Sen. Cristina Castro

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Defines "servicemember" and "veteran". Provides that a person commits aggravated assault or aggravated battery when he or she commits an assault or a battery against a servicemember or veteran. Provides that an aggravated assault committed against a servicemember or veteran is a Class A misdemeanor. Provides that an aggravated battery committed against a servicemember or veteran is a Class 3 felony. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Reorganizes and makes technical changes to provisions concerning aggravated assault or aggravated battery against a servicemember or veteran.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Provides that, beginning with the 2020-2021 academic year, each university must accept any academic credits from a student who transfers to the university from a senior military college or a military junior college.

Amends the Property Tax Code. With respect to the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption, provides that, beginning in assessment year 2019, the taxpayer's household income shall be reduced by any amounts paid as Medicare premiums. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the bill takes effect on January 1, 2020. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Makes changes to the introduced bill to provide that the reduction for Medicare premiums begins in taxable year 2020 (in the introduced bill, taxable year 2019). Provides that the reduction for Medicare premiums shall be made only upon proof of payment of Medicare premiums by the taxpayer.

Mourns the death of Steve Stroud of Elgin.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that, for State Fiscal Year 2020, the Department of Children and Family Services shall increase reimbursement rates payable to each private agency with a purchase of service contract or grant from the Department to an amount that equals the sum of all increases in general inflation during State Fiscal Years 2014 through 2018 as determined by the consumer price index-u published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor, less any rate increases, previously provided by the Department. Sets forth the types of services eligible for the increased reimbursement rate, including, (i) residential services, (ii) specialized, adolescent, treatment, or other non-traditional or Home-of-Relative foster care services, and (iii) intact family services. Provides that beginning in State Fiscal Year 2020, and for every State fiscal year thereafter, the Department shall implement the rate reimbursement methodology outlined in a specified provision of the Illinois Administrative Code when calculating and determining the payment rates for private agencies that contract with the Department to provide specified services. Provides that, for State Fiscal Year 2021, and for every State fiscal year thereafter, foster parent rates and payment rates for other specified services shall be adjusted each year to an amount that equals any increase in general inflation as determined by the consumer price index-u. Effective immediately.

Amends the Early Intervention Services System Act. Redefines "physical or mental condition that typically results in developmental delay" to mean a diagnosed medical disorder bearing a relatively well known expectancy for developmental outcomes within varying ranges of developmental disabilities, including elevated blood lead levels, as defined by the Department of Public Health by rule, confirmed by a venous blood test (rather than a diagnosed medical disorder bearing a relatively well known expectancy for developmental outcomes within varying ranges of developmental disabilities).

States that Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program eligibility and funding should be broadened to further reduce barriers to breast screening, detection and treatment for underserved women to improve conditions for women to achieve optimal health, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or economic status.

Creates the Workplace Transparency Act. Provides that employers shall not require an employee or prospective employee to sign a nondisclosure agreement that contains any provision that has the purpose or effect of: limiting the disclosure of sexual misconduct, retaliation, or unlawful discrimination; suppressing information relevant to an investigation into a claim of sexual misconduct, retaliation, or unlawful discrimination; impairing the ability of any person to report a claim of sexual misconduct, retaliation, or unlawful discrimination; or waiving a substantive or procedural right or remedy of any person relating to a claim of sexual misconduct, retaliation, or unlawful discrimination. Provides that any such provision is void as against public policy and unenforceable, and that agreements that contain such provisions and were entered into before the effective date of the Act are voidable by a party who entered into the agreement under specified circumstances.

Urges support for funding the physical infrastructure of early childhood education programs.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes a technical change in a Section describing the termination of the AFDC program and the beginning of the TANF program.