Sen. Mattie Hunter

Creates the Interstate Contracts for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to enable Illinois and Wisconsin residents who are subject, by court order, to involuntary admission on an inpatient basis for the treatment of a mental health or substance use disorder to obtain appropriate treatment across state lines in qualified hospitals and facilities that are closer to their homes than are facilities available in their home states. Permits mental health facilities located in certain northern border counties to contract with Wisconsin county departments to provide substance use or mental health treatment to Wisconsin residents who are subject to involuntary commitment orders for treatment issued by Wisconsin courts, except that no services may be provided to Wisconsin residents who are involved in a criminal proceeding. Permits mental health facilities located in certain northern border counties to contract with Wisconsin county departments to secure substance use or mental health treatment for Illinois residents who are subject to involuntary commitment orders for treatment issued by State courts, except that no services may be secured for Illinois residents who are committed under specified provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure or the Unified Code of Corrections. Contains provisions concerning involuntary commitment court orders, treatment records, transfers between facilities, required contract provisions, and other matters. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Changes the short title of the Act to the Interstate Contracts for Mental Health Disorder Treatment Act (rather than the Interstate Contracts for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act). Removes all references to treatment for a substance use disorder and instead provides that the purpose of the Act is to enable Illinois and Wisconsin residents who are subject, by court order, to involuntary admission on an inpatient basis for the treatment of a mental health disorder to obtain appropriate treatment across state lines in qualified private hospitals and facilities that are closer to their homes than are facilities available in their home states. Provides that the Act does not apply to state-operated or public facilities or hospitals located in Wisconsin or Illinois.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions about delinquent property, provides that a county may take steps necessary (currently, shall take all steps necessary) to acquire title to the property and may manage and operate the property, including, but not limited to, mowing of grass, removal of nuisance greenery, removal of garbage, waste, debris or other materials, or the demolition, repair, or remediation of unsafe structures. Provides costs to be distributed to taxing districts, including operation and maintenance costs and all costs associated with county staff and overhead used to perform the duties of the trustees. Reduces the maximum penalty bids for the annual tax sale from 18% to 12%. In provisions about redemption of property, limits the assessments of penalties from every 6 months to 12 months. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Counties Code and Illinois Municipal Code. Modifies the requirements to have a circuit court declare property abandoned. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that, regarding a petition requesting property to be declared abandoned, service may be had by publication in a newspaper that is in circulation in the county in which the action is pending on persons named as defendants having an interest of record in the property. House Committee Amendment No. 1 In the Property Tax Code: reduces the maximum penalty bids for the annual tax sale from 12% to 9%; and, in provisions about redemption of property, removes changes relating to assessment of penalties.

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.

Amends the Public University Uniform Admission Pilot Program Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 110 ILCS 118/1 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/21B-30 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, in order to obtain a license under the Article, a student teacher candidate may not be required to videotape himself or herself or his or her students in a classroom setting. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of School Code. With regard to licensure candidates being required to pass a teacher performance assessment, provides that a candidate may not be required to submit test materials by video submission. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the credit for student-assistance contributions sunsets on December 31, 2031 (currently, December 30, 2021). Provides that, for taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2021, the maximum student-assistance credit is $1,000 per contributing employee per taxable year (currently, $500). Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Makes changes to the engrossed bill to provide that the credit for student-assistance contributions sunsets on December 31, 2024 (currently, December 30, 2021; in the engrossed bill, December 31, 2031). Removes provisions increasing the maximum student-assistance credit to $1,000 per contributing employee.

