Sen. Patrick Joyce

Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Provides that during the period where authorized payments are required, Des Plaines commits to share 40% of the gaming tax revenue that remains after the authorized payment, less the amounts received by the named municipalities from the proceeds of a specified casino, with the following municipalities: Chicago Heights; Dixmoor; Ford Heights; Harvey; Hodgkins; Markham; Phoenix; Riverdale; Robbins; and Summit. Provides that the amount received by each named municipality shall be allocated proportionally to the population of each municipality and reduced by the amount received by that municipality from the proceeds of the specified casino. Defines "authorized payments".

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits residential burglary when he or she knowingly and without authority enters on the property of another, or any part thereof, with the intent to commit therein a theft of a motor vehicle. Effective immediately.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that, within one year of the effective date of the amendatory Act, to the extent permitted by federal law, the Department of Natural Resources shall adopt or amend rules effectuating an increased shooting time for waterfowl of 30 minutes after sunset on at least one day per week during seasons for the hunting of waterfowl. Provides that hunting hours between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise may be established by administrative rule for waterfowl, to the extent permitted by federal law.

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning a school board's suspension or expulsion of pupils, provides that a student who is determined to have committed sexual violence, sexual assault, or sexual activity with an individual without the individual's consent at a school, a school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be expelled for a period of not less than one year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that the amount of the taxes imposed under the Act shall be reduced in each year by 20%. Provides that no tax shall be imposed under the Act for persons dying on or after January 1, 2030 or for transfers occurring on or after January 1, 2030. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2031. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Removes language providing that an owner may only apply for and receive 5 farm truck registrations, and only 2 of those 5 vehicles shall exceed 59,500 gross weight in pounds per vehicle. Provides instead that an owner may apply for and receive a total of 8 farm truck registrations; however, only 2 farm truck registrations may be registered as exceeding 77,001 lbs. under provisions regarding farm truck registration (with a fee of $1,590 per vehicle registered) and the other 6 farm truck registrations must be registered as exceeding 77,001 lbs. under provisions regarding flat weight taxes (with a fee of $2,890 per vehicle registered).

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that aggravated assault of a teacher upon school grounds or grounds adjacent to a school or in any part of a building used for school purposes is a Class 4 felony (rather than a Class A misdemeanor).

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the corporate authorities of a municipality may use an existing utility pole within its public rights-of-way for municipal public safety purposes, including, but not limited to, the placing of equipment associated with public safety. Provides that any fee charged for the use of a utility pole shall be at the lowest rate charged by the entity owning the utility pole and shall not exceed the entity's actual costs.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Establishes reimbursement rates for mental health and substance use disorder treatment services for all group or individual policies of accident and health insurance or managed care plans that are amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 or for any contracted third party administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer. Requires a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026 or any contracted third party administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer to cover certain medically necessary mental health and substance use disorder treatment services. Provides that, if the Department of Insurance determines that an insurer or a contracted third party administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer has violated a provision concerning mental health and substance use parity, the Department shall by order assess a civil penalty of $1,000 for each violation. Excludes certain health care plans serving Medicaid populations who are enrolled under the Illinois Public Aid Code or under the Children's Health Insurance Program Act from provisions concerning mental health and substance use parity. Requires the Department to review the impact of the proposed mental health and substance abuse mandate on network adequacy for mental health and substance use disorder treatment and access to affordable mental health and substance use care. Permits the Department to examine out-of-network utilization and out-of-pocket costs for insureds for mental health and substance use treatment and services for all plans to compare with in-network utilization. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, and the School Code to require coverage under those provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides for the election (rather than appointment) of the board of trustees of the City Colleges of Chicago beginning with the 2027 consolidated election. Provides that the City of Chicago shall be subdivided into 20 trustee districts by the General Assembly for seats on the board of trustees, in addition to one at-large trustee. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.