Sen. Mary Edly-Allen

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall adopt the Spirit Rules Book published by the National Federation of State High School Associations, or a similar document, as the statewide uniform safety standards for student cheerleaders, spirit groups, and their coaches who participate in any school activity or extracurricular student activity. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Act. Requires the competitive solicitation issued by the Environmental Protection Agency for the statewide needs assessment, as well as the contract executed for that purpose by the Agency and the consultant, to specify that the data or information received by the consultant and Agency are to be used exclusively for purposes of the assessment. Provides that persons with data or information required to complete the statewide needs assessment shall provide an independent accounting firm selected by the Agency (rather than the Agency) with firm data or information to assist in completing the assessment. Requires the independent accounting firm to enter into a nondisclosure agreement with each person who provides data or information that is required to complete the assessment. Provides that any person aggrieved by a violation of the terms and conditions of a nondisclosure agreement may institute a civil action to recover damages. Defines "nondisclosure agreement". Makes a conforming change in the Freedom of Information Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education, in coordination with the Department of Public Health, shall develop type 1 diabetes informational materials for parents and guardians of students. Provides that the informational materials shall be made available to each school district and charter school on the State Board's website. Provides that the school board of a school district and the governing body of a charter school shall make the informational materials accessible to a parent or guardian when the student is first enrolled in elementary school or in a school's student handbook on and after July 1, 2024. Sets forth what the provided information may include. Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that home-delivered meals provided to Medicare or Medicaid recipients when payment is made by an intermediary pursuant to a government contract are exempt from taxation under the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that the term "special educational facilities and services" includes private special schools (instead of special schools) and separate public special education day schools. Provides that if a child has been placed in a separate public special education day school, a school district making tuition payments in excess of $4,500 shall be responsible for an amount in excess of $4,500 equal to 2 times the district's per capita tuition charge and shall be eligible for reimbursement from the State for the amount of such payments actually made in excess of 2 times the district's per capita tuition charge for students not receiving special education services. Requires a certification and finding to be made for reimbursement of a school district of the amount paid for tuition of a child attending a public special education facility.

Amends the Illinois Exotic Weed Act. Changes the title of the Act to the Illinois Exotic Weeds Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall determine the plants that are exotic weeds for the purposes of the Act and shall compile and keep current a list of such exotic weeds, which list shall be published and incorporated in the rules of the Department. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources may (rather than shall) issue permits to buy, sell, offer for sale, distribute, or plant seeds, plants, or plant parts of exotic weeds pursuant to administrative rule. Provides that the Department, by rule, shall exempt varieties of any species listed in Department rule. Provides that, for the control of exotic weeds, a municipality may adopt an ordinance to eradicate exotic weeds listed in the rules of the Department. Deletes the listing of specified exotic weeds from the Act. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes.

Amends the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986. Provides that the Secretary of State shall include data fields on its annual report form that allows a corporation to report, at its discretion, the aggregated demographic information of its directors and officers, including race, ethnicity, gender, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Provides that, within 30 days after filing its annual AG990-IL Charitable Organization Annual Report, a corporation that reports grants of $1,000,000 or more to other charitable organizations shall post on its publicly available website, if one exists, the aggregated demographic information of the corporation's directors and officers, including race, ethnicity, gender, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Provides that the aggregated demographic information shall be accessible on the corporation's publicly available website for at least 5 years after it is posted. Provides that the Department of Human Rights shall work with community partners to prepare and publish a standardized list of demographic classifications to be used by the Secretary of State and corporations for the reporting of the aggregated demographic information. Provides that, in collecting the aggregated demographic information, a corporation shall allow for an individual to decline to disclose any or all personal demographic information to the corporation. Effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the State Treasurer Act. In provisions concerning the College Savings Pool, provides that an account may be rolled over into a Roth IRA account, to the extent permitted by Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. In provisions concerning the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program, provides that the definition of "eligible child" includes a child born or adopted after December 31, 2022, to a parent who is a resident of Illinois at the time of the birth or adoption, as evidenced by documentation received by the Treasurer from a parent or legal guardian of the child. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Illinois Articulation Initiative Act to establish a standardized course numbering system for public colleges and universities in the state. It requires these institutions to create a workgroup by September 2024 to develop a plan for aligning course numbers for general education and major-specific classes, with the goal of making course catalogs easier for students to compare across schools. The law mandates that general education courses adopt this common numbering system starting in the 2026-2027 academic year, followed by major courses in the 2027-2028 academic year. Additionally, the bill clarifies the roles of state higher education boards in overseeing the initiative and requires them to submit annual reports to the General Assembly and the Governor.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Public Utilities Act to rename it the Wetlands Protection Act and establish a comprehensive state framework for protecting Illinois' wetlands and small streams. It defines various types of wetlands, such as bogs and bottomland hardwoods, and creates a permit system managed by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency or approved local districts to regulate activities that could harm these areas. The legislation aims to restore protections for water bodies that may no longer be covered by federal laws following recent Supreme Court rulings, ensuring continued benefits like flood control, water filtration, and habitat preservation.