Sen. Cristina Castro

Amends the School Code. Provides that all school boards shall waive fees assessed by the district for each student with a parent who is a veteran with an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that all school boards shall waive fees assessed by the district for each student with a parent who is a veteran or active duty military personnel (only veteran in the introduced bill) with an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.

Creates the Music Therapy Licensing and Practice Act. Provides for licensure of professional music therapists and clinical music therapists by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Establishes the Music Therapy Advisory Committee. Establishes the powers and duties of the advisory committee, including advising the Department on all matters pertaining to licensure, education, and continuing education requirements for licensees. Establishes the powers and duties of the Department, including prescribing rules defining what constitutes an appropriate curriculum for music therapy, reviewing the qualifications of applicants for licenses, investigating alleged violations of the Act, conducting hearings on disciplinary and other matters, and establishing a schedule of fees for the administration and enforcement of the Act. Establishes qualifications for licensure as a professional music therapist and clinical music therapist. Establishes grounds for discipline of a license. Provides for civil and criminal penalties for violations of the Act. Creates provisions concerning formal hearings, including transcripts of proceedings, appointment of hearing officers, subpoenas and depositions, and rehearings. Provides for judicial review of all final administrative decisions of the Department. Preempts home rule. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Removes all references to licensed clinical music therapists. Changes references to the "Music Therapy Advisory Committee" and "Advisory Committee" to "Music Therapy Advisory Board" and "Advisory Board". Changes the definition of "music therapy". Adds provisions concerning applicants' and licensees' addresses of record and email addresses of record. Makes changes concerning composition and powers and duties of the Music Therapy Advisory Board. Makes changes in provisions concerning exemptions from the Act, collaboration with audiologists and speech-language pathologists, the practice of psychotherapy by licensed music therapists, the powers and duties of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, qualifications for licensure, license renewal, grounds for discipline, violations, investigations, hearings, and findings. Removes provisions concerning restrictions and limitations. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of Senate Amendment No. 2 with the following changes. Provides that "music therapy intervention" as defined occurs during a therapist-client relationship and includes collaborating with and educating the client and the family, caregiver of the client, or any other appropriate person regarding the needs of the client that are being addressed in music therapy and the manner in which the music therapy treatment addresses those needs in compliance with state and federal law. Provides that the Music Therapy Advisory Board shall advise the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation on all matters pertaining to disciplinary actions for practice of music therapy in the State. Removes a provision that provides that nothing in the Act may be construed to prohibit the practice of a person whose training and national certification attests to the individual's preparation and ability to practice the individual's certified profession or occupation. Provides that the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation shall issue a license to an applicant for a professional music therapist license if the applicant is of good moral character. Provides that in determining moral character under the provisions of qualifications for licensure, the Department may take into consideration whether the applicant has engaged in conduct which would constitute grounds for discipline under the Act. Removes as a ground for discipline the failure to file a return, or to pay the tax, penalty, or interest shown in a filed return, or to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty, or interest, as required by a tax Act administered by the Department of Revenue. Adds that whenever the Secretary believes substantial justice (rather than only justice) has not been done in the revocation, suspension, or refusal to issue or renew a license or the discipline of a licensee, the Secretary may order a rehearing. Removes provisions concerning: the suspension of a license for failure to pay restitution; the surrender of a license; and any conflict with the Act and any other law. Makes other and conforming changes. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 80/4.38 Repeals the Music Therapy Licensing and Practice Act on January 1, 2028.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a certificate of service authority granted to an alternative retail electric supplier or alternative gas supplier or a license granted to an agent, broker, or consultant engaged in the procurement or sale of retail electricity supply for third parties is not property and the grant of a certificate or license does not create a property interest. Makes changes in provisions concerning certification of alternative retail electric suppliers; Illinois Commerce Commission oversight of services provided by alternative retail electric suppliers; licensure of agents, brokers, and consultants engaged in the procurement or sale of retail electricity supply for third parties; and certification of alternative gas suppliers. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that if the Commission finds that an alternative retail electric supplier has violated specified provisions, it may require a violating alternative retail electric supplier to pay a fine of up to $10,000 (rather than $1,000) into the Public Utility Fund for each violation (rather than each repeated and intentional violation) or, for a pattern of violation or for violations that continue after a cease and desist order (rather than intentionally violating a cease and desist order), revoke the violating alternative retail electric supplier's certificate of service authority. Provides that complaints may be filed with the Commission by a consumer, or by the Commission on its own motion, when it appears that an alternative retail gas supplier has provided service in a manner not in compliance with specified provisions. Provides for actions that the Commission may take if, after notice and hearing, the Commission finds that an alternative retail gas supplier has violated specified provisions. