Sen. Kimberly Lightford

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Removes a provision requiring the Department of Children and Family Services to inform a school employee who is the subject of a child abuse or neglect investigation that the school employee has the right to confront the accuser, if the accuser is 14 years of age or older, or the right to review the specific allegations which gave rise to the investigation, and the right to review all materials and evidence that have been submitted to the Department in support of the allegation.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning use of tax moneys.

Amends the Consumer Installment Loan Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning a license required to engage in the business of making loans of money in a principal amount not exceeding $40,000.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that the Illinois Power Agency shall issue a report evaluating the implementation of the electric supply procurement requirements and processes set forth in the Act through the period ending May 31, 2015. Provides for repeal of the provisions on January 1, 2017. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning before and after school programs.

Amends the Payday Loan Reform Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Payday Loan Reform Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Mourns the death of Louvenia Peters.

Amends the State Finance Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Healthy Local Food Incentives Program to double the purchasing power of Illinois residents with limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Creates the Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund as a special fund in the State treasury for the purpose of implementing the Program. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department shall make an annual grant of $1,000,000 from the Fund to a qualified Illinois non-profit organization or agency, which shall be distributed to participating Illinois farmers markets for the purpose of providing matching dollar incentives (up to a specified amount) for the dollar value of SNAP benefits spent on FINI eligible fruits and vegetables at participating Illinois farmers markets and producer-to-consumer venues. Provides that the qualified non-profit organization shall have a demonstrated track record of (i) building a statewide network; (ii) designing and implementing successful healthy food incentive programs that connect SNAP recipients with local producers; and (iii) other requirements. Provides that at least 60% of the moneys deposited into the Fund shall be distributed to participating Illinois farmers markets for healthy local food incentives; and that a maximum of 40% of the moneys deposited into the Fund shall be used for State and local level program development and other purposes. Requires the non-profit organization or agency to submit a progress report to the Department with certain information. Provides that no later than December 31, 2016, the Department shall adopt rules to implement the new provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the first $100 of child support collected on behalf of a family in a month for one child and the first $200 of child support collected on behalf of a family in a month for 2 or more children shall be passed through to the family and disregarded in determining the amount of the assistance grant provided to the family. Provides that any amount of child support that would be disregarded in determining the amount of the assistance grant shall be disregarded in determining eligibility for cash assistance. Effective immediately.