Sen. Adriane Johnson

Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Adds to the definition of "health care employer", a financial management services entity contracted with the Department of Human Services, which is not the employer of personal support workers but supports individuals receiving participant directed services, to administer the individuals' employer authority. Provides that a financial management services entity assists participants in completing background check requirements, collecting and processing time sheets for support workers, and processing payroll, withholding, filing, and payment of applicable federal, State, and local employment-related taxes and insurance.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person may not operate a motor vehicle on a roadway while using an electronic communication device, including using an electronic communication device to participate in any video conferencing application or to access any social media site. Excludes the exemptions that permit a driver to use an electronic communication device in hands-free or voice-operated mode or by pressing a single button to activate or terminate a voice communication when a person is using the electronic communication device to watch or stream video, participate in any video conferencing application, or access any social media site.

Amends the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. In a provision requiring a public safety employer to pay the entire premium of its health insurance plan for a public safety employee, the employee's spouse, and the employee's dependent children after the employee suffers a fatal or catastrophic injury in the line of duty, requires the employer to offer any individual who qualifies for such premium payments the choice of any health insurance plan available to currently employed full-time public safety employees.

Amends the Employment of Teachers and Chicago School District Articles of the School Code. In provisions concerning dismissal due to sexual abuse, changes the requirements of the provisions for any charges involving any witness who is or was at the time of the alleged conduct was a student or person under the age of 18 (instead of charges involving sexual abuse or severe physical abuse of a student or a person under the age of 18). Provides for accommodations (instead of alternative hearing procedures) for witnesses. Sets forth requirements for accommodations. Provides that the teacher may not directly, or through a representative, question a witness called by the school board who is or was a student or under 18 years of age at the time of the alleged conduct. Provides that the hearing officer must permit the teacher to submit all relevant questions and follow-up questions for such a witness to have the questions posed by the hearing officer (instead of each party must be permitted to ask a witness who is a student or who is under 18 years of age all relevant questions and follow-up questions). Provides that if any hearing officer fails to make an accommodation, the officer shall be removed from the master list of hearing officers.

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall deliver a report to the General Assembly on how to incentivize dual language instruction in schools. Provides that the report shall also include: (i) expanding dual language programs and instruction, (ii) developing a strategic plan for scaling dual language programs, (iii) possible public-private partnerships to expand dual language programs, (iv) potential funding mechanisms and models, including how to leverage the use of existing State and federal resources and how to sustain funding for dual language programs, (v) how to build the supply of qualified teachers for dual language programs, including potential partnerships with private or nonprofit teacher preparation or development programs and college teacher preparation programs, potential alternative certification routes, exchange programs with other countries, and financial incentives, and (vi) standards for measuring student progress in dual language programs.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Authorizes funds that are deposited into the Employment and Training Fund to be used to establish a demonstration project to train individuals to become home child care providers. Repeals a provision that established the Child Care and Development Fund. Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act. Directs gifts, bequests, donations, income from rental property and endowments to be deposited into the DNR Special Projects Fund (rather than the Natural Resources Fund). Specifies that the DNR Special Projects Fund is a trust fund (rather than a special fund in the State treasury). Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Repeals a provision that prohibited transfers from being made to the Professions Indirect Cost Fund from the Public Pension Regulation Fund. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Changes the fund into which certain certification fees are deposited. Amends the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Repeals a provision concerning a transfer into the State Police Firearm Services Fund. Amends the State Property Control Act. Repeals a provision concerning a transfer into the State Police Vehicle Fund. Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Medicaid Technical Assistance Act, the Environmental Protection Act, the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act, the Cigarette Fire Safety Standard Act, the Herptiles-Herps Act, and the Unified Code of Corrections. Makes various other fund-related and transfer-related changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Agriculture upon request (previously in cooperation) with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide consulting service and standards. Repeals the Displaced Homemakers Assistance Act, the Energy Policy and Planning Act, the Community Health Worker Advisory Board Act, the Electronic Health Records Taskforce Act, and the Des Plaines and Illinois Rivers Act. Makes changes in various Acts in provisions concerning funds; mandates; reports; and task forces. Effective immediately.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that school districts shall provide instruction on the dangers of fentanyl. Specifies the elements of the instruction. Provides that students shall be assessed on the fentanyl instruction.

Amends the Firearms Restraining Order Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that there shall be created a low-income community hydropower pilot project program. Provides that under this program, persons shall propose pilot community hydropower projects. Provides that community hydropower projects proposed may exceed 2,000 kilowatts in nameplate capacity, and the amount paid per project under this program may not exceed $20,000,000. Provides that pilot projects must result in economic benefits for the members of the community in which the project will be located. Provides that the proposed pilot project must include a partnership with at least one community-based organization. Provides that approved pilot projects shall be competitively bid by the Illinois Power Agency, subject to fair and equitable guidelines developed by the Agency. Provides that contracts entered into under this program may be entered into with an entity that will develop and administer the program or with developers and shall also include contracts for renewable energy credits related to the program. Provides that a project proposed by a utility shall not be included in the utility's rate base. Makes corresponding changes to the Act and the Public Utilities Act.