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 220 ILCS 5/19-120 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill, and makes the following changes. Further amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the bonds issued to an applicant for a certificate of service authority as an alternative retail electric supplier or alternative gas supplier may be drawn upon in whole or in part to satisfy any penalties imposed by the Illinois Commerce Commission for a violation of the applicant's duties or obligations, except that the total amount of claims and penalties against the bond shall not exceed the penal sum of the bond and shall not include any consequential or punitive damages. Provides that the Commission shall have jurisdiction to entertain and dispose of any complaint made by the Commission, on its own motion, or by any person or corporation, chamber of commerce, board of trade, or any industrial, commercial, mercantile, agricultural or manufacturing society, or any body politic or municipal corporation (rather than an individual consumer) against any alternative retail electric supplier or alternative gas supplier. Provides that the provisions concerning certification of alternative retail electric suppliers and alternative gas suppliers do not diminish the existing rights of a certificate holder to notice and hearing as proscribed by the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and in rules adopted by the Commission. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Makes technical changes.

Amends the Procurement of Domestic Products Act. Establishes the Made in Illinois and America Office as a department under the jurisdiction of the Executive Ethics Commission. Provides for the appointment of a Director of the Office. Provides for duties of the Office. Provides for the adoption of rules regarding the Office. Provides that purchasing agencies shall promote the purchase of and give preference to manufactured articles, materials, and supplies that have been manufactured in Illinois (currently, the United States). Provides that, if the purchasing agency determines that certain conditions apply to a procured product, then, with respect to that procurement, the purchasing agency shall give preference to manufactured articles, materials, and supplies that have been manufactured in the United States. Provides waiver requirements under the Act. Requires purchasing agencies to submit compliance reports. Defines terms. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 30 ILCS 517/7 new 30 ILCS 517/13 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with changes. Removes provisions establishing the Made in Illinois and America Office as a department under the jurisdiction of the Executive Ethics Commission. Restores provisions specifying that purchasing agencies shall promote the purchase of and give preference to manufactured articles, materials, and supplies that have been manufactured in the United States (rather than Illinois). Provides additional exemptions to domestic product procurement requirements. Provides that if there is a tie between 2 bidders or offerors who have certified that they will provide products manufactured in the United States, the bidder or offeror that certifies it will provide products manufactured in Illinois shall be given preference. Removes waiver provisions. Modifies compliance report requirements. Modifies defined terms. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 30 ILCS 517/3 new 30 ILCS 517/5 30 ILCS 517/10 30 ILCS 517/25 30 ILCS 517/35 new Adds reference to: 30 ILCS 517/1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Procurement of Domestic Products Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Deletes reference to: 30 ILCS 517/1 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 4005/1 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1301 20 ILCS 4005/2 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1302 20 ILCS 4005/3 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1303 20 ILCS 4005/4 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1304 20 ILCS 4005/7 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1307 20 ILCS 4005/8 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1308 20 ILCS 4005/8.5 30 ILCS 105/5 from Ch. 127, par. 141 30 ILCS 105/5.295 from Ch. 127, par. 141.295 30 ILCS 105/6z-125 30 ILCS 105/6z-126 625 ILCS 5/4-109 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Act. Specifies that it is the purpose of the Act to, among other things, reduce vehicle hijacking, to improve and support vehicle hijacking law enforcement, and to support the prosecution and administration of vehicle hijacking laws. Changes the name of the Illinois Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council to the Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council. Provides that the Council is responsible for providing grants and financial support to assist in the identification, apprehension, and prosecution of hijackers, and the recovery of hijacked and stolen motor vehicles. Authorizes the Council to assess the scope of the vehicle hijacking problem. Provides that the Council is responsible for developing and sponsoring the implementation of plans and strategies for combating vehicle hijacking, and to improve the administration of vehicle hijacking laws. Changes the name of the Motor Vehicle Theft prevention and Insurance Verification Trust Fund to the Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Trust Fund. Provides that money in the Trust Fund may be used to provide financial support for law enforcement, prosecutors, and the judiciary for programs designed to reduce vehicle hijacking. Renames the State Police Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Trust Fund to the Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Trust Fund. Makes corresponding changes in various Acts.

