Urges the Illinois Department of Corrections to promote parity between female and male correctional officers.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, upon the transfer of a film production services credit, the taxpayer shall pay to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity 1.5% of the credit amount, which shall be deposited into the Film Workforce Training and Diversity Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Film Workforce Training and Diversity Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used to provide grants to certain organizations and institutions to administer workforce development and training programs that support efforts to recruit, hire, promote, retain, develop, and train a diverse and inclusive workforce in the film industry. Effective immediately.
Directs the Department of Natural Resources to maintain existing regulations in Part 3700 of Title 17 of the Illinois Administrative Code that preserve the Department's authority to regulate levees to protective standards. Directs the Department of Natural Resources to conduct a study of the State's floodplains and determine meaningful trends in how floodplain use impacts public safety, marginalized and poor communities, farm economics, fish and wildlife populations, natural resources, and water quality and to make recommendations to the General Assembly as to how Illinois can better integrate floodplain programs to promote development and restoration activities that protect public safety, especially for our most vulnerable citizens, enhance the quality of the natural environment of Illinois, and support flood-compatible economies.
Creates the High-Quality Early Childhood Care and Education Advisory Committee to recommend ways to enroll more children and families in high-quality care and education programs.
Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits unlawful use of an animal in a traveling animal act when he or she knowingly allows for the participation of an animal (rather than just an elephant) in a traveling animal act. Provides that unlawful use of an animal in a traveling animal act is a Class A misdemeanor. In addition to "elephant" includes in the definition of "animal", bear, cougar, jaguar, leopard, other than a clouded leopard, lion, non-human primate, and tiger. Effective January 1, 2021.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the grounds accorded weight in favor of withholding or minimizing a sentence of imprisonment include that the defendant is pregnant or is the parent of a child or infant whose well-being will be negatively affected by the parent's absence. Provides that circumstances to be considered in assessing this factor in mitigation include: (1) the likelihood that the child will be adjudged a dependent minor and declared a ward of the court under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987; and (2) the best interest of the child.
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Removes the requirement that educator licensure candidates pass a teacher performance assessment. Makes related changes.
Creates the Candy Packaged to Resemble Cigarettes Prohibition Act. Prohibits a person from selling at retail or distributing for retail sale in this State candy packaged to resemble cigarettes. Provides that the prohibition does not apply to the transportation of such candy through this State or the storage of such candy in a warehouse or distribution center in this State that is closed to the public for retail sales. Provides that a violation of the prohibition is a petty offense for which a fine not to exceed $500 for each offense may be imposed. Provides that a person who is employed as a clerk by a retail establishment shall not be in violation of the prohibition unless he or she sells candy packaged to resemble cigarettes with the intent to violate the Act. Provides that the Act may be enforced by the office of the Department of Public Health, by a State, county, or municipal law enforcement officer, or by a municipal code enforcement officer. Effective immediately.
Supports all efforts to make it easier for Americans in crisis to access potentially life-saving resources about suicide prevention, intervention, and mental health crisis by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Urges the FCC to establish a new hotline for those Americans experiencing suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis. Further urges the FCC to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider designating 988 as the 3-digit code to be used for this purpose.
Amends the Conversion and Formation of School Districts Article of the School Code. Within 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, requires elementary districts and high school districts to form new unit districts, subject to the requirement that elementary districts must form new unit districts but only with other elementary districts and high school districts must form new unit districts but only with other high school districts, notwithstanding any referendum requirements or any other laws to the contrary. Provides that a unit district is prohibited from consolidating with another unit district under these provisions. Provides that the State Board of Education shall facilitate the creation of the new unit districts by providing recommendations on which districts must consolidate. Sets forth the factors that the State Board must take into consideration. Effective immediately.
