Sen. Laura Murphy

Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to adopt and implement a policy on how to recognize mental health issues and how to properly address them. Provides that, as part of this policy, a school board shall require in-service training of licensed school personnel and administrators to include, at least once every 2 years, training on the current best practices regarding the identification of and recommended courses of action for mental health issues. Effective July 1, 2018.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that May 19 of each year is designated as "First Responder Mental Health Awareness Day", to be observed throughout the State as a day to honor firefighters, police officers, and other first responders who have lost their lives due to and suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and other mental health issues.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning the child care assistance program, provides that a family's eligibility for child care services shall be redetermined no sooner than 12 months following the initial determination or most recent redetermination. Provides that during the 12-month periods, the family shall remain eligible for child care services regardless of (i) a change in family income, unless family income exceeds 85% of State median income, or (ii) a temporary change in the ongoing status of the parents as working or attending a job training or educational program. Effective October 1, 2018.

Amends the Illinois State Auditing Act. Provides that on a biennial basis, the Auditor General shall conduct a performance audit of State agencies and their cybersecurity programs and practices, with a particular focus on agencies holding large volumes of personal information. Provides for the subjects to be assessed by the audit. Provides for the issuance of an audit report.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Defines "patient" for purposes of the Act. Provides that renewal applications shall be approved or denied within 60 business days, provided the applicant submitted his or her renewal application prior to the expiration of his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card. Provides that if a renewal application has been submitted prior to the expiration date of the applicant's Firearm Owner's Identification Card, the Firearm Owner's Identification Card shall remain valid while the Department processes the application, unless the person is subject to or becomes subject to revocation under the Act. Provides that the cost for a renewal application shall be $10 which shall be deposited into the State Police Firearm Services Fund. Provides that the Department of State Police may, by rule in a manner consistent with the Department's rules concerning revocation, provide for the suspension of the Firearm Owner's Identification Card of a person whose Firearm Owner's Identification Card is subject to revocation and seizure under the Act for the duration of the disqualification if the disqualification is not a permanent grounds for revocation of a Firearm Owner's Identification Card under the Act. Provides that the cost for replacement of a lost, destroyed, or stolen card shall be $5 if the loss, destruction, or theft of the card is reported to the Department of State Police. Provides the fee shall be deposited into the State Police Firearm Services Fund. Makes other changes.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Removes a provision requiring taxpayers who have been granted a disabled veterans standard homestead exemption to reapply on an annual basis. Effective January 1, 2018.

Creates the Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program Act. Creates the Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program to be administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Provides that the Program shall provide loan assistance, subject to appropriation, to eligible mental health and substance use professionals practicing in a community mental health center in an underserved or rural federally designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Area. Provides that applicants must enter into a minimum 2-year contract. Provides that the Commission may extend the contract a third or fourth year to individual applicants upon completion of the initial 2-year obligation. Provides that the Commission may extend the contract a third or fourth year to individual applicants upon completion of the initial 2-year obligation. Provides that Program participants who, for any reason, fail to begin or complete the required period of obligated service shall be liable to the Commission for an amount equal to the number of months of obligated service not completed multiplied by $2,500 and interest on the amount at the maximum legal prevailing rate, as determined by the Treasurer of the United States from the date of breach.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that families with children under the age of 5 who have an open intact family services case with the Department of Children and Family Services shall be eligible for child care assistance under the Department of Humans Services' child care assistance program. Provides that eligible families shall remain eligible for child care assistance 6 months after the child's intact family services case is closed, regardless of whether the child's parents or other relatives as defined by rule are working or participating in employment or education or training programs. Effective immediately.

Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title of the Code.

Creates the Ivory Ban Act. Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to import, sell, offer for sale, purchase, barter, or possess with intent to sell, any ivory, ivory product, rhinoceros horn, or rhinoceros horn product. Provides that these provisions do not apply to specified antique weapons or musical instruments. Establishes penalties for violation of the Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources may permit, under terms and conditions as the Department may adopt by rule, the import, sale, offer for sale, purchase, barter, or possession with intent to sell, of any ivory, ivory product, rhinoceros horn, or rhinoceros horn product for bona fide educational or scientific purposes, unless this activity is prohibited by federal law. Provides that the Department may adopt any rules necessary for the implementation of the Act.