Sen. Don Harmon

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to initiate a process whereby the Commission shall develop a forward-looking plan for strategically increasing transportation electrification in the State, that the process shall be open and transparent, and that the process shall conclude within 270 days of opening. Provides that the plan developed by the Commission shall incentivize transportation electrification through beneficial electrification programs, may include specific directives for public utilities in the State that enable transportation electrification or beneficial electrification, and should specifically address environmental justice interests and provide opportunities for residents and businesses in environmental justice communities to directly benefit from transportation electrification. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Mary Elizabeth Deady.

Mourns the death of Jo Ann Kiefer.

Declares March 28, 2019 as Celebrating Women in Public Office Day.

Declares March 27, 2019 as Elderly Women of Wisdom Day in Illinois to honor all women residing in skilled nursing facilities for their lifelong service to their families and communities.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act to provide that in the case of sexual assault or sexual abuse by a school district employee or volunteer, nothing in the Act prohibits a school district from disclosing the disciplinary records of that person. Amends the School Code to require a school board to report all credible cases of sexual assault or sexual abuse by a licensed educator to the State Board of Education, to establish a hearing procedure for student victims, and to ensure that a licensed educator under investigation by the State Superintendent of Education is reassigned to non-classroom duty. Provides that, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, the State Board of Education must monitor all fingerprint-based criminal history records checks and any other database checks conducted by a school district or regional superintendent for applicants for employment with a school district. Makes changes concerning educator licensure and allegations of physical or sexual abuse. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 to create the criminal offense of sexual conduct or sexual relations with a student by an authority figure. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 to require an arresting enforcement agency to share its reports pertaining to the arrest of a licensed educator with the superintendent of any school district that employs the educator (or, in the case of the arrest of a superintendent, with the school board of any school district that employs the superintendent). Amends the Personnel Record Review Act to provide that the Act does not prohibit a school district from divulging internal investigative findings and discipline to another school district. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Provides that the term "student" within the definition of "educational employee" or "employee" as used in the Act excludes (rather than includes) graduate students who are research assistants primarily performing duties that involve research, graduate assistants primarily performing duties that are pre-professional, graduate students who are teaching assistants primarily performing duties that involve the delivery and support of instruction, or any other graduate assistants. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that upon receipt of an application, consent to use a highway may be granted to any communications provider issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Illinois Commerce Commission. Provides requirements (same as those under current law for a public utility) for communications provider use of a highway right-of-way if the highway authority does not have fee ownership of the property to be used. Defines "communications provider". Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for levy years 2019 and later, for school districts, the "aggregate extension base" is the greater of (A) the district's last preceding aggregate extension limit or (B) the district's last preceding aggregate extension, subject to certain adjustments. Provides that the term "aggregate extension limit" means the district's last preceding aggregate extension if the taxing district had utilized the maximum limiting rate permitted without referendum for each of the 3 immediately preceding levy years. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that ammunition purchased within or outside the State by a resident may be shipped to a certified licensee under the Firearm Dealer License Certification Act.