Photo of Mark Walker
D Illinois Senate · District 27

Sen. Mark Walker

Compare
Total votes
9,026
all sessions
Attendance
98%
166 missed
Higher than 81% of chamber peers
With party
96%
of cast votes
Near the chamber average
Bipartisan score
2%
crosses aisle rarely
Near the chamber average
Sponsored
817
bills & resolutions
Near the chamber average
Committees
7
assignments
817 bills and resolutions

Sponsored bills

Total
817
Primary
92
Co-sponsor
725
This page
817
matching current filters
Co-sponsor HB 3223
Signed into law · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
SCHOOL STUDENT-PARENT/VICTIM

Amends the School Code and the Illinois School Student Records Act. In provisions concerning the suspension or expulsion of a pupil, adds references to guardians (rather than just parents). Provides that a student may disclose mitigating factors, such as the student's status as a parent, expectant parent, or victim of domestic or sexual violence, in suspension or expulsion hearings. Provides that home instruction or correspondence courses must be made available to students who are unable to attend school because of pregnancy-related conditions, parenting obligations related to the health of a child, or health and safety concerns arising from domestic or sexual violence. Includes attendance at a medical or therapeutic appointment and appointments with a victim services provider as a valid cause for absence from school. Adds provisions to the Code concerning children and students who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence, the purpose of which is to ensure that Illinois schools have policies, procedures, and protocols in place that ensure children and students who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence are identified by schools in a manner respectful of their privacy and safety, treated with dignity and regard, and provided the protection, instruction, and related accommodations and services necessary to enable them to meet State educational standards and successfully attain a school diploma. Makes changes to the Chicago School District Article of the School Code concerning the transfer of students. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2022. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/26A-55 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill with the following changes. Provides that the complainant and respondent and any named perpetrator directly impacted by the results of the complaint resolution procedure are entitled to simultaneous written notification of the results of the complaint resolution procedure within 10 business days (instead of 7 calendar days) after a decision or sooner if required by State or federal law or district policy. Provides that the complainant and respondent and any perpetrators directly impacted by the results of the complaint resolution procedure must receive the appeal decision, in writing, within 10 business days but in no case more than 15 business days (rather than within 7 calendar days but in no case more than 14 calendar days) after the conclusion of the review of findings or remedies or sooner if required by State or federal law. Removes a provision concerning enforcement; makes corresponding changes. Corrects typographical errors. Effective July 1, 2022. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as amended by House Amendment 1 with the following change. Adds one member who represents an association representing rural school superintendents to the Ensuring Success in School Task Force. Effective July 1, 2022. Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (IL State Board of Education) As amended by HA 1, HB 3223 will have a fiscal impact of$139,652.04 annually to the State Board of Education. The amendment will have an unknown fiscal impact on school districts_ State Mandates Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State Mandate. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code and the Illinois School Student Records Act. In provisions concerning the suspension or expulsion of a pupil, adds references to guardians (rather than just parents). Provides that a student may disclose mitigating factors, such as the student's status as a parent, expectant parent, or victim of domestic or sexual violence, in suspension or expulsion hearings. Sets forth provisions concerning suspension and expulsion hearings. Provides that home instruction or correspondence courses must be made available to students who are unable to attend school because of pregnancy-related conditions, parenting obligations related to the health of a child, or health and safety concerns arising from domestic or sexual violence. Includes attendance at a medical or therapeutic appointment and appointments with a victim services provider as a valid cause for absence from school. Adds provisions to the Code concerning children and students who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence, the purpose of which is to ensure that Illinois schools have policies, procedures, and protocols in place that ensure children and students who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence are identified by schools in a manner respectful of their privacy and safety, treated with dignity and regard, and provided the protection, instruction, and related accommodations and services necessary to enable them to meet State educational standards and successfully attain a school diploma. Creates the Ensuring Success in School Task Force. Sets forth provisions concerning complaint resolution procedures and confidentiality. Makes changes to the Chicago School District Article of the School Code concerning the transfer of students. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Makes a conforming change to the Charter Schools Law. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2023. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the engrossed bill as amended by Senate Amendment No. 1 with the following changes. Repeals the Section concerning the Ensuring Success in School Task Force on December 1, 2025 (instead of December 1, 2023). Amends the provisions concerning confidentiality. Requires each school district to adopt and ensure that the school has and implements a confidentiality policy regarding students. Provides that information about a student concerning whether the student has obtained assistance, support, or services (rather than only assistance or services) must be kept in strictest of confidence, except if the disclosure is permitted under (rather than in conflict with) certain State or federal laws or consented to in writing by the student or the student's parent or guardian. Provides that information about students may not be disclosed to any other individual outside of the district (rather than may not be disclosed to any other individual). With regard to domestic or sexual violence, provides that except as permitted (rather than except as required) under State or federal law, a school official may contact (instead of must not contact) the person named to be the perpetrator if the school official determines that the school official has an obligation to do so based on safety concerns or threats to the community, including the victim. Provides that a school district must not contact a person named by a student or the student's parent or guardian without providing prior written notice to the student or the student's parent or guardian (rather than without obtaining written permission from the student or the student's parent or guardian). Removes provisions requiring a school district to comply with the confidentiality provisions no later than July 1, 2024. Effective July 1, 2025.

