Sen. Ann Gillespie

Amends the Labor Dispute Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to seek federal reimbursements under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act for administrative costs associated with the provision of independent legal representation to foster children, and children who qualify for foster care, and their parents. Requires any federal reimbursements the Department receives for the purposes of the amendatory Act to be deposited into the Due Process for Youth and Families Fund. Provides that, subject to appropriation, moneys in the Fund shall be disbursed for fees and costs incurred by law practitioners and organizations that provide services as a child's lawyer or a respondent's lawyer as those terms are defined under the amendatory Act. Provides that units of local government and public and private agencies may apply for and receive federal or State funds from the Department in accordance with the purposes of the amendatory Act. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Due Process for Youth and Families Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that all receipts from federal financial participation in the Foster Care and Adoption Services program under Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act, including receipts for related indirect costs, shall be deposited into the DCFS Children's Services Fund or the Due Process for Youth and Families Fund as provided in Section 45 of the Children and Family Services Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code, the Counties Code, and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that no agreement or contract entered into by the State, any municipality, or any county, or any party negotiating on behalf of such governmental entity, for projects or economic development, including, but not limited to, tax incentives, payments in lieu of taxes, tax abatements, bonds, notes, loans, grants, or rebates, shall contain any provision, clause, or language that provides that the agreement or contract or any of its terms are confidential or that the parties to the agreement or contract are prohibited from disclosing, discussing, describing, or commenting upon the terms of the agreement or contract.

Amends the School Code. Makes changes to the provisions of the Code relating to policies addressing sexual abuse. In the Courses of Study Article, repeals the sex education, family life, and instruction on diseases provisions. Instead, creates an age-appropriate comprehensive sex education program that shall be taught to students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade. Provides that the sex education curricula shall, among other provisions, provide information regarding sexual health, consent, personal safety, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases. Provides that the instruction, among other provisions, shall incorporate discussion about diversity in cultures, families, gender identity, economic status, and the roles that these factors play in the development of sexual health and human relationships. Contains provisions that allow a parent or guardian to excuse his or her child from receiving the instruction. Provides for the formation of a committee to assist in the implementation of these provisions. Makes changes in the Chicago School District Article concerning AIDS training. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that members of the General Assembly and the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer shall be elected by ranked-choice voting. Provides for ranked-choice ballots to be produced. Provides that voters may rank their choice for candidates for those offices and provides for interpretations of certain ballot marks. Provides that tallying ranked-choice votes proceeds in rounds. Provides that in each round, the number of votes for each continuing candidate must be counted, that each continuing ballot counts as one vote for its highest-ranked continuing candidate for that round, and that exhausted ballots are not counted for any continuing candidate. Provides that if only 2 candidates remain, the candidate with the higher vote total wins, and that if more than 2 candidates remain, the last-place candidate is eliminated and another round of tallying is to commence. Provides that rounds continue until a winner is found. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the State Comptroller Act. Modifies provisions concerning State Comptroller deductions from warrants. Provides that the Comptroller shall not deduct from payments to be disbursed to taxpayers who received the Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit.

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Adds two factors to the determination of a "blighted area" for improved, industrial, commercial, and residential buildings or improvements: (i) if the redevelopment project area has had an annual average unemployment rate of at least 120% of the State's annual average unemployment rate; and (ii) if the redevelopment project area has a poverty rate of at least 20%, 50% or more of children in the redevelopment project area participate in the federal free lunch program, or 20% or more households in the redevelopment project area receive food stamps. Removes or modifies various factors from the definitions of "blighted area" and "conservation area" for improved and vacant areas. Provides that a new redevelopment project shall have a completion date no later than December 31st of the 10th year after the ordinance was adopted (rather than the 23rd year) and may be extended to 15 years (rather than 35 years). Provides that the joint review board and municipality shall approve surplus funds and extensions of redevelopment project area completion dates. Provides that surplus funds shall be distributed annually within 90 days (rather than 180 days) after the close of a municipality's fiscal year. Provides that a new or modified redevelopment project area that overlaps with any existing redevelopment project area shall not be approved. Effective July 1, 2021.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning assessments.

Amends the Toll Highway Act. Removes language authorizing the chairman to exercise general supervision over all powers, duties, obligations and functions of the Toll Highway Authority. Provides that the directors shall appoint agents or employees as they consider necessary or desirable. Provides that such agents or employees, other than technical or engineering employees, shall be subject to the Personnel Code. Provides that the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint from the State at large an Executive Director to the Toll Highway Authority to serve as the chief executive officer of the Board of Directors. Provides that the Board shall employ and fix the compensation of the Executive Director. Removes language permitting the Toll Highway Authority to appoint assistant attorneys who shall be under the control, direction, and supervision of the Attorney General. Removes language permitting the Authority to retain special counsel and fix their compensation, provided they are subject to the control, direction, and supervision of the Attorney General. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the Executive Director to the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority shall serve as the chief executive officer of the Authority (instead of the Board of Directors). Restores language permitting the Toll Highway Authority to appoint assistant attorneys who shall be under the control, direction, and supervision of the Attorney General. Restores language permitting the Authority to retain special counsel and fix their compensation, provided they are subject to the control, direction, and supervision of the Attorney General.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides for a reduction in assessed value for affordable rental housing construction or rehabilitation. Amends the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act. Provides that an affordable housing plan, or any revision thereof, shall not be adopted by a non-exempt local government until notice and opportunity for public hearing have first been afforded. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 310 ILCS 67/15 310 ILCS 67/50 Removes provisions of the introduced bill related to qualifying rehabilitation. Further amends the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act. Provides that any vacancies in the Housing Appeals Board shall be filled within 90 days of the vacancy. Provides that the definition of affordable housing includes any required parking, maintenance, and landlord-imposed fees.