Sen. Mattie Hunter

Amends the Illinois Veteran, Youth, and Young Adult Conservation Jobs Act. Creates the Illinois Young Adult Recreation Corps, subject to appropriation, for the purpose of making grants to local sponsors to provide wages to young adults operating and instructing in conservation or recreational programs. Provides that local sponsors who can provide necessary facilities, materials, and management for conservation or recreational activities within the community may apply to the Department of Natural Resources for a grant under the Act for the purpose of hiring managing supervisors and eligible young adults for conservation or recreational programs. Provides that the Illinois Young Adult Recreation Corps shall be limited to citizens of this State who, at the time of enrollment, are unemployed, are 18 through 25 years of age, and who have skills that can be used in the conservation or recreational program. Provides that the Department shall adopt reasonable rules pertaining to the administration of the Illinois Young Adult Recreation Corps. Effective immediately.

Creates the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Act. Imposes a tax on distributors of bottled sugar-sweetened beverages, syrups, or powders at the rate of $0.01 per ounce of bottled sugar-sweetened beverages sold or offered for sale to a retailer for sale in the State to a consumer. Requires those distributors to obtain permits. Provides that 2% of the moneys shall be deposited into the Tax Compliance and Administration Fund for the administrative costs of the Department of Revenue, and 98% of the moneys shall be deposited into the Illinois Wellness Fund to be used for wellness programs and for expanded obesity prevention and treatment services for Medicaid beneficiaries. Creates an Advisory Council to govern the distribution of Illinois Wellness Fund moneys. Effective July 1, 2015.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Employment First Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Mourns the death of Carrie Mae Hilderbrand.

Mourns the death of Dr. Paul Michael Green of Chicago.

Mourns the death of Jovan Alexander Jordan Wilson.

Amends the State Finance Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Healthy Local Food Incentives Program to double the purchasing power of Illinois residents with limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Creates the Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund as a special fund in the State treasury for the purpose of implementing the Program. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department shall make an annual grant of $1,000,000 from the Fund to a qualified Illinois non-profit organization or agency, which shall be distributed to participating Illinois farmers markets for the purpose of providing matching dollar incentives (up to a specified amount) for the dollar value of SNAP benefits spent on FINI eligible fruits and vegetables at participating Illinois farmers markets and producer-to-consumer venues. Provides that the qualified non-profit organization shall have a demonstrated track record of (i) building a statewide network; (ii) designing and implementing successful healthy food incentive programs that connect SNAP recipients with local producers; and (iii) other requirements. Provides that at least 60% of the moneys deposited into the Fund shall be distributed to participating Illinois farmers markets for healthy local food incentives; and that a maximum of 40% of the moneys deposited into the Fund shall be used for State and local level program development and other purposes. Requires the non-profit organization or agency to submit a progress report to the Department with certain information. Provides that no later than December 31, 2016, the Department shall adopt rules to implement the new provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In a provision concerning the Community Care Program, establishes the following rate increases for the purpose of increasing the wages paid by vendors to their employees who provide homemaker services: on July 1, 2016, rates shall be increased to $19.27, for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1.25 per hour; on July 1, 2017, rates shall be increased to $21.39, for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1.25 per hour; on July 1, 2018, rates shall be increased to $23.52, for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1.25 per hour; and on July 1, 2019, rates shall be increased to $25.22, for the purpose of increasing wages by at least $1 per hour. Requires the Department to pay an enhanced rate under the Community Care Program to those in-home service provider agencies that offer health insurance coverage as a benefit to their direct service worker employees consistent with the mandates of Public Act 95-713; and that for State fiscal year 2017, the enhanced rate shall be $1.77 per hour and shall be adjusted using actuarial analysis based on the cost of care. Effective July 1, 2016.

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Juvenile Justice for its FY16 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2015.