to retain workers in State-funded early childhood programs such as for years of experience or job title. Provides that subject to appropriation, beginning in State Fiscal Year 2025 the Department of Human Services shall implement and administer a program making grants to early childhood worker training programs that value experience, inclusion, equity, and racial justice; and center worker voices and needs such as mentorship, apprenticeships, and peer-led learning. Amends the School Code. Provides that in order to ensure the quality and continuity of services, within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, all grant agreements shall require each child care center to (i) comply with the wage floor and compensation policies set forth in the Early Childhood Workforce Act, (ii) report quarterly up-to-date contact information for staff to the Department to allow the State Board of Education to communicate with the workers about their rights and supports available to them, (iii) supply the State Board of Education with current copies of its wage scales for classroom and support staff and other matters, and (iv) reconcile expenses quarterly and annually submit a year-end comprehensive financial report in a form prescribed by the State Board of Education. Imposes similar requirements on child care centers in a purchase of service contract with the Department of Human Services under its Child Care Assistance Program.