Signed into law Aug 20, 2021 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 3265
Signed into law · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
CIVIL EVIDENCE-RAPE CRISIS ORG

Amends the Evidence Article of the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that "rape crisis organization" includes, but is not limited to, rape crisis centers certified by a statewide sexual assault coalition. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Changes the definition of "rape crisis organization" to mean any organization or association a major purpose of which (instead of "the major purpose of which") is providing information, counseling, and psychological support to victims of any or all of the crimes of aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal sexual assault, sexual relations between siblings, criminal sexual abuse, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Signed into law Aug 20, 2021 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 564
Signed into law · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
SCH CD-HOLIDAY-MUHAMMAD ALI

Amends the School Code. In the provisions relating to holidays, adds January 17 (the birthday of Muhammad Ali) to the list of commemorative holidays. In the provisions relating to courses of study, provides that the teaching of history of the United States shall include the study of the contributions made by Muslims and Muslim Americans to society. House Committee Amendment No. 1 In the provisions relating to courses of study, provides that the teaching of history of the United States shall include the contributions made to society by Americans of different faith practices, including, but not limited to, Muslim Americans, Jewish Americans, Christian Americans, Hindu Americans, Sikh Americans, Buddhist Americans, and any other collective community of faith that has shaped America (rather than the study of the contributions made by Muslims and Muslim Americans to society).

Signed into law Aug 19, 2021 1 co-sponsor
Primary HB 3865
Signed into law · Illinois House · Lead sponsor
VET AFF-SERVICES DISCLOSURE

Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Provides that a person or company advertising veterans' benefits appeal services must conspicuously disclose in the advertisement that such services are also offered at no cost by county veterans service officers. Provides that a person who provides veterans' benefits services in exchange for compensation shall (i) provide a written disclosure statement to each client or prospective client and (ii) obtain the client's signature on a written disclosure statement containing an attestation by the client that the client has read and understands the written disclosure statement. Directs the Department of Veterans' Affairs to investigate alleged violations and to submit the results of any investigation to the Office of the Attorney General if the Department concludes that a violation has occurred. Provides that if, upon review, the Attorney General decides to file a complaint, the Attorney General must do so within 90 days of receiving the results of the Department's investigation. Imposes a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each violation of the amendatory Act. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 2805/2 20 ILCS 2805/39 new Adds reference to: 815 ILCS 505/2WWW new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Requires persons providing veteran or military benefit services to make disclosures that the benefits are available without charge. Provides that it is an unlawful practice under that Act to fail to make the required disclosure, fail to comply with fiduciary responsibilities under federal law, and to charge fees in violation of federal law.

