Sen. Mark Walker

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Removes the requirement for an interpreter who assists a consumer in conducting a transaction or negotiation to sign a required form. Removes the requirement that a separate form be used if the consumer selects the retailer or an employee of the retailer as the consumer's interpreter. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987. Provides that a physician assistant may prescribe, dispense, order, administer, and procure drugs and medical devices without delegation of authority by a physician. Provides that a physician assistant may practice without a written collaborative agreement. Provides that a physician assistant who files with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation a notarized attestation of completion of at least 250 hours of continuing education or training and at least 2,000 hours of clinical experience after first attaining national certification shall not require a written collaborative agreement to practice. Makes changes in provisions concerning definitions; physician assistant title; collaboration requirements; written collaborative agreements, prescriptive authority, and physician assistants in hospitals, hospital affiliates, or ambulatory surgical treatment centers; inactive status; limitations; and grounds for disciplinary action. Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act to make corresponding changes.

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, no building code adopted by a county or municipality may prohibit residential buildings from having a single stairway serving as an exit for all units if the building: (1) has not more than 6 stories above grade plane; (2) is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system in the interior exit stairway; (3) has all dwelling unit doors serving as an exit equipped with self-closing devices; (4) is equipped with smoke detection throughout all common areas and individual dwelling units; (5) has at least one emergency escape and rescue opening for each individual dwelling unit; and (6) has not more than 4 individual dwelling units on a floor. Limits home rule powers.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, at least 5 days prior to a career-related event being held, a school district, other than the Chicago school district, must notify the nearest military recruiter about the career-related event. Provides that the notification requirement is satisfied if, at the beginning of the school year, the school district sends a calendar of career-related events being held during the school year to the military recruiter. Provides that if a military recruiter provides at least 2 days' notice to a school district that the military recruiter intends to attend a career-related event, the school district or a school shall provide accommodations to the military recruiter that include a prominent location at the career-related event either in the facility or on the grounds where the career-related event is being held. Provides that if a military recruiter sends an advertisement for military careers and opportunities to a school district for display, the school district shall require each school to display the advertisement in the school counselor's office or in the main office of the school. Provides that if a school or school district does not comply with the requirements, a military recruiter may send notice of noncompliance to the regional office of education with jurisdiction over the school or school district. Effective July 1, 2026.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, as follows: General Funds $14,861,800; Other State Funds $2,997,900; Total $17,859,700.

Creates the Equitable Access to Education, Employment, and Training for Incarcerated Individuals with Disabilities Act. Provides that reasonable accommodations for incarcerated individuals with an intellectual disability or a developmental disability shall include a waiver of any requirement that the individual take the Test of Adult Basic Education and receive a passing score, or take and receive a passing score on any other examination or test that the Department may require to determine academic achievement or access to educational programs, work assignments, and vocational programs. Provides that participation in these programs through the Test of Adult Basic Education waiver and other reasonable accommodations shall qualify individuals with an intellectual disability or a developmental disability to earn earned sentence credit, consistent with opportunities provided to other incarcerated individuals. Provides that Department of Corrections staff, including educational personnel, shall receive annual training on: (1) identifying individuals who have an intellectual disability or a developmental disability; (2) providing accommodations and supports to an individual with an intellectual disability or a developmental disability in educational, employment. and vocational settings; and (3) administering appropriate alternative assessments. Provides that staff training programs shall be developed in collaboration with disability advocacy organizations and educational institutions. Provides that the Department shall ensure compliance with federal disability laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act of 1973, through the implementation of the Act. Provides that individuals with an intellectual disability or a developmental disability who are denied access to programs or accommodations under the Act may file a grievance through the Department's established grievance procedures. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a person who is serving a term of mandatory supervised release shall receive one day of additional supervision credit for each day of his or her mandatory supervised release term. Provides that each day of supervision credit shall reduce by one day the person's period of mandatory supervised release. Provides that if prior to expiration or termination of the term of mandatory supervised release, a person violates a condition set by the Prisoner Review Board or a condition of mandatory supervised release to govern that term, the Board may extend the term of mandatory supervised release by revoking supervision credit earned.

Creates the Residential Automated Solar Permitting Platform Act. Provides that on or before July 1, 2026, municipalities with a population of more than 5,000 residents and all counties must adopt a residential automated solar permitting platform. Requires the public reporting of information about such a platform on the official website of the municipality and county. Provides that a person or entity aggrieved by a violation of the Act or any rule adopted under the Act may file a civil action in the county in which the alleged offense occurred or where any person who is party to the action resides, without regard to exhaustion of any alternative administrative remedies provided in the Act. Provides that a person or entity whose rights have been violated under the Act by a municipality or county is entitled to collect: (i) up to 50% of the total cost of the residential photovoltaic system installation for which the permit is requested; (ii) in the case of unlawful retaliation, all legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate; and (iii) attorney's fees and costs. Creates a statute of limitations for a civil action 3 years from the date that a person or entity requested a permit for a residential photovoltaic system.

Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act. Provides that no person may intentionally drag or pull any bovine by its tail by any means for the purpose of entertainment, sport, practice, or contest.

Creates the Prohibition of Discriminatory Disability Mascots Act. Restricts a public educational institution from the adoption or continued use of discriminatory disability mascots. Allows a public educational institution to continue to use uniforms or other materials bearing a prohibited name, logo, or mascot that were purchased on or before the effective date of the Act until September 1, 2028 if certain requirements.