Creates the Water and Sewer Financial Assistance Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is authorized to institute the water and sewer assistance program. Provides that any person who is a resident of the State of Illinois and whose household income is not greater than an amount determined annually by the Department may apply for assistance. Provides that in determining the amounts of assistance to be provided to or on behalf of a qualified applicant, the Department shall ensure that the highest amounts of assistance go to households with the greatest need for financial assistance in relation to household income by considering specified factors. Provides that each water or sewer provider shall assess each of its customer accounts a monthly Water and Sewer Assistance Charge to be deposited into the Water and Sewer Low-Income Assistance Fund. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Water and Sewer Low-Income Assistance Fund. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that specified water or sewer utilities shall be allowed to offer a financial assistance program designed for bill payment assistance for low-income customers in accordance with the Water and Sewer Financial Assistance Act. Provides that the costs of a financial assistance program offered by a water or sewer utility shall be reimbursed from the Water and Sewer Low-Income Assistance Fund. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that, in its use of federal funds under the Act, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may not cause a disproportionate share of those federal funds to benefit customers of water or sewer providers that do not assess the Water and Sewer Assistance Charge. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: In provisions creating the Water and Sewer Financial Assistance Act, provides that in setting the annual eligibility level to receive financial assistance under the Act, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may not set a limit higher than the eligibility limit for assistance under the Energy Assistance Act (rather than 150% of the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Provides that the process to allow a water or sewer provider to discontinue imposing assessments shall include review by the Illinois Commerce Commission of any water or sewer provider subject to the Public Utilities Act. Removes provisions concerning program eligibility for residents of rental properties. In provisions amending the Public Utilities Act, provides that the Commission shall render its decision within 90 days (rather than 60 days) after receiving a petition from a water or sewer utility to offer a financial assistance program. Removes language requiring the Commission to annually review and reconcile any amounts collected through tariffs to recover the costs of the financial assistance program. Makes corresponding changes.

Amends the Lodging Services Human Trafficking Recognition Training Act. Requires restaurants and truck stops to provide employees with training in the recognition of human trafficking and protocols for reporting observed human trafficking to the appropriate authority.

Amends the Rental Housing Support Program Act. In a provision requiring the Illinois Housing Development Authority to adopt rules concerning grants awarded to local administering agencies to fund rent subsidies for low-income families, provides that the rules must limit eligibility for tenancy in the subsidized rental units to households with gross income that is at or below 40% (rather than 30%) of the family median income for the area in which the grant will be made. In a provision concerning rules on grants awarded to entities for the development of affordable rental housing, provides that the rules must require 50% of the units that are supported by any grant to be set aside for households whose income is at or below 25% (rather than 15%) of the median family income for the area in which the grant will be made. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Rental Housing Support Program Act. Provides that once a tenant has received assistance under the Rental Housing Support Program the tenant shall remain eligible for assistance under the Program until the tenant reaches an income level of 35% of area median family income and will then begin the transition out of the Program, as described in the rules governing the Program. Provides that local administering agencies should (rather than must) include 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, and 4-bedroom units among those intended to be supported by grants under the Program.

Creates the Human Trafficking Task Force Act. Provides requirements regarding the composition and duties of the task force. Provides that the task force shall provide a report containing specified information to the General Assembly and Governor no later than June 30, 2024. Abolishes the task force and repeals the Act on July 1, 2024. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill, and makes the following changes: adds a statement of findings; and includes additional duties for the Task Force. Effective immediately.

Amends the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Adds student loan borrowers to the definition of "consumer". Adds to the definition of "debt settlement provider" any person or entity engaging in, or holding itself out as engaging in, or any person who solicits for or acts on behalf of such person or entity engaging in or holding itself out as engaging in, the business of student loan debt relief services in exchange for any fee or compensation assessed against or charged to a consumer. Excludes institutions of higher education from the definition of "debt settlement provider". Defines other terms. Requires a specified notice and disclosure to student loan borrowers to be included in advertising and marketing communications concerning student loan debt relief services. Requires providers of student loan debt relief services to provide a specified notice and disclosure before a student loan borrower signs a contract. Provides that any fees charged to a student loan borrower in exchange for student loan debt relief shall comply with a provision concerning fees. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 225 ILCS 429/145 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Provides that "debt settlement service" does not include the services of any other originator, guarantor, or servicer of federal education loans or private education loans (rather than federal education loans). Provides that "student loan borrower" includes a parent, grandparent, or other family member who has received or agreed to pay a student loan for a family member receiving the education or any co-signer who has agreed to share responsibility for repaying a student loan with the person receiving the education. Further amends the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Provides that a debt settlement provider shall not advise or represent, expressly or by implication, that consumers should stop communicating with their creditors, lenders, loan servicers, loan guarantors, or attorneys or government entities (rather than creditors). Provides that a debt settlement provider shall not advise or represent, expressly or by implication, that consumers should stop making payments to their creditors, lenders, loan servicers, loan guarantors, or attorneys or government entities (rather than creditors). Provides that a debt settlement provider shall not access or obtain a consumer's or student loan borrower's federal student aid information in violation of federal law. Effective immediately.