Signed into law Aug 16, 2021 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor HB 1745
Signed into law · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
INS-PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS

Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. Requires health insurance carriers that provide coverage for prescription drugs to ensure that, within service areas and levels of coverage specified by federal law, at least half of individual and group plans meet one or more of the following criteria: apply a pre-deductible and flat-dollar copayment structure to the entire drug benefit, limit a beneficiary's monthly out-of-pocket financial responsibility for prescription drugs to a specified amount, or limit a beneficiary's annual out-of-pocket financial responsibility for prescription drugs to a specified amount. Provides that all plans for prescription drugs offered under the amendatory Act must be clearly and appropriately named, marketed in the same manner as other plans offered by the health insurance carrier, and offered for purchase to any individual and group plan sponsor. Effective January 1, 2022. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. In provisions concerning individual health plans that provide coverage for prescription drugs, provides that beginning January 1, 2023, health insurance carriers shall ensure that at least 10% of individual health care plans offered in each applicable service area apply a flat-dollar copayment structure to the entire drug benefit; and beginning January 1, 2024, health insurance carriers shall ensure that at least 25% of individual health care plans offered in each applicable service area apply a flat-dollar copayment structure to the entire drug benefit. In provisions concerning group health plans that provide coverage for prescription drugs, provides that beginning January 1, 2023, health insurance carriers shall offer at least one group health plan in each applicable service area that applies a flat-dollar copayment structure to the entire drug benefit; and beginning January 1, 2024, health insurance carriers shall offer at least 2 group health plans in each applicable service area that apply a flat-dollar copayment structure to the entire drug benefit. Provides that the flat-dollar copayment structure for prescription drugs must be applied pre-deductible and be reasonably graduated and proportionately related in all tier levels such that the copayment structure as a whole does not discriminate against or discourage the enrollment of individuals with significant health care needs. Requires the health insurance carriers to clearly and appropriately name the plans to aid in individual or group plan selection. Requires the health insurance carriers to market the plans in the same manner as their other plans. Requires the Department of Insurance to adopt rules necessary to implement and enforce the provisions. Effective January 1, 2023.

Signed into law Aug 16, 2021 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 2079
Signed into law · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
VOICES-DENIALS-VICTIMS

Amends the Voices of Immigrant Communities Empowering Survivors (VOICES) Act. Provides that if the Designated Certifying Official cannot determine that the requester is a victim of a qualifying criminal activity, the Designated Certifying Official shall provide written notice to the person or the person's representative explaining why the available evidence does not support a finding that the person is a victim of qualifying criminal activity. Provides that the Designated Certifying Official shall submit the notice to the address provided in the request and shall provide contact information should the requester desire to appeal the decision. Provides that the Designated Certifying Official shall accept all appeals and must respond to the appeals within 60 business days. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 5 ILCS 825/20 new Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 825/10 5 ILCS 825/11 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Voices of Immigrant Communities Empowering Survivors (VOICES) Act. Provides that the certifying official shall submit the notice explaining why the available evidence does not support a finding that the person is a victim of qualifying criminal activity to the address provided in the request and shall provide contact information should the requester desire to appeal the decision. Provides that the certifying agency or certifying official shall accept all appeals and must respond to the appeals within 30 business days. Provides that notwithstanding this provision no requester is required to file an administrative appeal or otherwise exhaust administrative remedies before filing a mandamus action or seeking other equitable relief in circuit court for a completed certification form.

Signed into law Aug 16, 2021 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 1092
Signed into law · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
CRIMINAL LAW-TECH

