Sen. Mark Walker

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that each county treasurer in a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants shall operate an installment payment program to allow delinquent property taxes due from current and prior years to be paid in monthly installments. Provides that the taxpayer must enter into the installment payment agreement before the date of the annual tax sale at which the delinquent taxes are sold. Effective immediately.

Creates the Transportation Benefits Program Act. Requires all covered employers to provide a program that allows a covered employee to elect to exclude from taxable wages and compensation the employee's commuting costs incurred for the purchase of a transit pass to use public transit or for the purchase of qualified parking, up to a maximum level allowed by federal tax law. Provides that all transit agencies shall market the existence of this program and the Act to their riders in order to inform affected employees and their employers. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be deemed to interfere with, impede, or in any way diminish the right of employees to bargain collectively with their employers or affect the validity or change the terms of bona fide collective bargaining agreements in force on the effective date of the Act. Defines terms. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that in a county having a population of 3,000,000 or more, the county sheriff shall establish with other law enforcement agencies a vehicle theft hotline to facilitate the location of stolen vehicles via their installed existing global positioning systems, collaborate with vehicle manufacturers and dealers to provide information and assistance to law enforcement officers in the investigation of vehicle theft, and ensure that consumers are provided with information concerning the hotline and any new or used vehicle manufactured with a global positioning system by publishing the information in a conspicuous location on the county sheriff's website. Provides that the manufacturer of any vehicle sold in this State shall establish a hotline available to State, county, and local law enforcement agencies exclusively for the purposes of law enforcement information sharing and the electronic tracking of vehicles stolen in vehicular hijacking incidents or that have been used in the commission of kidnapping, aggravated battery with a firearm, attempted homicide, or homicide. Provides that the manufacturer's hotline shall relay vehicle location information, including real-time vehicle location information whenever possible, to the 9-1-1 call center or designated dispatch center for the responding agency, to the best of the manufacturer's technical capability. Requires State, county, and local law enforcement agencies to use their respective 9-1-1 system call centers or designated dispatch centers for the purpose of verification of law enforcement officers' identities and bona fide incident report numbers related to incidents. Requires manufacturers to prepare written statements detailing tracking and disabling system capabilities and make them available to State, county, and local law enforcement agencies upon request. Requires that, if a vehicle is not subscribed to the manufacturer's tracking service, the manufacturer of any vehicle sold in this State shall waive all fees associated with initiating, renewing, reestablishing, or maintaining the location, disabling, or alert service with which the vehicle is equipped during a law enforcement response or investigation of specified offenses.

Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act. In provisions requiring the Department of Human Services to establish a public education program regarding gambling disorders, requires the program to (i) promote public awareness to create a gambling informed State regarding the impact of gambling disorders on individuals, families, and communities and the stigma that surrounds gambling disorders and (ii) use screening, crisis intervention, treatment, public awareness, prevention, in-service training, and other innovative means to decrease the incidents of suicide attempts related to a gambling disorder or gambling issues. Requires the Department to determine a statement regarding obtaining assistance with a gambling disorder, which each licensed gambling establishment owner shall post and each master sports wagering licensee shall include on the master sports wagering licensee's portal, Internet website, or computer or mobile application. Permits the Department: to provide advice to State and local officials on gambling disorders; to support gambling disorder prevention, recognition, treatment, and recovery projects; to collaborate with other community-based organizations, substance use disorder treatment centers, or other health care providers engaged in treating individuals who are experiencing gambling disorder; and to perform other actions. Permits the Department to award grants to create or support local gambling prevention, recognition, and response projects. Makes other changes.

Amends the State Treasurer Employment Code. Provides that members of the Personnel Review Board shall each be paid $100 for each day they are engaged in the business of the Board and shall be reimbursed for their expenses when engaged in such business. Provides that members shall meet periodically in accordance with a schedule established by the chairperson and at such other times as necessary, with written notice given by the chairperson at least three days before the meeting. Effective immediately.

Amends the Residential Mortgage License Act of 1987. Provides that each full service office (rather than office, place of business, or location) at which a residential mortgage licensee conducts any part of his or her business must be recorded with the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that licensees may allow mortgage loan originators to work from a remote location if specified conditions are met. Provides that "full service office" does not include a remote location. Defines "remote location".

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Permits the Department of Children and Family Services to establish and maintain locally held funds to be individually known as the Youth in Care Support Fund. Provides that moneys in these funds shall be used for purchases for the immediate needs of youth in care or for the immediate support needs of youth, families, and caregivers served by the Department. Provides that moneys paid into these funds shall be from appropriations made to the DCFS Children's Services Fund; and that any funds remaining in any Youth in Care Support Fund must be returned to the DCFS Children's Services Fund upon dissolution. Provides that any warrant for payment to a vendor for the same product or service for a youth in care shall be payable to the Department to reimburse the immediate payment from the Youth in Care Support Fund.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that in the development of the individualized education program for a student, if the student needs extra accommodation during emergencies, including natural disasters or an active shooter situation, then that accommodation shall be taken into account when developing a student's IEP plan.

Amends the Housing Authorities Act. Requires housing authorities to develop and implement policies granting housing preferences to veterans who are homeless. Provides that such preferences shall be cumulative with any other preference allowed by a housing authority for which the veteran qualifies. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act shall be construed to supersede any federal law or regulation.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that if gas or electricity is used as the only source of space cooling or to control or operate the only space cooling equipment at a residence, then a utility may not terminate gas or electric utility service to a residential user for nonpayment of bills: (1) on any day when the National Weather Service forecast for the following 24 hours covering the area of the utility in which the residence is located includes a forecast that the temperature will be 85 degrees (rather than 95 degrees) Fahrenheit or above; (2) on any day preceding a holiday or weekend when the National Weather Service for the following 24 hours covering the area of the utility in which the residence is located includes a forecast that the temperature will be 85 degrees (rather than 95 degrees) Fahrenheit or above during the holiday or weekend; or (3) when the National Weather Service issues an excessive heat watch, heat advisory, or excessive heat warning covering the area of the utility in which the residence is located.