Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning a comprehensive strategic plan, provides that the State Board of Education shall annually review the strategic plan, update the contents of the plan if necessary, and provide updates to the Governor and General Assembly (instead of requiring the plan to be updated and issued to the Governor and General Assembly). Makes changes concerning property tax relief pool grants and tuition for non-resident pupils. In provisions concerning hazardous materials training, provides that the State Board may identify in-service training programs to be used by school boards (instead of shall approve in-service training programs). In provisions concerning e-learning days, provides that a research-based program for e-learning days shall be verified annually before the implementation of any e-learning days in a school year (instead of requiring verification on or before September 1st annually); makes other changes. In provisions concerning school counseling services, provides that school counseling services shall (instead of may) be provided by school counselors and may be delivered through a comprehensive school counseling program; makes other changes. Makes changes concerning the reporting of firearms and drug-related incidents in schools, educator licensure, reenrolled students, and career and technical education. Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Makes changes concerning threat assessment team members, and fixes a typographical error. Amends the Vocational Education Act. Makes changes regarding the Gender Equity Advisory Committee.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Regional Board of School Trustees Article of the School Code. Provides that a vacancy on a regional board of school trustees shall be subject to the residency provisions in the Article unless the vacancy occurs in a single county educational service region (instead of providing that any vacancy is subject to the residency provisions in the Article). Provides that if a vacancy occurs in a single county educational service region, then the vacancy may be filled by a person who is a resident of a congressional township not represented on the board. Effective immediately.
Amends the County Department of Corrections Law. In provisions about pregnant prisoners, modifies the definitions of "post-partum" and "correctional institution", including that "correctional institution" includes institutions in all counties (rather than only in counties more than 3,000,000 inhabitants). Modifies and removes provisions relating to security restraints on a prisoner who is pregnant or in postpartum recovery. Adds provisions relating to annual reports by sheriffs documenting the number of pregnant prisoners in custody each year and the number of people who deliver or miscarry while in custody, relating to county department of corrections providing informational materials concerning the laws pertaining to pregnant prisoners to any pregnant or postpartum prisoner, and relating to supplemental nutrition for prisoners who are pregnant or lactating. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections and the County Jail Act making similar changes. In the Unified Code of Corrections, also adds language relating to restraints of committed persons who are pregnant. Amends the Health Care Violence Prevention Act. In provisions relating to pregnant prisoners, removes a limitation on the provisions to pregnant prisoners in the custody of the Cook County. Provides that restraint of a pregnant prisoner shall comply with specified provisions of the Counties Code, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the County Jail Act (rather than only the Counties Code provisions).
Amends the Accident and Health Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual plan of accident and health insurance or managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act must provide coverage for wigs or other scalp prostheses worn for hair loss caused by alopecia, chemotherapy, or radiation treatment for cancer or other conditions. Makes a conforming change in the Health Maintenance Organization Act and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that, in anticipation of the successful completion of a diversion program, a petitioner may file a petition for expungement at least 61 days before the anticipated dismissal of the case. Provides that, if a petition is filed, and upon the successful completion of the diversion program and dismissal of the case, the court shall review the petition and shall grant expungement if the petitioner meets all requirements. Amends the Drug Court Treatment Act, the Veterans and Servicemembers Court Treatment Act, and the Mental Health Court Treatment Act to make conforming changes.
Amends the Stalking No Contact Order Act. Defines a course of conduct to include using any electronic tracking system or acquiring tracking information to determine a targeted person's location, moment, or travel patterns. Requires an order under this Act to prohibit this course of conduct.
Creates the Language Equity and Access Act. Requires the Governor's Office of New Americans, in partnership with the Department of Human Services, to: prepare a Language Needs Assessment Report that identifies the languages spoken throughout the State; assist State agencies in the creation of language access plans; provide oversight and central coordination to State agencies in the implementation of language access requirements under this Act; ensure that each State agency develops an internal complaint and review process specific to the provision of language assistance services in addressing complaints in a timely manner; and perform other duties. Requires the Office and Department to work with State agencies to compile available United States Census data on language used across the State to inform the Language Needs Assessment Report. Provides that the report shall be updated every 10 years in conjunction with the decennial federal census. Requires each State agency to prepare and submit a language access plan to the Governor's Office of New Americans.
Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act. Requires every landlord to clearly disclose to each of the landlord's tenants in writing prior to signing the lease for the rental property that a rental property is located in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Special Flood Hazard Area and if the landlord has actual knowledge that the rental property or any portion of the parking areas of the real property containing the rental property has been subjected to flooding and the frequency of such flooding. Provides that if a landlord fails to comply with such provision and the tenant subsequently becomes aware that the property is located in the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area the tenant may terminate the lease by giving written notice of termination to the landlord no later than the 30th day after the flood occurred, and the landlord shall return all rent and fees paid in advance no later than the 15th day after the tenant gave notice. Requires every landlord who leases a lower-level unit to clearly disclose to each of the landlord's lower-level unit tenants in writing prior to the signing of the lease for the lower-level unit if the lower-level unit or any portion of the real property containing the lower-level unit has experienced flooding in the last 10 years and shall disclose the frequency of such flooding. Provides that if a landlord fails to comply with either of the above provisions and flooding occurs that results in damage to the tenant's personal property, affects the habitability of the leased property, or affects the tenant's access to the leased property, the tenant may: (1) terminate the lease by giving written notice to the landlord no later than the 30th day after the flood occurred and the landlord shall return all rent and fees paid in advance no later than the 15th day after the tenant gave notice; and (2) bring an action against the landlord of the property to recover damages for personal property lost or damaged as a result of flooding. Provides a sample written disclosure.
Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that a minor found to be guilty may be committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice if the minor is at least 14 (rather than 13) years and under 20 years of age, provided that the commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice shall be made only if the minor was found guilty of a felony offense or first degree murder. Provides that when a minor of the age of at least 14 (rather than 13) years is adjudged delinquent for the offense of first degree murder, the court shall declare the minor a ward of the court and order the minor committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice until the minor's 21st birthday, without the possibility of aftercare release, furlough, or nonemergency authorized absence for a period of 5 years from the date the minor was committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Creates the Worker Freedom of Speech Act. Provides that an employer or the employer's agent, representative, or designee may not discharge, discipline, or otherwise penalize, threaten to discharge, discipline, or otherwise penalize, or take any adverse employment action against an employee: (1) because the employee declines to attend or participate in an employer-sponsored meeting or declines to receive or listen to communications from the employer or the agent, representative, or designee of the employer if the meeting or communication is to communicate the opinion of the employer about religious or political matters; (2) as a means of inducing an employee to attend or participate in meetings or receive or listen to communications; or (3) because the employee, or a person acting on behalf of the employee, makes a good faith report, orally or in writing, of a violation or a suspected violation of the Act. Provides for a private right of action to enforce the provisions of the Act. Sets forth the duties and powers of the Department of Labor under the Act. Provides that, within 30 days after the effective date of the Act, an employer shall post and keep posted a notice of employee rights under the Act where employee notices are customarily placed. Provides for exceptions under the Act.