Creates the Children's Mental Health Council Act. Creates the Children's Mental Health Council. Requires the Council to conduct at least 4 meeting each year, research and provide recommendations for the General Assembly on children with mental and behavioral disabilities and residential placements around the State and out of state, research and provide recommendations on how State agencies will be able to provide emergency placement for children with disabilities, research and provide recommendations on expanding residential beds and increasing the workforce, and review and provide recommendations for the General Assembly, State Board of Education, Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Department of Juvenile Justice, and any other agency that is involved in the process of the placement of a child. Provides guidelines for appointing members. Provides terms for members appointed by the Governor. Provides that the State Board of Education shall provide administrative support. Provides that the Council shall prepare and deliver annual reports to the General Assembly, the Governor, and certain State agencies with any recommendations for legislation and any additional recommendations regarding children's mental and behavioral health. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2032. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: New Act Adds reference to: 405 ILCS 49/5 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Children's Mental Health Act of 2003. Adds a requirement that the Children's Mental Health Plan include recommendations on how to more effectively meet the emergency and residential placement needs for all children with severe mental and behavioral challenges. Adds representatives of community mental health provider trade organizations to the group of representatives to the Children's Mental Health Partnership that are appointed by the Governor. Provides that the annual report will be delivered to the Governor and the General Assembly (currently, only the Governor). House Floor Amendment No. 5 Adds reference to: 405 ILCS 49/1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Children's Mental Health Act of 2003. Changes the title of the Act to the "Children's Mental Health Act". Provides that the Children's Mental Health Partnership shall advise the State of Illinois on designing and implementing short-term and long-term strategies to provide comprehensive and coordinated services for children from birth to age 25 and their families with the goal of addressing children's mental health needs across a full continuum of care. Provides that the Partnership shall have the responsibility of developing and updating the Children's Mental Health Plan and advising the relevant State agencies on implementation of the Plan (instead of developing and monitoring the implementation of the Plan as approved by the Governor). Removes provisions concerning development of previous Plans. Provides for the powers and duties of the Partnership. Provides that the Partnership shall submit: an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the progress of the Plans; recommendations regarding State policies, laws, or rules necessary to fulfill the purposes of the Act; and any additional recommendations regarding mental or behavioral health that the Partnership deems necessary. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide technical and administrative support for the Partnership. Effective January 1, 2023. House Floor Amendment No. 6 Provides that a representative of a statewide organization representing pediatricians shall also be included as one of the required public representatives of the Partnership appointed by the Governor.

