Sen. Karina Villa

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a taxpayer who has been granted a senior citizens homestead exemption need not reapply for the exemption. Provides that the county assessor shall establish procedures with the county recorder of deeds or the county clerk to determine whether a person who has been granted a senior citizens homestead exemption has conveyed ownership of the property or is deceased. Provides that, if the person has conveyed ownership of the property or is deceased, then the county assessor shall mail notice to the new owner of the property, stating that (i) the exemption will be removed from the property and (ii) the new property owner may reapply for the exemption if the property becomes qualified.

Creates the 2020 Census Grant Program Act. Creates the 2020 Census Grant Program for the purpose of issuing matching grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations to support the accurate counting of the population of the State and its local jurisdictions, and the collection of basic demographic and housing information of the population of this State for the 2020 Census. Creates the 2020 Census Grant Program Panel and provides for its membership. Provides administrative support for the Grant Panel. Provides for the awarding of funds under the Grant Program. Requires notice to be given to units of local government and nonprofit organizations concerning the Grant Program. Provides that for fiscal year 2020, the Governor shall include in the annual State budget for the 2020 Census Grant Program an appropriation of $33,000,000. Provides legislative findings. Defines terms. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2022. Effective immediately.

Creates the Vegetative Buffer Act. Provides that all State property adjacent to a body of water must contain a vegetative buffer that at a minimum meets a 30-foot minimum width. Exempts State land if certain conditions are present. Defines "vegetative buffer". Effective January 1, 2020.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to require managed care organizations (MCOs) to ensure: (1) that any provider under contract with an MCO on the date of service shall be paid for any medically necessary service rendered to any of the MCO's enrollees, regardless of inclusion on the MCO's published and publicly available roster of available providers; (2) that all contracted providers are listed on an updated roster within 7 days of entering into a contract with the MCO; and (3) that the roster under item (2) is readily accessible by all medical assistance enrollees for purposes of selecting an approved healthcare provider. Requires the Department to require MCOs to expedite payments to providers based on specified criteria (rather than providing that the Department may establish a process for MCOs to expedite payments to providers based on criteria established by the Department). Contains provisions concerning discharge notifications and facility placements and other matters. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State shall require the use of ignition interlock devices for a period not less than 5 years on all vehicles owned by a person who has been convicted of a first (rather than second or subsequent) offense for driving under the influence.

Supports, as a civil right, automatic citizenship to all qualifying children adopted by a U.S. citizen parent, regardless of the date on which the adoption was finalized. Condemns the deportation of individuals who were adopted into American homes and should have every expectation that their citizenship matches that of their adoptive parents. Welcomes legislation that will provide citizenship for all adult adoptees whose adoptive parents did not complete the naturalization process while they were children.

Declares the month of March 2019 as Social Work Month in the State of Illinois.