Sen. Rachel Ventura

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that any laborer, worker, or mechanic who is employed by the contractor or by any lower tier sub-contractor and is paid for services in a sum less than the prevailing wage rates for work performed on a project shall have a right of action for whatever difference there may be between the amount so paid and the prevailing rates required to be paid for work performed on the project. Makes other changes.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Defines terms. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2025, a retail establishment may not sell or distribute in this State a disposable food service container that is composed in whole or in part of polystyrene foam. Exempts specified entities from the prohibition until one year after the amendatory Act's effective date. Effective immediately.

Creates the Safety Moratorium on Carbon Dioxide Pipelines Act. Provides that no certificate of authority for the construction and operation of a pipeline intended for transportation of carbon dioxide shall be issued by the Illinois Commerce Commission before the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has adopted its revised federal safety standards for transportation of carbon dioxide. Provides that any application for a certificate of authority to construct and operate a pipeline intended for transportation of carbon dioxide currently pending before the Commission shall be held in abeyance, without prejudice, until the completion of PHMSA's rulemaking and the issuance of its new safety standards for carbon dioxide pipelines or the expiration of the temporary moratorium. Provides that the temporary moratorium will expire 2 years after the Act becomes effective or upon the adoption of PHMSA's new safety standards for carbon dioxide pipelines, whichever happens first. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In a provision requiring workers to be appropriately trained to provide services under the Community Care Program, provides that only training curriculum approved by the Department on Aging may be used to fulfill training requirements for workers who provide in-home services. Requires the curriculum to consist of 24 hours of pre-service training and 12 hours of annual in-service training. Provides that the Department shall only approve training curriculum that (i) has been developed with input from consumer and worker representatives, and (ii) requires comprehensive instruction by qualified instructors on the required competencies and training topics. Provides that changes to the competencies, curriculum topics, or instructor qualifications shall be made only with input and approval of the Home Care Worker Training Subcommittee of the Community Care Program Advisory Committee. Provides that no person may perform in-home services under a program authorized under the Act unless that person has received pre-service training and remains current on his or her annual in-service training. Provides that pre-service training hours and in-service training hours shall be paid at the worker's regular rate of pay. Provides that starting no later than July 1, 2024, workers who have met the requirements to perform in-home services and the records of trainings they have completed shall be placed on the Health Care Worker Registry maintained by the Department of Public Health. Creates the Home Care Worker Training Subcommittee within the Community Care Program Advisory Committee. Provides that the purpose of the Subcommittee is to address the challenges of recruiting, training, and retaining the home care workforce needed to meet growing demand. Sets forth the Subcommittee's membership and its responsibilities. Effective immediately.

Mourns the passing of Judith A. "Judy" Martin of Joliet.

Amends the Equitable Restrooms Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, any multiple-occupancy restroom may be identified as an all-gender multiple-occupancy restroom and designated for use by any person of any gender. Requires that an all-gender multiple-occupancy restroom must include specified signage, stall dividers, and partitions for urinals. Provides that any multiple-occupancy restroom may be converted into an all-gender multiple-occupancy restroom. Provides that, if a facility commences construction, or commences alterations exceeding 50% of the facility, and implements an all-gender multiple-occupancy restroom, the all-gender multiple-occupancy restroom must satisfy or include specified requirements. Requires certain newly constructed or previously existing restrooms to be designated as all-gender multiple-occupancy restrooms. Provides that when plumbing fixtures in a facility must meet female-to-male ratio requirements, each individual fixture in an all-gender multiple-occupancy restroom may be counted toward the required number of either female or male toilet stalls. Provides that if a fixture is counted toward the minimum required fixtures for females, that same fixture shall not also be counted toward the minimum required fixtures for males, and if a fixture is counted toward the minimum required fixtures for males, that same fixture shall not also be counted toward the minimum required fixtures for females. Provides that during any inspection of a facility by a health officer, health inspector, or building inspector, the health officer, health inspector, or building inspector may inspect the facility to determine whether it complies with the provisions. Requires the Department of Public Health to adopt rules to implement the provisions. Defines "multiple-occupancy restroom". Contains other provisions. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Sets forth a schedule of income-based tax rates for individuals, trusts, and estates for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2024.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions regarding the types of licenses, provides that applicants for a Substitute Teaching License must hold an associate degree (instead of a bachelor's degree) or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or must be enrolled in an approved educator preparation program in this State and have earned at least 90 credit hours. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission Act. In the definition of "claim of torture": provides that it also means a third party was tortured into implicating a person for the crime for which the person was convicted; provides that it also means a witness statement was used to obtain the conviction; and removes language providing that the allegations of torture occur within a county of more than 3,000,000 inhabitants. Defines "torture" as: any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person; any pain or suffering that is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from that person a confession or information about a third party; any pain or suffering that is intentionally inflicted on a person for purposes of punishing a suspected act by that person; or any intimidation or coercion for any reason based on discrimination of any kind. Requires the Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission to determine the resources necessary to assess the credibility or lack thereof of each claim within 2 years after the date upon which the claim was received, and to make a report of its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly. Repeals a provision providing that the Act applies to claims of torture filed not later than 10 years after the effective date of the Act (August 10, 2009). Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. Provides that in fixing the salaries of employees, a school board or the governing board of a joint agreement shall pay to employees an hourly rate of not less than (i) $20 for the 2024-2025 school year, (ii) $21 for the 2025-2026 school year, and (iii) $22 for the 2026-2027 school year. Provides that the minimum hourly rate for each school year thereafter shall equal the minimum salary rate for the previous school year increased by a percentage equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor for the previous school year. Provides that "employee" means any employee of a school district or joint agreement who provides educational support services to the district or joint agreement, including, but not limited to, custodial employees, transportation employees, food service providers, classroom assistants, administrative staff, or paraprofessional educators. Provides that an employee's salary shall include any amount paid by the school district or joint agreement on behalf of the employee, as employee contributions, to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. Effective immediately.