Sen. Mark Walker

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Ratifies and approves the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows for the issuance of multistate licenses that allow nurses to practice in their home state and other compact states. Provides that the Compact does not supersede existing State labor laws. Provides that the State may not share with or disclose to the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators or any other state any of the contents of a nationwide criminal history records check conducted for the purpose of multistate licensure under the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. In a Section concerning the angel investment credit, provides that: (1) the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may charge an application fee of $500; (2) increases the maximum credit amount that may be awarded from $10,000,000 to $20,000,000; (3) of the maximum credit amount that may be awarded, $10,000,000 shall be reserved for priority industries; (4) the term "priority industry" means an industry determined by the Department to have high potential for growth; (5) a person may be considered a "related member" if the person has at least a 33% ownership interest in the qualified new business venture (currently, 50%); (6) an investment that is part of a refinancing of a prior investment in a qualified new business venture is not eligible for the credit; and (7) if the investment is made in a disenfranchised community business, the amount of the credit shall be equal to 40% (currently, 25%) of the claimant's investment. Defines terms.

Amends the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Provides that certain startup taxpayers are eligible to elect to claim the Credit against their obligation to pay over withholding taxes. Makes changes to the definition of "underserved area" to change certain references from the federal decennial census to the American Community Survey.

Amends the Use Tax Act and the Service Use Tax Act. Provides that the multistate exemption includes the return of property of an out-of-State lessor or purchaser to this State for storage, repair, or refurbishment, so long as the property is not used by a lessee or purchaser in this State. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes changes in the School Boards Article relating to policies addressing sexual abuse. In the Courses of Study Article, repeals the sex education, family life, and instruction on diseases provisions. Instead, sets forth comprehensive sex education requirements for course materials and instruction, requires the State Board of Education to post on its website comprehensive sex education resources for use in pre-kindergarten through the 12th grade, provides for school disclosure, parental requests, and notice, allows a school district to collaborate with a local public health department to identify and designate a qualified employee of the local public health department as the school district's point of contact for the purposes of responding to inquiries and comments about course instruction and materials, requires the State Board to develop, maintain, and make publicly available State standards, and provides for rulemaking. Makes changes in the Chicago School District Article concerning AIDS training. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Makes changes in the School Boards Article relating to policies addressing sexual abuse. In the Courses of Study Article, repeals the sex education, family life, and instruction on diseases provisions. Instead, sets forth comprehensive personal health and safety education requirements for course materials and instruction, requires the State Board of Education to post on its website personal health and safety education resources for use in pre-kindergarten through the 12th grade, provides for school disclosure, parental requests, and notice, allows a school district to collaborate with a local public health department to identify and designate a qualified employee of the local public health department as the school district's point of contact for the purposes of responding to inquiries and comments about course instruction and materials, requires the State Board to develop, maintain, and make publicly available State standards, and provides for rulemaking. Makes changes in the Chicago School District Article concerning AIDS training. Effective immediately. State Mandates Fiscal Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) HB 1736 (H-AM 1) does not create a State Mandate. Fiscal Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (State Board of Education) HB 1736 (H-AM 1) includes new requirements for the State Board of Education (Board) and school districts that will have a fiscal impact. This fiscal impact estimate only addresses known or estimated costs for the Board and not PreK-12 public school districts, other State agencies or other entities impacted by the amendments. The Board is tasked with adopting sex education standards by July 1, 2022, develop and maintain sex education resources, and provide technical assistance to school district as needed. ISBE anticipates needing to hire additional staff to implement the requirements of HB 1736 (H-AM 1). ISBE estimates the cost of implementing this amendment will be $1.45m in years 1 and 2 and $100,000 in future years.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Deletes provision that no person serving a term of natural life imprisonment may be paroled or released except through executive clemency. Provides that a person serving a term of natural life imprisonment is eligible for parole or mandatory supervised release. Provides that a committed person who has attained the age of 60 years and served at least 20 consecutive years of imprisonment or a committed person who has served 25 consecutive years of imprisonment may submit a petition to the Prisoner Review Board seeking parole. Provides for the requirements of the petition. Provides that victims' families shall be notified in a timely manner and provided opportunity to participate at the parole hearing concerning the petitioner's application for parole under this provision in accordance with the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act, the Open Parole Hearings Act, and this Code. Provides that Prisoner Review Board hearings under this provision shall be conducted by a panel of at least 8 members of the Board and a majority vote of the panel is required to grant the petition and release the petitioner on parole. Provides that if parole is denied, the petitioner shall be eligible to reapply for parole no later than 3 years after denial. Effective immediately. Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Prisoner Review Board) HB 2399 (H-AM 1) will have an increased cost to the Prisoner Review Board of over $4.0 Million in first 10 years of program.

Appropriates $3,000,000 from the Road Fund to the Rail Division of the Illinois Department of Transportation for the hiring of additional employees. Appropriates $5,000,000 from the Road Fund to the Illinois Department of Transportation High Speed Rail Commission for support and planning purposes. Appropriates $10,000,000 from the Road Fund to the Illinois Department of Transportation for engineering support. Effective July 1, 2022.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Removes the requirement that educator licensure candidates pass a teacher performance assessment. Makes related changes. Effective July 1, 2021.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Provides that the recipient of a credit under the Act may apply for a certificate of transferability of credit from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for the amount of the credit not previously claimed. Provides that the transferability certificate may be transferred or sold by the recipient to another Illinois taxpayer. Makes other changes.