Sen. Ann Gillespie

Declares March 31, 2020 as Pay Equity Day.

Declares February of 2020 as Career and Technical Education Month in the State of Illinois.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Requires every voting member of the governing board of a public university to complete professional development leadership training covering, among other topics, equity and student success. Amends the Public Community College Act. Requires every voting member of the board of trustees of a community college to complete professional development leadership training covering, among other topics, equity and student success.

Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Removes the requirement for each Legislative District to be divided into 2 Representative Districts. Modifies provisions concerning legislative redistricting. Provides specified requirements for each Legislative District, Representative District, and Congressional District for redistricting purposes. Replaces the current method of legislative redistricting with a 17-member Commission, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the most senior Supreme Court Justice of a different political party in accordance with specified criteria. Specifies requirements for the Commission concerning redistricting plans. Adds provisions concerning the membership of the Commission and budgetary matters related to the Commission. Provides the Supreme Court with original and exclusive jurisdiction over redistricting matters. Defines terms. Makes conforming and other changes. Effective upon being declared adopted and applicable to redistricting beginning in 2021 and to the election of General Assembly members beginning in 2022.

Creates the Healthy Workplace Act and amends the State Finance Act. Requires employers to provide specified paid sick days to employees. Sets forth the purposes for and manner in which the sick days may be used. Contains provisions regarding employer responsibilities, unlawful employer practices, and other matters. Provides that an employee who works in the State who is absent from work for specified reasons is entitled to earn and use a minimum of 40 hours of paid sick time during a 12-month period or a pro rata number of hours of paid sick time under the provisions of the Act. Provides that it is unlawful for an employer to interfere with, restrain, deny, change work days or hours scheduled to avoid paying sick time, or discipline an employee for the exercise of, or the attempt to exercise, any right provided under or in connection with the Act, including considering the use of paid sick time as a negative factor in an employment action that involves hiring, terminating, evaluating, promoting, disciplining, or counting the paid sick time under a no-fault attendance policy. Provides that any employer that the Department of Labor or a court finds by a preponderance of the evidence to have knowingly, repeatedly, or with reckless disregard violated any provision of the Act or any rule adopted under the Act is subject to a civil money penalty to be paid to the employee not to exceed $2,500 for each separate offense. Provides that the Department of Labor shall administer the Act. Authorizes individuals to file civil actions with respect to violations. Creates the Healthy Workplace Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that beginning in State fiscal year 2020, the specified income threshold shall be no less than 200% of the then-current federal poverty level for each family size. Effective July 1, 2019.

Amends the University of Illinois Scientific Surveys Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, no later than December 1, 2020, the Illinois State Water Survey, in coordination with the Department of Public Health, must issue a report evaluating the setting of water rates throughout Illinois; specifies report requirements. Provides that in developing the report, the Illinois State Water Survey shall form an advisory committee; provides for the committee's membership. Provides that no later than 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Illinois State Water Survey must provide an opportunity for public comment on the questions to be addressed in the report, the metrics to be used, and the recommendations that need to be issued. Repeals the provision on January 1, 2021. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 110 ILCS 425/22 new Adds reference to: 110 ILCS 305/105 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the University of Illinois Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, no later than December 1, 2020, the Government Finance Research Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, in coordination with an intergovernmental advisory committee, must issue a report evaluating the setting of water rates throughout the Lake Michigan service area of northeastern Illinois and, no later than December 1, 2021, for the remainder of Illinois; specifies report requirements. Provides that in developing the report, the Government Finance Research Center shall form an advisory committee; provides for the committee's membership. Provides that no later than 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department of Public Health must provide an opportunity for public comment on the questions to be addressed in the report, the metrics to be used, and the recommendations that need to be issued. Repeals the provision on January 1, 2022. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Changes the person who appoints certain members of the advisory committee to the Director of the Government Finance Research Center (rather than the Director of Public Health). Requires the Government Finance Research Center (rather than the Department of Public Health) to provide administrative and other support to the committee. Requires the Government Finance Research Center (rather than the Department of Public Health) to provide an opportunity for public comment on the questions to be addressed in the water rates report, the metrics to be used, and the recommendations that need to be issued. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a home rule municipality with a population in excess of 1,000,000 may restructure the rates of an existing real estate transfer tax to specified amounts. Provides that if the municipality increases the real estate transfer tax rates as provided in this subsection, then of the entire proceeds received from the real estate transfer tax, 75% shall be dedicated to the city's general budget and 25% shall be dedicated to housing and services to combat homelessness.

Amends the School Code. Provides that beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, Early Childhood Education Block Grant funds may be used for developmental disability evaluations. Effective July 1, 2020.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.