Sen. Mattie Hunter

Amends the School Code to create the Rural Education Advisory Council. Provides that the purpose of the council is to exchange thoughtful dialogue concerning the needs, challenges, and opportunities of rural districts and to provide policy recommendations to the State. Sets forth the functions and membership of the council. Contains provisions concerning expenses, meetings, and administrative support.

Amends the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. Replaces all instances of "child-placing agency" or "child placing agency" with "child welfare agency". In provisions concerning the Department of Children and Family Services' State Central Registry of child welfare agencies willing to take legal custody of relinquished newborn infants, provides that within 3 business days after accepting a referral from the Department, the child welfare agency shall file a petition for custody and request that the agency be given the authority to place the infant in an adoptive home, foster home, child care facility, or other facility appropriate for the needs of the infant. Prohibits filing or appearance fees for the petitioner. Provides that any issued custody order shall grant the child welfare agency the authority to make medical and health-related decisions for the infant. Provides that any infant who receives emergency or medical care under the Act shall be deemed presumptively eligible for medicaid assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that any health care provider or child welfare agency that provides medical services to an infant under the Act shall send all bills related to those medical services directly to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for reimbursement. Makes conforming changes to the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to submit for federal approval any waiver application or State Plan amendment as may be necessary to implement the presumptive eligibility provisions of the amendatory Act. Further amends the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act by requiring a fire station or emergency medical facility that accepts a relinquished infant to inform the infant's parent of the name and location of the hospital to which the infant was transported if the parent returns to reclaim the infant within 30 days (rather than 72 hours) after relinquishing the infant. Amends the Immunization Data Registry Act, the Illinois Parentage Act of 2015, and the Adoption Act by replacing instances of "child-placing agency" or "child placing agency" with "child welfare agency".

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Transportation to develop a policy which ensures the safety of pedestrians and cyclists on roadways within the State. Establishes that improvements will be made during routine maintenance and within a distance of 1,000 feet of the maintenance work on any State road within a municipality to include high visibility signage, crosswalk improvements, curb bump outs, barrier protected bike lanes, and bus shelters.

Creates the Child Extended Bereavement Leave Act. Provides that the Act may be referred to as Zachary's Parent Protection Act. Provides that an employee of a large employer that employs 250 or more full-time employees is entitled to use a maximum of 12 weeks of unpaid leave if the employee experiences the loss of a child by suicide or homicide. Provides that an employee of a small employer that employs at least 50 but fewer than 250 full-time employees is entitled to use a maximum of 6 weeks of unpaid leave if the employee experiences the loss of a child by suicide or homicide. Provides that leave may be taken in a single continuous period or intermittently in increments of no less than 4 hours, but leave must be completed within one year after the employee notifies the employer of the loss. Permits an employer to require reasonable advance notice of the employee's intention to leave and reasonable documentation. Provides that an employee who takes leave under the Act is entitled to be restored to the position of employment held by the employee when the leave commenced or to be restored to an equivalent position. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to entitle any restored employee the accrual of any seniority or employment benefits during any period of leave. Provides that the Act does not extend the maximum period of leave to which an employee is entitled under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 or under any other paid or unpaid leave provided under federal, State or local law, a collective bargaining agreement, or an employment benefits program or plan. Prohibits an employer from taking any adverse action against an employee who exercises his or her rights under the Act. Requires the Department of Labor to enforce the Act. Provides that a person who uses leave under either the Child Bereavement Leave Act or the Child Extended Bereavement Leave Act may not take leave under the other Act, and amends the Child Bereavement Leave Act accordingly.

Amends the Human Skeletal Remains Protection Act. Changes references from "Indian" to "Native American" and "Historic Preservation Agency" to "Department of Natural Resources". Provides that the Director of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Illinois State Museum, may create a cemetery on existing State lands for the reburial of repatriated Native American remains and materials. Provides that the cemetery shall not be used by the public and shall be protected by the State of Illinois. Provides that the Director of Natural Resources shall cooperate with the State Archaeologist and the Illinois State Museum to coordinate reinterment in the cemetery.

Amends the School Code. Provides that each school district must create, implement, and maintain an age-appropriate policy on race-related harassment and discrimination. In provisions concerning bullying prevention, provides that the required policy on bullying shall also include age-appropriate information about the definitions of harassment and sexual harassment, the procedures for reporting harassment, and the protections and relief available under the Illinois Human Rights Act. Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that harassment by an elementary, secondary, or higher education representative or the failure of an institution of elementary, secondary, or higher education to take remedial action or appropriate disciplinary action against a student or an elementary, secondary, or higher education representative employed by the institution (if the institution knows that the student or representative committed or engaged in harassment) is a civil rights violation. Provides that each institution of elementary, secondary, or higher education shall establish, implement, and maintain a continuing race-related discrimination and harassment program. Sets forth requirements concerning policies and procedures, a model training program, and reporting. Makes other changes. Effective August 1, 2024.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes a technical change in the short title Section.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed in the State on or after (rather than only after) January 1, 2024 shall provide coverage for all abortifacients, hormonal therapy medication, human immunodeficiency virus pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis drugs approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, and follow-up services related to that coverage. Effective immediately.

Amends the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act. In provisions requiring non-exempt local governments to approve an affordable housing plan, provides that, in addition to other requirements, the affordable housing plan must consist of a description of any housing market conditions, infrastructure limitations, local government ordinances, local policies or practices that do not affirmatively further fair housing as defined in the federal Fair Housing Act, and other local factors that constrain the local government's ability to create and preserve affordable housing. Requires the plan to also include potential strategies to eliminate or mitigate the specified constraints. Provides that the plan must set forth certain benchmark goals for new affordable housing developments or redevelopments; as well as proposed timelines, within the first 24 months after the date upon which the affordable housing plan was adopted, for actions to implement the components of the affordable housing plan. Provides that no later than 36 months after adopting or updating an affordable housing plan, the local government shall submit a report to the Illinois Housing Development Authority summarizing actions taken to implement the current plan. Contains provisions concerning the review of affordable housing plans by the State Housing Appeals Board (Board); membership on the Board; and other matters.

Creates the Public Higher Education Act. Provides that the intent of the Act is for the requirements of the Act to apply equally to the governing board of each public institution of higher education in this State. Defines "governing board of each public institution of higher education" and "public institution of higher education". Adds provisions requiring each public institution of higher education to make emergency contraception available for purchase through at least one vending machine located on each campus under its jurisdiction; defines "emergency contraception". Sets forth minimum requirements concerning the packaging, storage, cost, and dispensing of the emergency contraception. Effective immediately.