Sen. Mike Halpin

Amends the Driver Education Act of the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt course content standards for the classroom and laboratory phases of driver education for novice teen drivers under the age of 18 years based on the national Novice Teen Driver Education and Training Administrative Standards (rather than requiring the State Board, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to adopt course content standards for driver education for those persons under the age of 18 years). Provides that the course content standards shall include the cognitive, physiological, and psychological aspects of operating a motor vehicle (rather than the operation and equipment of motor vehicles).

Creates the Paid Family Leave Act. Requires private employers with 50 or more employees to provide 6 weeks of paid leave for an employee who takes leave: (1) because of the birth of a child of the employee and in order to care for the child; (2) to care for a newly adopted child under 18 years of age or a newly placed foster child under 18 years of age or a newly adopted or newly placed foster child older than 18 years of age if the child is incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability; or (3) to care for a family member with a serious health condition. Provides that paid family leave shall be provided irrespective of the employer's leave policies; and shall be provided to an employee who has been employed by the employer for at least one year. Permits employees to voluntarily waive paid family leave. Provides that the Department of Labor may adopt any rules necessary to implement the Act.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that aggravated battery, other than by the discharge of a firearm, includes a battery committed by a person who, at the time of the commission of the offense, is 21 years of age or older and the battery was committed upon an individual whom the person committing the offense knows to be a person working under the Adult Protective Services Program or an Ombudsman under the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program of the Department on Aging, or a Department of Children and Family Services employee: (1) performing his or her official duties; (2) battered to prevent performance of his or her official duties; or (3) battered in retaliation for performing his or her official duties. Provides that a violation is a Class 2 felony, except if the battery causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual, a violation is a Class 1 felony. Defines "Department of Children and Family Services employee" and "ombudsman".

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation must issue or deny a license no later than 30 days after completion of the application for practical nurse and registered professional nurse licensure. Provides that the Department must issue or deny a license no later than 30 days after receiving the required documentation for advanced practice registered nurse licensure. Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that the term "selling price" does not include the value of or credit given for traded-in tangible personal property (currently, beginning on January 1, 2020, with respect to motor vehicles, "selling price" does include the trade-in value). Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. In a Section concerning the use tax on motor vehicles, makes changes concerning the amount of the tax. Provides that the tax on motorcycles, motor driven cycles, and mopeds shall be the same as for all other motor vehicles. Effective immediately.

Amends the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Adds student loan borrowers to the definition of "consumer". Adds to the definition of "debt settlement provider" any person or entity engaging in, or holding itself out as engaging in, or any person who solicits for or acts on behalf of such person or entity engaging in or holding itself out as engaging in, the business of student loan debt relief services in exchange for any fee or compensation assessed against or charged to a consumer. Excludes institutions of higher education from the definition of "debt settlement provider". Defines other terms. Requires a specified notice and disclosure to student loan borrowers to be included in advertising and marketing communications concerning student loan debt relief services. Requires providers of student loan debt relief services to provide a specified notice and disclosure before a student loan borrower signs a contract. Provides that any fees charged to a student loan borrower in exchange for student loan debt relief shall comply with a provision concerning fees. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Specifies further requirements for labor unit clarification. Provides that no collective bargaining agreement entered into between an executive branch constitutional officer or any agency or department of an executive branch constitutional officer and a labor organization may extend more than 12 months after the date on which the terms of office of executive branch constitutional officers begin (currently, may extend beyond June, 30). Provides an exemption concerning collective bargaining agreements and the increase of salary, wages, or benefits starting on or after the first day of the terms of office of executive branch constitutional officers. Modifies defined terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that provisions concerning delinquencies by lessees of property owned by a taxing district apply in counties with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants (currently, more than 800,000 but fewer than 1,000,000 inhabitants). Provides that those provisions apply if the taxes remain unpaid in whole or in part 60 days after the final installment due date (currently, the second installment due date). Effective January 1, 2021.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Service and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to collaborate to develop a standardized format for specified data collection and registration no later than January 1, 2022. Provides that development of the standardized format shall be conducted in collaboration with behavioral and mental health providers throughout the State, specified stakeholders, and entities with expertise in federal requirements and form development. Provides that the Department of Human Service and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services must comply with the new standardized format within 6 months after its date of completion. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Payday Loan Reform Act. Provides that the finance charge for a payday loan shall not exceed an annual percentage rate of 39%.