Sen. Kimberly Lightford

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Provides that the governing board of each public university shall waive any admissions application fee for a student transferring from a public community college in this State if the transferring student is enrolled in the last semester of a degree program and is on schedule to graduate with a degree. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates a residential new construction homestead exemption. Provides that the county board of a county with more than 3,000,000 inhabitants, or any other county that elects to be a qualified county, may designate one or more geographic areas within the county as eligible areas. Sets forth certain requirements for an area to be designated as an eligible area. Provides that newly constructed homestead property that is located in an eligible area is entitled to a residential new construction homestead exemption equal to 50% of the assessed value of the property in the current taxable year. Provides that the exemption shall continue for a period of 10 consecutive taxable years or until the property is sold, transferred, or conveyed to a subsequent owner (other than a subsequent owner that meets certain specified conditions), whichever is earlier. Effective immediately.

Creates the Summary of Rights for Safer Homes Act. Requires the Department of Human Rights to create a summary form advising tenants who have suffered domestic violence or sexual violence of the rights that they have under Illinois law that provide protection in their ability to have safe housing. Requires landlords to attach a copy of the summary as the first page of any written residential lease entered into with a tenant.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Defines “reproductive health decisions” as any decision by a person affecting the use or intended use of health care, goods, or services related to reproductive processes, functions, and systems. Provides that discrimination based on reproductive health decisions includes unlawful discrimination against a person because of the person's association with another person's reproductive health decisions. Includes discrimination based on reproductive health decisions in the definition of “unlawful discrimination”.

Maddy summaryHB 307 makes a minor technical adjustment to the College Campus Press Act by updating its short title. This change directly affects the legal naming convention of the existing law governing student media on college campuses. The bill does not alter any substantive rules or policies but simply corrects the official name used to refer to the statute. Once signed into law, the updated title will take effect on January 1, 2025.

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning State interventions, provides that the support provided by a vendor or learning partner approved to support a school's continuous improvement plan related to English language arts must be based on the comprehensive literacy plan for the State developed by the State Board of Education.

Amends the Gifted and Talented Children and Children Eligible for Accelerated Placement Article of the School Code. Provides that a school district's accelerated placement policy may allow for the waiver of a course or unit of instruction completion requirement if (i) completion of the course or unit of instruction is required by the Code or rules adopted by the State Board of Education as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma and (ii) the school district has determined that the student has demonstrated mastery of or competency in the content of the course or unit of instruction. Provides that the school district shall maintain documentation of this determination of mastery or competency for each student, which must include identification of the learning standards or competencies reviewed, the methods of measurement used, student performance, the date of the determination, and identification of the district personnel involved in the determination process. Provides that a school district must provide notification to a student's parent or guardian that the student will receive a waiver. Makes a corresponding change in the Courses of Study Article of the Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Education for Homeless Children Act. Requires the Office of the Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth to create the School District Homeless Student Identification Performance Assessment and submit the Assessment to the State Board of Education for a school district with an enrollment greater than 100 students. Sets forth what information shall be included in the Assessment. Amends the School Code to provide that the information in the Assessment shall be included in the school report card. Further amends the Education for Homeless Children Act. In provisions concerning the Education of Homeless Children and Youth State Grant Program, provides that when awarding competitive grants under the Education of Homeless Children and Youth State Grant Program, grants shall be made to applicant school districts based on the percentage of students experiencing homelessness in the applicant school district in accordance with the Program (instead of to applicant school districts in accordance with the Program). Removes specified provisions concerning what factors the State Board of Education may use in awarding grants. Specifies other activities eligible for assistance. Provides that the State Board of Education may use up to 25% (instead 5%) of the funds appropriated for the purposes of the Program for administrative costs. Makes other changes.

Amends the County Department of Corrections Law. In provisions about pregnant prisoners, modifies the definitions of "post-partum" and "correctional institution", including that "correctional institution" includes institutions in all counties (rather than only in counties more than 3,000,000 inhabitants). Modifies and removes provisions relating to security restraints on a prisoner who is pregnant or in postpartum recovery. Adds provisions relating to annual reports by sheriffs documenting the number of pregnant prisoners in custody each year and the number of people who deliver or miscarry while in custody, relating to county department of corrections providing informational materials concerning the laws pertaining to pregnant prisoners to any pregnant or postpartum prisoner, and relating to supplemental nutrition for prisoners who are pregnant or lactating. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections and the County Jail Act making similar changes. In the Unified Code of Corrections, also adds language relating to restraints of committed persons who are pregnant. Amends the Health Care Violence Prevention Act. In provisions relating to pregnant prisoners, removes a limitation on the provisions to pregnant prisoners in the custody of the Cook County. Provides that restraint of a pregnant prisoner shall comply with specified provisions of the Counties Code, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the County Jail Act (rather than only the Counties Code provisions).

Amends the Accident and Health Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual plan of accident and health insurance or managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act must provide coverage for wigs or other scalp prostheses worn for hair loss caused by alopecia, chemotherapy, or radiation treatment for cancer or other conditions. Makes a conforming change in the Health Maintenance Organization Act and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act. Effective immediately.