Sen. Adriane Johnson

Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, shall, on or before July 1, 2024, publish information to encourage food manufacturers, processors, and retailers responsible for the labeling of food products to voluntarily use the specified uniform terms on food product labels to communicate quality dates and safety dates. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall promote the consistent use of the terms specified pursuant to these provisions in the course of its existing interactions with food manufacturers, processors, and retailers. Provides that in the process of implementing these provisions, the Department shall encourage food distributors and retailers to develop alternatives to consumer-facing "sell by" dates. Provides that the Department may accept nonstate funds from public and private sources to educate consumers about the meaning of the quality dates and safety dates specified in these provisions. Provides that funds accepted by the Department shall be deposited into the Food and Drug Safety Fund.

Creates the Firefighter Training Leave of Absence Act. Defines terms. Provides that a State employee shall be granted leave from his or her State employment for firefighter training as follows: (1) on one occasion, for up to 200 hours, to participate in training necessary to obtain Basic Operations Firefighter certification from the State Fire Marshal while attending a State Fire Marshal-approved fire academy; and (2) special or advanced training annually, not to exceed 80 hours, after obtaining Basic Operations Firefighter certification from the State Fire Marshal for courses that will lead to additional certification by the State Fire Marshal. Provides that, during leaves for basic, special, or advanced training, the State employee shall continue to receive his or her regular compensation as a State employee, but, if the State employee receives compensation for basic, special, or advanced training, the State employee shall receive his or her regular compensation as a State employee minus the amount of his or her compensation for basic, special, or advanced training. Provides that a State employee who wishes to obtain a leave of absence under this Act shall request in advance for the leave of absence and may take the leave of absence only after obtaining approval from the State employee's agency.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that the Department of Human Resources shall partner with the State Board of Education to provide technical assistance for the provision of mental health care during school days with the goal of increasing the availability and accessibility of mental health resources for students. Provides that the Department shall report to the General Assembly on the implementation of the technical assistance provision no later than July 1, 2025. Provides for rulemaking by the Department and the State Board of Education.

Amends the Security Deposit Return Act. Removes language that requires a lessor of residential real property who is restricted from withholding any part of a security deposit from a lessee without furnishing an itemized statement to the lessee to be a lessor of a residential real property containing 5 or more units.

Amends the Illinois Plumbing License Law. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall adopt a rule requiring that for each drinking fountain in any construction where a drinking fountain is required under the Illinois Plumbing Code, there shall also be a bottle filling station or a combined bottle filling station and drinking fountain. Provides that the rules required to be adopted shall take effect and be implemented by July 1, 2026. Defines "bottle filling station".

Amends the Park District Code. Provides that a park district may levy and collect annually a tax for maintaining a police system, for implementing and maintaining public safety and security measures, or both (currently, only for maintaining a police system) within the parks, playgrounds, and other facilities maintained by the district. Defines "public safety and security measures". Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Affordable Housing Act. Requires all housing financed under the Illinois Affordable Housing Program to meet a minimum standard of living requirement. Provides that in order for a program applicant to be eligible to receive funding to acquire, construct, rehabilitate, develop, operate, insure, or retain affordable single-family or multi-family housing, the applicant must demonstrate that each housing unit can provide and meet certain quality standards, as applicable. Requires housing to have cooling and dehumidification systems that are capable of being operated independently from the heating system and that can operate when the heat index exceeds 80 degrees. Requires newly constructed housing to have permanent air conditioning. Requires the heating in all housing, during the months of October through May, unless a unit of government has standards that require a higher temperature of heat, to register at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit when the outside temperature falls below 55 degrees between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Requires any tenant complaints about heating to be rectified within 24 hours. Requires windows to open and close with safety mechanisms installed and to be inspected on a regular basis. Provides certain standards concerning the maintenance and upkeep of the premises of the single-family or multi-family housing; accessible laundry facilities for senior residents and residents with disabilities; control for insects, rodents, and pests; standard turnaround times for property manager or maintenance personnel to respond to tenant requests; and compliance checks and tenant reviews for property management companies. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county with a population of less than 1,000,000 may establish minimum requirements for new building design and construction to lessen the risks caused by new building design and construction to wildlife and sensitive habitats. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that during the first 180 days following a person's release from a penal institution, a court shall not order the person to pay any outstanding fines, taxes, or costs arising from a criminal proceeding involving the person.

Amends the State Treasurer Act. Provides that any entity may make contributions to an ABLE account. Makes changes concerning privacy of ABLE account information. Provides that the ABLE Account Program may also be referred to as the Senator Scott Bennett ABLE Program. Effective immediately.