Sen. Mike Halpin

Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Requires an association or other entity that has as one of its purposes promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within this State to allow a student for whom it is determined that special education services are needed under the School Code to participate in interscholastic athletics and other forms of athletic competition for as long as the student is eligible for such special education services, which, for purposes of the School Code, means through the day before the student's 22nd birthday.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. In provisions concerning intradivisional transfers at the Department of Corrections, provides that a person committed to a Department of Corrections facility may make a request to be transferred to another facility every 6 months. In provisions concerning intradivisional transfers at the Department of Juvenile Justice, provides that a person committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice, or the committed person's parent or guardian, may make a request to be transferred to another institution or facility of the Department of Juvenile Justice at any time.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides for a deduction in an amount equal to the amount paid to the taxpayer during the taxable year for services as a volunteer firefighter. Provides that the credit may not exceed $10,000 in any taxable year. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Employee Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the alternative retirement annuity provisions apply to a Tier 2 State highway maintenance worker. Authorizes a Tier 2 State highway maintenance worker to convert up to 8 years of certain service credit established before the effective date of the amendatory Act into eligible creditable service under the alternative retirement annuity provisions upon application and payment of a specified contribution. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase".

Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, the Department of Revenue shall provide State income tax preparation services free of charge to individual taxpayers whose federal adjusted gross income for the previous taxable year does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Provides that each individual income tax return under the Illinois Income Tax Act shall contain an appropriate space in which qualified taxpayers may request those income tax preparation services for the next taxable year. Effective immediately.

Creates the Right to Know Act. Provides that an operator of a commercial website or online service that collects personally identifiable information through the Internet about individual customers residing in Illinois who use or visit its commercial website or online service shall notify those customers of certain specified information pertaining to its personal information sharing practices. Requires an operator to make available certain specified information upon disclosing a customer's personal information to a third party, and to provide an e-mail address or toll-free telephone number whereby customers may request or obtain that information. Provides for a data protection safety plan. Provides for a right of action to customers whose rights are violated under the Act. Provides that any waiver of the provisions of the Act or any agreement that does not comply with the applicable provisions of the Act shall be void and unenforceable. Provides that no provision of the Act shall be construed to conflict with or apply to certain specified provisions of federal law or certain interactions with State or local government. Provides findings and purpose. Defines terms.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the Secretary of State to issue special registration plates designated as United States Submarine Veterans plates to residents of this State who served in the United States Navy as a submariner.

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that with respect to a week of unemployment beginning on or after March 15, 2020 (rather than beginning on or after March 15, 2020, and before September 4, 2021 (including any week of unemployment beginning on or after January 1, 2021 and on or before June 25, 2021)) benefits shall be payable to an individual on the basis of wages for employment in other than an instructional, research, or principal administrative capacity performed for an educational institution or an educational service agency under specified circumstances, as long as the individual is otherwise eligible for benefits.

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. In provisions concerning the directory of new hires, provides that the definition of "newly hired employee" includes an individual under an independent contractor arrangement. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the Title Insurance Act. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Title Insurance Reform Act of 2023. Provides that no person, firm, partnership, association, corporation or other legal entity shall act as or hold itself out to be a title insurance agent without first procuring a certificate of authority from the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation (rather than unless duly registered by a title insurance company with the Secretary). Provides that a certificate of authority shall remain in effect unless revoked or suspended by the Secretary or voluntarily withdrawn by the holder, or when the holder of the certificate of authority is no longer authorized as a title insurance agent of a title insurance company. Provides that every applicant that is not duly registered as a title insurance agent on the effective date of the amendatory Act shall comply with specified requirements. Provides that the Secretary shall maintain a database of title insurance agents in good standing on a publicly accessible website that any person may use to verify the authority of a particular title insurance agent. Sets forth duties applicable to transactions involving residential real property for title insurance companies, title insurance agents, and independent escrowees. Effective immediately.