Sen. John Curran

Amends the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides for a referendum to reject any Public Act by a petition signed by a number of electors. Provides signature and content requirements for the petition. Provides requirements for the validity and sufficiency of petitions. Provides that if a petition is valid and sufficient, the proposed referendum shall be submitted to the electors at the general election specified in the petition. Provides that if the voters in a specified election reject a Public Act, it shall cease to be in effect on the date specified in the referendum. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Amends the Water Commission Act of 1985. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that of the federal funds received by the State for purposes related to the COVID-19 public health emergency, 25% of any such funds shall be allocated as grants to businesses with less than 50 employees. Provides eligibility requirements for businesses seeking to receive such grants. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall award grants in the amount of $5,000 to eligible businesses. Provides that a business shall only be eligible for one such grant. Requires the Department to publish the names of the businesses that are awarded grants on its Internet website. Provides for the adoption of rules.

Amends the Constitutional Revision Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that amendments to the Illinois Constitution (currently, Article IV of the Constitution only) may be proposed by a petition signed by a number of electors equal in number to at least eight percent of the total votes cast for candidates for Governor in the preceding gubernatorial election. Provides that the initiative process shall not be used for the proposal, modification, or repeal of any portion of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution or to modify the initiative process for proposing amendments to the Constitution. Makes conforming changes. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Amends the Election Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that of the federal funds received by the State for purposes related to the COVID-19 public health emergency, 25% of any such funds received on or after March 1, 2021 shall be allocated for use by the Coronavirus Business Interruption Grant Program (BIG Program). Effective immediately.

Creates the Relieve College Costs Pilot Program Act. Creates a pilot program for a 4-year degree pathway based on texts that served as the core foundational basis for western civilization and the Enlightenment, under which one public high school, one public community college, and one public university shall develop a competency-based baccalaureate degree program for a Fundamental Issues and Texts Humanities Degree. Includes as goals of the program: (1) preparing students with skills relating to critical thinking, problem solving, rational inquiry, and oral and written communication needed for employment or further graduate study; (2) using open educational resources if available; (3) using online course options if available to reduce costs; (4) identifying pathway courses to promote dual credit course enrollment in the participating high school; and (5) having a $20,000 maximum tuition rate for the entirety of the degree pathway. Contains provisions concerning a program director, the curriculum, open educational resources, reporting, and rulemaking. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 In provisions concerning the panel created by the State Board of Education, Illinois Community College Board, and Board of Higher Education, requires the panel to seek and identify initiatives to support the use of foundational materials and original sources that reside in the public domain or open educational resource materials in support of the degree program (rather than only to seek and identify initiatives to support the use of open educational resource materials). Provides that the panel is dissolved on January 31, 2023. Provides that a public institution, at the request of its board of trustees, must highlight the courses that use low-cost digital or print options for students (rather than courses that may have a lost-cost option for print versions).

Amends the Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall, by rule, provide for a number of Wild Turkey Hunting Permits to be set aside specifically for wild turkey outfitters operating in this State with a valid outfitter permit. Authorizes wild turkey outfitters to provide these permits to customers in the course of providing outfitting services. Provides that nothing shall prohibit a wild turkey outfitter from scheduling hunts with persons holding permits not otherwise provided by the outfitter.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax checkoff for donations to the 100 Club of Illinois Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Fund. Provides that moneys deposited into the Fund shall be used to make grants to the 100 Club of Illinois for services in Illinois. Effective immediately.