Sen. Laura Murphy

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

Amends the Expressway Camera Act. Renames the Act to the Expressway and Highway Camera Act. Establishes that funds from the Illinois State Tollway Highway Authority may be used for installation and maintenance of the camera systems, telecommunications costs, and for camera warranties. Provides that cameras shall be interoperable with the Illinois State Police current camera system. Makes other changes. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that the provision exempting images from cameras under the Expressway and Highway Camera Act are inoperative on and after July 1, 2025 (rather than 2023). Effective immediately.

Amends the Animal Welfare Act. Provides that the definition of "dog dealer" does not include a person who sells dogs at retail to the public. Provides that a person who sells dogs at retail to the public, shall not be considered an animal shelter under the Act. Defines "at retail to the public". Provides that the Illinois Department of Agriculture may refuse to issue or renew or may suspend or revoke a license for operating without a proper license under the Act.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Supporting Special Needs Students Law. Amends the School Code. When computing certain completion rates, requires the State Superintendent of Education to exclude students who: are at least 18 years of age as of September 1 of the school year as reported for the fall semester and have satisfied the credit requirements for high school graduation; have not completed their individualized education program; and are enrolled and receiving individualized education program services. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, in high school districts in counties with populations greater than 800,000 but less than 4,000,000 where there are 2 high schools individually serving grades 9 through 12 and where enrollment is less than 2,500 at any school, enrollment shall be balanced across high schools within the district equally, not to exceed a 15% enrollment difference when averaged over the previous 3 consecutive years.

Nominates Paul Noble as Member of the Energy Transition Workforce Commission.

Amends the Consumer Electronics Recycling Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a lithium-ion battery may not be disposed of in a mixed recycling waste bin. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to encourage local authorities to use separate curbside recycling collection bins for the disposal of lithium-ion batteries. Amends the Hazardous Materials Emergency Act. Provides that hazardous materials include lithium-ion batteries for purposes of specified provisions of the Act.

Creates the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Task Force Act. Provides that the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Task Force shall be composed of 12 appointed members and the State's Chief Behavioral Health Officer, or the Officer's representative. Provides that the 2 Task Force co-chairs shall appoint experts to contribute and participate in the Task Force as nonvoting members. Provides for meetings of the Task Force and responsibilities relating to examination of the first year of implementation and use of the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in Illinois. Requires the development of an action plan with specified recommendations to be filed with the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2023. Includes legislative findings. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2025. Effective immediately.

Amends the PFAS Reduction Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to adopt rules that require: (1) the owner or operator of each landfill in the State to establish and implement a plan to identify and address PFAS-contaminated leachate that is generated at the landfill before it migrates off site or is sent off site for treatment or disposal; and (2) the owner or operator of each wastewater treatment facility in the State to establish and implement a plan to treat PFAS-contaminated wastewater prior to its discharge from the facility. Provides that owners or operators of landfills or wastewater treatment plants who violate the rules are subject to the same penalties as provided for manufacturers under other provisions of the Act. Authorizes these penalties to be recovered in a civil action brought in the name of the People of the State of Illinois by the State's Attorney of the county in which the violation occurred or by the Attorney General. Specifies that any penalties collected in an action in which the Attorney General has prevailed shall be deposited in the Environmental Protection Trust Fund, to be used in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Protection Trust Fund Act.

Amends the Uniform Environmental Covenants Act. Removes language providing that "environmental response project" includes a plan or work that is performed for environmental remediation of any site or facility in response to contamination at specified sites or facilities. Provides instead that "environmental response project" includes a plan or work that is performed or conducted to clean up, remediate, eliminate, investigate, minimize, mitigate, or prevent the release or threatened release of contaminants affecting real property in order to protect public health or welfare or the environment. Removes the definition of "State".

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that any boards for electric cooperatives or municipal systems shall be required to announce any elections for board membership publicly and allow any residents of this State to run as a candidate. Provides that all electric cooperatives or municipal systems must retain documentation related to business operations for at least 5 years. Provides that any meeting agendas and minutes related to business operations must be publicly available.