Sen. Dave Syverson

Amends the Video Gaming Act. Provides that a home rule municipality may not impose a fee for the operation of a video gaming terminal in excess of $250 per year; however, a home rule municipality that imposed a fee on the operation of a video gaming terminal on or before January 1, 2021 may retain its fee structure in place before January 1, 2021 but may not increase fees beyond the limit provided. Provides that the cost of any fee for the operation of a video gaming terminal shall be shared equally between the terminal operator and the applicable establishment authorized to conduct video gaming under the Act. Provides that the licensure, registration, regulation of video gaming, and the imposition of fees and other charges under the Act in connection with licensure, registration, and regulation, are exclusive powers and functions of the State. Provides that no home rule municipality or non-home rule unit may license, register, or otherwise regulate, or impose any type of fee or any other charge upon, a manufacturer, distributor, terminal operator, licensed technician, licensed terminal handler, licensed establishment, licensed veterans establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed large truck stop establishment, or licensed fraternal establishment. Prohibits a home rule municipality or non-home rule unit from imposing any type of tax upon licensees, occupations, and other activities authorized under the Act.

Amends the Nurse Agency Licensing Act. Defines "covenant not to compete". Changes the definition of "Department" to the Department of Public Health (rather than the Department or Labor). Changes the definitions of "health care facility" and "nurse". Provides that in an application for licensure under the Act, a limited liability company can apply, evidence of general professional liability insurance in the amount of at least $1,000,000 (instead of $500,000) is required per incident and $3,000,000 (instead of $1,000,000) in the aggregate is required for workers' compensation coverage, and there is an application fee of $2,000. Provides that collected fees shall be deposited in the State treasury and credited to the Nursing Dedicated and Professional Fund. Provides that for renewal of licensure, the licensee shall submit an attestation detailing the number of contracted shifts, number of shifts missed, and number of shifts fulfilled for the 3 quarters preceding the application. Provides that an application for a license may be denied for failure to develop and implement contingency staffing plans to minimize missed shifts. Provides that nurse agencies who knowingly employ, assign, or refer to a health care facility a nurse or certified nurse aid with an illegally or fraudulently obtained or issued diploma, registration, license, certificate, or background study constitutes negligent hiring and are grounds for suspension, revocation, or refusal to issue or renew a license. Provides that the Department shall establish updated minimum standards. Provides that nurse agencies are prohibited from entering into covenants not to compete with nurses and certified nurse aides. Provides that a nurse agency's maximum rate for services provided to a health care facility by a nurse or certified nurse aide may not exceed 130% of the regional average hourly wage for each staffing position. Provides that the Department shall establish a system of reporting complaints against a health care staffing agency or its employees. Increases the civil penalty for violation of the Act to $10,000 per occurrence (currently $1,000 per day for each violation). Makes other changes. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 225 ILCS 510/4 from Ch. 111, par. 954 225 ILCS 510/8 from Ch. 111, par. 958 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill, and makes the following changes: Defines "add-on charges" and "administrative fee". Provides that references to the Department means the Department of Labor (instead of the Department of Public Health). Provides that collected fees shall be used by the Department for the enforcement of the Act (rather than deposited in the State treasury and credited to the Nursing Dedicated and Professional Fund). Provides that prior to employing, assigning, or referring a certified nurse aide to a position at a health care employer or long-term facility, the nurse agency shall review the information provided on the Health Care Worker Registry to verify that the certified nurse aide is not ineligible for the position. Includes additional minimal standards for the operation of nurse agencies. Provides that in the development of rules to monitor usage of nurse agency services, the Department may consult with the Department of Public Health to ensure the rules will determine the quality of care and public health impacts of the usage of nurse agency services. Provides that the nurse agency's administrative fee shall not exceed 50% (instead of 130%) of the hourly wage and any add-ons paid to the employee. Removes provisions that provide that the Department shall use and publish the most current median hourly wage data reported by the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. Provides that complaints against a nurse agency shall be investigated by the Department (instead of the Department of Public Health). Makes other changes.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Video Gaming Act. Adds to the definition of "terminal operator" that the individual, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company is engaged in the occupation of owning, placing, operating, and maintaining video gaming terminals. Provides that a video gaming terminal is not an amusement for purposes of the Illinois Municipal Code and is a gambling device as defined under federal law. Adds that the act of owning, placing, operating, and maintaining video gaming terminals by terminal operators is an occupation upon which home rule municipalities are prohibited from imposing taxes under the Illinois Constitution.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Lowers the flat weight tax for Class C and D vehicles and Class VF farm trucks. Lowers the mileage weight tax for Class MD, ME, MF, and MG vehicles. Lowers the trailer flat weight tax for Class VDD, VDE, and VDG farm trailers. Lowers the flat weight trailer tax of Class TA, TB, TC, TD, and TE trailers.

Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Removes the requirement for each Legislative District to be divided into 2 Representative Districts. Modifies provisions concerning legislative redistricting. Provides specified requirements for each Legislative District, Representative District, and Congressional District for redistricting purposes. Replaces the current method of legislative redistricting with a 17-member Commission, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the most senior Supreme Court Justice of a different political party in accordance with specified criteria. Specifies requirements for the Commission concerning redistricting plans. Adds provisions concerning the membership of the Commission and budgetary matters related to the Commission. Provides the Supreme Court with original and exclusive jurisdiction over redistricting matters. Defines terms. Makes conforming and other changes. Effective upon being declared adopted and applicable to redistricting beginning in 2023 and to the election of General Assembly members beginning in 2024.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for an employer who hires a qualified employee to work at a location in the State. Sets forth the amount of the credit. Provides that the credit shall be increased if (i) the qualified employee is hired to work at a location in a disproportionately impacted area or (ii) on the date the qualified employee is hired, the qualified employee resides in a disproportionately impacted area. Limits the total amount of income tax credits that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may issue over the duration of the program. Provides that the term "qualified employee" means a resident of the State who is hired by the taxpayer to fill a full-time net new job and was unemployed as a result of COVID-19 prior to the date he or she was hired by the taxpayer. Provides that the term "qualified employee" does not include an individual who was furloughed by the taxpayer. Effective immediately.

Amends the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides for a referendum to reject any Public Act by a petition signed by a number of electors. Provides signature and content requirements for the petition. Provides requirements for the validity and sufficiency of petitions. Provides that if a petition is valid and sufficient, the proposed referendum shall be submitted to the electors at the general election specified in the petition. Provides that if the voters in a specified election reject a Public Act, it shall cease to be in effect on the date specified in the referendum. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Amends the Department of Insurance Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois by transferring all powers, duties, rights, responsibilities, personnel, books, records, papers, documents, property (real and personal), contracts, causes of action, and pending business of the Insurance Compliance Division within the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission to the Department of Insurance. Provides that, when reports or notices are to be made or given or papers or documents furnished or served by any person to or upon the Insurance Compliance Division, they shall be made, given, furnished, or served in the same manner to or upon the Department of Insurance. Provides that the amendatory Act does not affect any act done, ratified, or canceled, any right occurring or established, or any action or proceeding had or commenced in an administrative, civil, or criminal cause by the Insurance Compliance Division before the amendatory Act takes effect. Makes other changes. Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Replaces references to the Insurance Compliance Division with references to the Department of Insurance. In provisions concerning Department of Insurance oversight, changes the date before which insurers licensed to write workers compensation coverage in the State must record and report specified information concerning claims from March 1 to June 1 of each year. Deletes a provision stating that the fraud and insurance non-compliance unit shall procure and implement a system using advanced analytics for the detection and prevention of fraud, waste, and abuse. Effective July 1, 2021. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 1405/1405-40 new 820 ILCS 305/4 from Ch. 48, par. 138.4 820 ILCS 305/25.5 820 ILCS 305/29.2 Adds reference to: 215 ILCS 5/1 from Ch. 73, par. 613 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 215 ILCS 5/1 Adds reference to: 230 ILCS 15/1 from Ch. 85, par. 2301 230 ILCS 15/2 from Ch. 85, par. 2302 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Raffles and Poker Runs Act. Allows raffle licenses to be issued to fire protection agencies and associations that represent fire protection officials. Defines "fire protection agency" to mean a State, local government, or intergovernmental agency vested with the duty and authority to provide public fire suppression, rescue, or emergency medical services or an organization that provides support or assistance to such an agency.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that of the federal funds received by the State for purposes related to the COVID-19 public health emergency, 25% of any such funds shall be allocated as grants to businesses with less than 50 employees. Provides eligibility requirements for businesses seeking to receive such grants. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall award grants in the amount of $5,000 to eligible businesses. Provides that a business shall only be eligible for one such grant. Requires the Department to publish the names of the businesses that are awarded grants on its Internet website. Provides for the adoption of rules.