Sen. Karina Villa

Creates the Vegetable Garden Protection Act. Provides for the right to cultivate a vegetable garden and permits state and local regulation. Defines "vegetable garden". Limits home rule powers. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: New Act Adds reference to: 65 ILCS 5/1-1-1 from Ch. 24, par. 1-1-1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Grants the Community and Residential Services Authority the authority to provide to youth in this State who are eligible for placement in a residential facility, but who have not been placed in a facility with the opportunity to be placed in a residential facility through the use of an individual agreement. Sets forth the duties of the Community and Residential Services Authority in regard to the placement of youth under an individual agreement in residential placement facilities, including prioritizing residential programs that have been approved by State agencies and preparing the individual agreement contract to be used by State agencies. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2022, targeted dental services that are provided to adults and children under the medical assistance program shall be established and paid at no less than the rates published by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and effective January 1, 2020 for all local health departments as the fee schedule for children and adult recipients. Sets forth the reimbursement rates for certain anesthesia services.

Creates the Illinois Broadband Deployment, Equity, Access, and Affordability Act of 2022. Provides that access to affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband service is essential to full participation in modern life in the State and throughout the United States. Defines terms. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall establish and implement a statewide broadband service grant program. Provides that the Department shall use money from the grant program only for the exclusive purpose of awarding grants to applicants for projects that are limited to the construction and deployment of broadband service into unserved areas in the State and for the Department's cost to administer the program. Provides that the Department shall not award grant money to a governmental entity or educational institution. Provides that the Department shall not, as a condition of an award of grant money, impose an open network architecture requirement, rate regulation, or other term or condition of service that differs from the applicant's terms or conditions of service in its other service areas. Includes provisions providing for the criteria for determining the award of funds, the information an applicant must provide for an application for a grant, the priority by which the Department shall follow in granting awards, and when the Department shall not award a grant to an applicant. Provides that when a grant is awarded, the Department shall provide notice on its website of each application receiving a grant. Provides that the Department shall require an applicant awarded a grant to submit a semi-annual report from the time the applicant receives the grant to 3 years after completion of the project. Makes a conforming change in the Freedom of Information Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that both individual and group tobacco cessation counseling shall be covered under the medical assistance program.

Creates the Workplace COVID-19 Safety Committees Act. Provides that each private employer of at least 50 employees shall establish a safety committee at each of the employer's primary places of employment. Establishes requirements for composition of committees and meetings, records, reporting, and training. Provides for the duties of committees relating to hazard assessment and control, safety and health planning, development of procedures for accident investigations, and other specified matters.

Amends the Electricity Excise Tax Law. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that in addition to any other elements of the offense, a person commits aggravated assault when, in committing an assault, he or she knows the individual assaulted to be a school board member upon school grounds or grounds adjacent to a school or in any part of a building used for school purposes. Provides that a violation is a Class A misdemeanor.

Amends the Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act. Provides that the Act is repealed on December 31, 2026 (currently, June 1, 2021). Effective immediately.

Amends the Drug Court Treatment Act, the Veterans and Servicemembers Court Treatment Act, and the Mental Health Court Treatment Act. Provides that jurisdiction may be transferred from the sentencing court to the problem-solving court circuit in which the offender resides at the concurrence of both courts. Provides that the court to which jurisdiction has been transferred shall have the same powers as the sentencing court. Provides that the problem solving court department within the circuit to which jurisdiction has been transferred may impose problem solving court fees upon receiving the transferred offender. Provides that after the transfer all problem solving court fees shall be paid to the problem solving court department within the circuit to which jurisdiction has been transferred. Defines "problem-solving court" and "transferred".