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Deletes language providing that: all counseling sessions shall be confidential; and communications in counseling shall not be used in any manner in litigation nor relied upon by any expert appointed by the court or retained by any party. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill, and makes the following change: Provides that court-ordered counseling is subject to the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 750 ILCS 5/607.6 Adds reference to: 750 ILCS 5/103 from Ch. 40, par. 103 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning jury trials. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 750 ILCS 5/103 from Ch. 40, par. 103 Adds reference to: 430 ILCS 65/1.1 from Ch. 38, par. 83-1.1 725 ILCS 5/112A-4.5 725 ILCS 5/112A-23 from Ch. 38, par. 112A-23 725 ILCS 5/112A-28 from Ch. 38, par. 112A-28 750 ILCS 60/222.5 750 ILCS 60/223 from Ch. 40, par. 2312-23 750 ILCS 60/302 from Ch. 40, par. 2313-2 820 ILCS 180/20 820 ILCS 180/30 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Changes the definition of "protective order" to include substantially similar protective orders issued by the court of another state, tribe, or United States territory or military tribunal. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that a petition for a civil no contact order or a petition for a stalking no contact order may be filed by a service member of the Illinois National Guard or any reserve military component serving within the State who is a victim of non-consensual sexual conduct who has also received a Military Protective Order or the Staff Judge Advocate of the Illinois National Guard or any reserve military component serving in the State on behalf of a named victim who is a victim of non-consensual sexual conduct who has also received a Military Protective Order. Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Requires the Illinois National Guard to file a certified copy of any military order of protection with the clerk of the court in a judicial circuit in which the person entitled to protection resides or if the person entitled to protection is not a State resident, in a judicial circuit in which it is believed that enforcement may be necessary. Amends the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act. Provides that an employer shall not fail to hire, refuse to hire, discharge, constructively discharge, or harass any individual, otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to the compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment of the individual, or retaliate against an individual in any form or manner, and a public agency shall not deny, reduce, or terminate the benefits of, otherwise sanction, or harass any individual, otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to the amount, terms, or conditions of public assistance of the individual, or retaliate against an individual in any form or manner, because the individual involved attended, participated in, prepared for, requested leave to attend, participate in, or prepare for a court-martial or nonjudicial punishment proceeding pursuant to the Uniform Code of Military Justice relating to an incident of domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or any criminal violence of which the individual or a family or household member of the individual was a victim, or requested or took leave for any other reason. Effective immediately.

Amends the Homelessness Prevention Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall be mindful of preventing undue administrative burden in the application process for individual tenants in applying for assistance. Provides that program staff shall endeavor to lessen any administrative burden on landlords receiving assistance payments. Amends the Eviction Article of the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that a defendant shall have an affirmative defense to any action where the plaintiff has made a demand for possession that is based on unpaid rent regardless of whether the owner has joined in the action a claim for rent if the defendant, a social services agency, or a government agency offered the owner an application for emergency housing assistance and the owner refused to complete the process to obtain the emergency housing assistance and the defendant would have been eligible for the emergency housing assistance program. Provides that the owner may overcome the affirmative defense only if the court makes a finding that the application for emergency housing assistance would impose a significant administrative burden on the owner. Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Defines "source of income". Provides that if a landlord requires that a prospective tenant or current tenant have a certain threshold level of income, then the landlord shall subtract any source of income in the form of a rent voucher or subsidy from the total of the monthly rent prior to calculating if the income criteria have been met. Provides that a landlord shall not apply an income or asset requirement to a tenant with a non-wage source of income that the landlord does not apply to all tenants. Provides that if an income or asset requirement serves to generally exclude participants in a housing or benefits program, that requirement shall be considered presumptively discriminatory. Makes other changes. Fiscal Note (Dept. of Human Services) HB 2775 does not have a fiscal impact to the Department of Human Services. Housing Affordability Impact Note (Housing Development Authority) This bill will have no effect on the cost of constructing, purchasing, owning, or selling a single-family residence. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 310 ILCS 70/4 from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 1304 310 ILCS 70/10 from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 1310 735 ILCS 5/9-106.4 new 775 ILCS 5/3-102.2 new 775 ILCS 5/8B-104 from Ch. 68, par. 8B-104 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Declares that it is the public policy of the State to prevent discrimination based on source of income in real estate transactions. Defines "source of income" as the lawful manner by which an individual supports himself or herself and his or her dependents. Provides that it is a civil rights violation for various people to participate in specified discriminatory actions related to real estate transactions because of an individual's source of income.