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the definition of "conviction". House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 720 ILCS 5/2-5 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 2310/2310-705 new 20 ILCS 2605/2605-51 new 50 ILCS 705/7 from Ch. 85, par. 507 50 ILCS 705/7.1 new 430 ILCS 67/5 430 ILCS 67/10 430 ILCS 67/35 430 ILCS 67/40 430 ILCS 67/45 430 ILCS 67/85 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Public Health, subject to appropriation or other available funding, shall conduct a program to promote awareness of firearms restraining orders to the general public. Provides that beginning July 1, 2022, the program must include the development and dissemination, through print, digital, and broadcast media, of public service announcements that publicize the options victims of domestic violence have to seek help with special emphasis on the firearms restraining order. Amends the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Commission on Implementing the Firearms Restraining Order Act. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall develop and approve a standard curriculum for a training program on the Firearms Restraining Order Act. Provides that the Board shall conduct a training program that trains officers on the use of firearms restraining orders, how to identify situations in which a firearms restraining order is appropriate, and how to safely promote the usage of the firearms restraining order in a domestic violence situation. Provides that the curriculum of police training schools shall also include training on the use of a firearms restraining order by providing instruction on the process used to file a firearms restraining order, how to identify situations in which a firearms restraining order is appropriate, and how to promote a firearms restraining order in a domestic violence situation. Provides that if adequate firearms restraining order training is unavailable, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board may approve training to be conducted by a third party. Officers who have successfully completed this program shall be issued a certificate attesting to their attendance. Amends the Firearms Restraining Order Act. Provides that a firearms restraining order includes the seizure of the respondent's ammunition and firearm parts that could be assembled to make an operable firearm. Provides that "family member of the respondent" includes a former spouse and a person with whom the respondent has or allegedly has a child in common. Provides that a petition for a firearms restraining order may be filed in any county where an incident occurred that involved the respondent posing an immediate and present danger of causing personal injury to the respondent or another by having in his or her custody or control, or purchasing, possessing, or receiving, a firearm or ammunition or firearm parts that could be assembled to make an operable firearm. Includes printing a petition for a firearms restraining order for which no fees may be charged by the circuit clerk. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall submit a yearly report to the General Assembly concerning the applications and issuance of firearms restraining orders. Makes other changes. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Further amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Public Health's program to promote awareness of firearms restraining orders shall include production of materials that can be given to health care workers that assist in identifying people who may benefit from awareness of the Firearms Restraining Order Act (rather than victims of domestic violence and how to safely and discreetly determine if a potential abuser possesses a firearm). Deletes language providing that the program must include the development and dissemination of public service announcements that publicize the options for victims of domestic violence to seek help. Further amends the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Changes the composition of the Commission on Implementing the Firearms Restraining Order Act. Removes language providing for a member of a nonprofit organization whose mission is to reduce gun violence with experience educating the public about the Firearms Restraining Order Act, nominated by such an organization whose membership is the most numerous in Illinois. Adds to the membership the Director of Public Health or the Director's designee. Further amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Deletes language providing that police officer training shall include how to promote a firearms restraining order in a domestic violence situation. Further amends the Firearms Restraining Order Act. In the definition of "family member of the respondent", replaces new provision that the definition includes a person with whom the respondent has or allegedly has a child in common with a person with whom the respondent has a minor child in common.

Signed into law Aug 13, 2021 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 156
Signed into law · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
EDUC-MENSTRUAL HYGIENE PRODUCT

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district shall make menstrual (rather than feminine) hygiene products available, at no cost to students, in each bathroom of every school building (rather than in bathrooms of school buildings). Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that menstrual hygiene products shall be made available in bathrooms of every school building that are open for student use in grades 4 through 12 during the regular school day (rather than in each bathroom of every school building). Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 2 (IL State Board of Education) HB 156 (H-AM 2) will not have a fiscal impact to the State Board of Education. State Mandates Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 2 (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate.

Signed into law Aug 13, 2021 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 1965
Signed into law · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
STATE HOLIDAY-JUNETEENTH

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that Juneteenth National Freedom Day shall be observed on June 19 of each year as a holiday throughout the State (currently, not a holiday and is observed on the third Saturday of June of each year). Provides that when June 19 falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be held and considered the holiday. Amends the Election Code, the Illinois Procurement Code, the School Code, and the Promissory Note and Bank Holiday Act to include Juneteenth National Freedom Day as a holiday. Effective immediately. Fiscal Note (Dept. of Central Management Services) Senate Bill 1965 will not require additional resources. Salaries will be paid, whether on holiday or at work. What is lost is productivity. If that equates to the cost of salaries, then CMS Bureau of Personnel's estimate is $11.3M statewide.

Signed into law Aug 9, 2021 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 577
Signed into law · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
SCH CD-PREVENT YOUTH SUICIDE

Amends the School Code. Makes changes to provisions regarding youth suicide awareness and prevention. Sets forth some of the characteristics of students at an increased risk of suicide. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Changes the effective date of the Act to July 1, 2022 (rather than effective immediately).

Signed into law Aug 6, 2021 1 co-sponsor
Showing 571 to 580 of 817 bills
Previous 1 57 58 59 82 Next