Sen. Julie Morrison

Amends the Equal Pay Act of 2003. Prohibits an employer from: (i) screening job applicants based on their wage or salary history, (ii) requiring that an applicant's prior wages satisfy minimum or maximum criteria, and (iii) requesting or requiring as a condition of being interviewed or as a condition of continuing to be considered for an offer of employment that an applicant disclose prior wages or salary. Prohibits an employer from seeking the salary, including benefits or other compensation or salary history, of a job applicant from any current or former employer, with some exceptions. Limits defenses. Provides for penalties and injunctive relief. Effective 60 days after becoming law.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency shall reevaluate the current air pollution operating permit of any facility emitting ethylene oxide and conduct a 90-day public hearing process on such permits. Provides that no air pollution operating permit shall be renewed if the facility is in violation of any federal or State standards or current studies pertaining to ethylene oxide. Provides that a facility emitting ethylene oxide at levels higher than federal or State standards shall immediately cease operations until the level of emissions are reduced below both federal and State standards. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the research and development credit applies on a permanent basis. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Provides that the term "student" within the definition of "educational employee" or "employee" as used in the Act excludes (rather than includes) graduate students who are research assistants primarily performing duties that involve research, graduate assistants primarily performing duties that are pre-professional, graduate students who are teaching assistants primarily performing duties that involve the delivery and support of instruction, or any other graduate assistants. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that each eligible student is entitled to a refundable income tax credit in an amount equal to $500. Provides that, if the eligible student may be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer's return, then the taxpayer claiming the eligible student may claim the credit; however, only one taxpayer may claim the credit for any particular student. Effective immediately.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that when the respondent requests a jury on the question of whether he or she is subject to involuntary admission on an inpatient or outpatient basis, the jury shall consist of 6 persons, unless either party demands a jury of 12 persons. Provides that a respondent is also entitled (rather than not entitled) to a jury on the question of whether psychotropic medication or electroconvulsive therapy may be administered under the Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Public Health Act and the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health may impose fines or sanctions upon a facility that fails to comply with reporting requirements related to determining whether a person is disqualified from gun ownership under specified statutes. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules to implement the provisions.

Amends the State Finance Act to create the Community Mental Health Services Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that moneys in the Community Mental Health Services Fund shall be used to assist, support, and establish community-based mental health providers and programs. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Imposes a surcharge of $0.01 per cartridge or shell on firearm ammunition. Provides that moneys from the surcharge shall be deposited into the Community Mental Health Services Fund. Effective immediately.

Creates the Vegetative Buffer Act. Provides that all State property adjacent to a body of water must contain a vegetative buffer that at a minimum meets a 30-foot minimum width. Exempts State land if certain conditions are present. Defines "vegetative buffer". Effective January 1, 2020.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits unlawful use of an animal (currently, this provision only covers elephants) in a traveling animal act when he or she knowingly allows for the participation of an animal in a traveling animal act. Unlawful use of an animal in a traveling animal act is a Class A misdemeanor. Defines "animal". Effective July 1, 2019.