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the chief county assessment officer in a county of more than 3,000,000 residents, and in any other county where the county board has authorized such action by ordinance or resolution, may automatically renew the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities without application for any person who applied for the exemption and presented a Disability Identification Card stating that the claimant is under a Class 2 disability. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds provisions to the introduced bill providing that an applicant for the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities may be examined by an optometrist if the person qualifies because of a visual disability. Provides that provisions of the introduced bill concerning automatic renewal (i) apply for taxable years 2021 through 2026 and (ii) apply if the person presents proof of eligibility (in the introduced bill, a Disability Identification Card stating that the claimant is under a Class 2 disability). Provides that the chief county assessment officer shall not automatically renew the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities if the physician, advanced practice registered nurse, optometrist, or physician assistant who examined the claimant determined that the disability is not expected to continue for 12 months or more. House Committee Amendment No. 3 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 2505/2505-805 new 35 ILCS 200/9-275 35 ILCS 200/15-10 35 ILCS 200/15-169 35 ILCS 200/15-170 35 ILCS 200/15-172 35 ILCS 200/15-175 35 ILCS 200/18-185 35 ILCS 200/18-190.7 new 105 ILCS 5/17-1.3 new 105 ILCS 5/17-2A from Ch. 122, par. 17-2A 320 ILCS 30/3 from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 453 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for levy years 2022 and later, the taxing district's aggregate extension base is the greater of (A) the district's last preceding aggregate extension limit or (B) the district's last preceding aggregate extension, subject to certain adjustments. Provides that the term "aggregate extension limit" means the district's last preceding aggregate extension if the taxing district had utilized the maximum limiting rate permitted without referendum for each of the 5 immediately preceding levy years. Provides that the maximum reduction under the General Homestead Exemption is $10,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and counties that are contiguous to a county of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $6,000 in all other counties (currently, $10,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $6,000 in all other counties). Provides that the maximum reduction under the senior citizens homestead exemption is $8,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and counties that are contiguous to a county of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $5,000 in all other counties (currently, $8,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $5,000 in all other counties). In provisions concerning the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities, makes changes concerning the surviving spouse. Provides that the interest rate under the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Act is reduced from 6% to 4%. Amends the School Code. Contains provisions concerning interfund transfers and disclosure of cash reserve balances. Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to require the Department of Revenue to conduct a study concerning the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 5 Makes changes to the bill as amended by House Amendment No. 3 to provide that the maximum amount of the general homestead exemption is $10,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, $8,000 in counties that are contiguous to a county of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, and $6,000 in all other counties (rather than $10,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and counties that are contiguous to a county of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $6,000 in all other counties).

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Council on Aging, provides that at least 7 citizen members shall represent underrepresented communities, including, but no limited to: one member who is a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer individual; one member who is a transgender or gender-expansive individual; one member who is an African-American or Black individual; and one member who is an Asian-American or Pacific Islander individual. Creates the Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging to investigate, analyze, and study the health, housing, financial, psychosocial, home-and-community-based services, assisted living, and long-term care needs of LGBTQ older adults and their caregivers. Requires the Commission to make recommendations to improve access to benefits, services, and supports for LGBTQ older adults and their caregivers. Requires the Commission to: examine the impact of State and local laws, policies, and regulations on LGBTQ older adults and make recommendations to ensure equitable access, treatment, care and benefits, and overall quality of life; and examine strategies to increase provider awareness of the needs of LGBTQ older adults and their caregivers and to improve the competence of and access to treatment, services, and ongoing care, including preventive care; and carry out other duties. Contains provisions concerning: members appointed to the Commission; Commission meetings and reports; an LGBTQ Older Adult Advocate to advocate for LGBTQ older adults and older adults living with HIV who experience barriers to accessing and utilizing services; an LGBTQ Older Adult Curriculum and Training Program; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the registration fee paid by any vehicle owner who is eligible under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act or who is the spouse of such a person shall be $10 instead of $24.